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I have a 69 that needs tires

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Old Feb 9, 2021 | 08:55 PM
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Default I have a 69 that needs tires

Hello, I bought a 1969 convertible and it needs tires. The tires that are on it look perfect but they are 13 years old . I am considering some Diamondback redline tires. I know the look is subjective, but I think they would look pretty good on this car. The car has the original 8" rally wheels. Does anyone have some experience with these tires and would you buy them again? Looks like they have a Diamond Back SS and a Diamondback III. I am considering a 245/60 R15 for all corners or should I get 255/60 R15? Current it has 235/60 R15 and they look a little small to me.

Thanks for your help!
Old Feb 9, 2021 | 09:10 PM
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As per size, I run and would recommend 255/60-15's. As per the tire. I think Red Lines look great on a 69. never had the ones your talking about but someone else will chime in.
Old Feb 9, 2021 | 11:16 PM
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Nice but man they cost some money. I am going to put my own redlines on my tires. I've been experimenting with a red tire marker on some old tires and I think I can do it pretty easily.
Old Feb 9, 2021 | 11:41 PM
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If you buy the Goodrich TA tires that have white lettering, you will be disappointed, unless you like brown letters.
Old Feb 10, 2021 | 12:22 AM
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I would 100% recommend 255/60R15 for any 1978 or newer C3. GM modified the body to allow for the larger tires.

For a 69, it's a crapshoot if they will fit. They grow in both width and diameter, and the sizes aren't 100% consistent between manufacturers.

Redlines are not my style, but it's your car! Please post some photos!

Last edited by Bikespace; Feb 10, 2021 at 12:23 AM.
Old Feb 10, 2021 | 08:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Bikespace
I would 100% recommend 255/60R15 for any 1978 or newer C3. GM modified the body to allow for the larger tires.

For a 69, it's a crapshoot if they will fit. They grow in both width and diameter, and the sizes aren't 100% consistent between manufacturers.

Redlines are not my style, but it's your car! Please post some photos!
Here are a couple of pictures:




Old Feb 10, 2021 | 08:42 AM
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I have a 68. The wider you go the more the rear quarters get pelted with thrown road gravel. You have some nice paint so something to be aware of and consider.
I went with 225/70/15 all around and have 7" on front and 8" on the rears.
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Old Feb 10, 2021 | 09:05 AM
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I have on BF GOODRICH SILVERTOWN 225/70R15 , you cant tell too well how they fit in wheel well , on my 69 , its up on jack stands but I think they look good .
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Old Feb 10, 2021 | 09:06 AM
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My 69' 427/400 that I miss dearly......255/60/15's.....they were perfect.

Jebby
Old Feb 10, 2021 | 09:09 AM
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Jebby did your quarters get beat to death from road debris? Mine are peppered from the tires kicking up cinders etc...
I am getting it repainted over the next couple months and have this concern.
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Old Feb 10, 2021 | 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by marshal135
Jebby did your quarters get beat to death from road debris? Mine are peppered from the tires kicking up cinders etc...
I am getting it repainted over the next couple months and have this concern.
Marshal
A little....but not much more really than a 225 or 235 that a lot run......actually the outside of the tread just flings rocks into outer space.....68-69 is going to get beat up in that area because it didn't have extended flares like the 70-72.....
Ask your painter to put a thin duracoat on the fender lip before they paint it......there are many products out there now for this. Even a clear vinyl wrap in that area will work well.
The 66' in the Avatar had a coat of rubber dust in the back for the rocks to bounce off of.....LOL!

Jebby

Last edited by Jebbysan; Feb 10, 2021 at 09:41 AM.
Old Feb 10, 2021 | 10:40 AM
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Thank you Sir!
I was unaware of the pre coat prior to paint.
Marshal
Old Feb 10, 2021 | 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Jebbysan


My 69' 427/400 that I miss dearly......255/60/15's.....they were perfect.

Jebby
Hi thanks for your reply. No rubbing with those 255's?
Old Feb 10, 2021 | 02:15 PM
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Default No way.

