1980 rims
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Joined: Oct 2001
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From: boothbay maine
1980 rims
this is the last successive post i am sorry, i have the aluminum rims on my 1980 i think they were an option, i was wondering what is the range of tire sizes i can put on these rims, mine are currently 255/60/15, was wondering how big and small will fit these rims
Racer
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: groveland, ca
Re: 1980 rims (scorciae)
scorciae - I had 265/50/15's all the way around with no problem. Looked nasty, but tired of having it slammed to the ground, so just put on the 255/60/15's before I went to BG for Labor Day. They were just a better ride for the 5000 mile trip. The 265's just tracked all over the place, but they were a blast running in the Sierra Nevada foothills !! :D
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Re: 1980 rims (scorciae)
My '80 came with the aluminum wheel option, but with the 225/70/15 tires. 
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From: Granbury TX
Re: 1980 rims (scorciae)
You have to decide what you are using for criteria to determine what is too big or too little.
Are you talking about clearing the wheel wells and keeping the exhaust pipes from draging on the pavement, or do you have something else in mind? I think the most important consideration is to maintain the overall tire hight in order to maintain your final gear ratios and speedometer ratio. The 255 60r15's were the tires generally supplied with the Aluminum wheel option. If you want to keep the same overall wheel hight, knowing what these numbers mean and a little math can help you find other sutable size tires. The first number "255" Is the wigth of the tire tred in millimetters (about 10"). The second part "60" is the percent of the first number and tells you the side wall hight. That's the measurement from the rim of the wheel to the tred. In case, about 153 millimeters (a little over 5").
Assuming you keep the 15" wheels 70 series tire would only have to be about 179 millimeters wide or 179,70R15. There may be no such size but you would find the closest. Likewise if you go the a 50 series tire the tred would need to be about 306 milimeters
Are you talking about clearing the wheel wells and keeping the exhaust pipes from draging on the pavement, or do you have something else in mind? I think the most important consideration is to maintain the overall tire hight in order to maintain your final gear ratios and speedometer ratio. The 255 60r15's were the tires generally supplied with the Aluminum wheel option. If you want to keep the same overall wheel hight, knowing what these numbers mean and a little math can help you find other sutable size tires. The first number "255" Is the wigth of the tire tred in millimetters (about 10"). The second part "60" is the percent of the first number and tells you the side wall hight. That's the measurement from the rim of the wheel to the tred. In case, about 153 millimeters (a little over 5").
Assuming you keep the 15" wheels 70 series tire would only have to be about 179 millimeters wide or 179,70R15. There may be no such size but you would find the closest. Likewise if you go the a 50 series tire the tred would need to be about 306 milimeters