Originally Posted by huiez
Hello, I bought a 1969 convertible and it needs tires. The tires that are on it look perfect but they are 13 years old . I am considering some Diamondback redline tires. I know the look is subjective, but I think they would look pretty good on this car. The car has the original 8" rally wheels. Does anyone have some experience with these tires and would you buy them again? Looks like they have a Diamond Back SS and a Diamondback III. I am considering a 245/60 R15 for all corners or should I get 255/60 R15? Current it has 235/60 R15 and they look a little small to me.

Thanks for your help!
I own a 1969 convertible for 45 years. NO WAY are you going to be able to put 255/60/15 on the car. The 69's do not have the flared fenders NOR the shortened rocker panel trim REQUIRED for that fitment.
Fenders were changed in 1970, then again in 1980

I recommend 235/60/15's for PERFECT NO RUB FITMENT.
You can put 'slightly' larger tires on the rear...245/60/15....then you can't rotate your tires.

Unkahal
Old Feb 10, 2021 | 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by L-46man
I own a 1969 convertible for 45 years. NO WAY are you going to be able to put 255/60/15 on the car. The 69's do not have the flared fenders NOR the shortened rocker panel trim REQUIRED for that fitment.
Fenders were changed in 1970, then again in 1980

I recommend 235/60/15's for PERFECT NO RUB FITMENT.
You can put 'slightly' larger tires on the rear...245/60/15....then you can't rotate your tires.

Unkahal
My 69’ in the pic above was just fine with them....rubbed inside on the frame at full lock on the left side....never was an issue....
No body mods....

Jebby
Old Feb 10, 2021 | 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by L-46man
I own a 1969 convertible for 45 years. NO WAY are you going to be able to put 255/60/15 on the car. The 69's do not have the flared fenders NOR the shortened rocker panel trim REQUIRED for that fitment.
Fenders were changed in 1970, then again in 1980

I recommend 235/60/15's for PERFECT NO RUB FITMENT.
You can put 'slightly' larger tires on the rear...245/60/15....then you can't rotate your tires.

Unkahal
I completely disagree. I had 255/60-15 all round on my 69. They rubbed the inner fender in the front at full lock but only barely and I rarely turned that sharp. No problem at all in the rear.

Last edited by ZAKsPop; Feb 10, 2021 at 07:01 PM.
Old Feb 10, 2021 | 07:06 PM
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Default Funny this!

Originally Posted by ZAKsPop
I completely disagree. I had 255/60-15 all round on my 69. They rubbed the inner fender in the front at full lock but only barely and I rarely turned that sharp. No problem at all in the rear.
Thanks for making the case so cogently.....

I said NO RUBS, no bumps, no problems at full deflection, full lock etc.

Unk


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Old Feb 10, 2021 | 08:03 PM
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Thanks everyone for their input! I think I am playing it safe with 235/60/15's

Old Feb 10, 2021 | 08:28 PM
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Originally Posted by L-46man
Thanks for making the case so cogently.....

I said NO RUBS, no bumps, no problems at full deflection, full lock etc.

Unk
Well, if you want to be a stickler..... but I like how they fill the wells better than the smaller tires. True you can run smaller on the front but I would definitely go bigger in the rear.

Last edited by ZAKsPop; Feb 10, 2021 at 08:31 PM.
Old Feb 10, 2021 | 10:48 PM
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Scott, you do have some other options. Have you decided on radials or are you willing to consider original bias ply tires?

Goodyear G70/15 Custom Wide Tread

Red Stripe .350" https://www.kelseytire.com/performan...tread-rs-.350/


I really do think you will be disappointed in the look of a 235/60-15 on your car. BTW. At the very least, you're going to have a speedometer error to deal with. Your car originally came with an F70/15 tire which was ~27" tall. A typical 236/60-15 is 26" tall, typical 255/60-15 is 27".

Like others here, I run 255/60-15's on my '73 with some very minor rubbing on the frame on the drivers side at full left turn lock. The result is the rub polishes the head of one of the carriage head bolts that hold the steering box in the frame. ('73 was the first year Chevrolet put radials, GR70-15's on the Corvette however.)



Good luck... GUSTO



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