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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.
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.
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.
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.
Marshal
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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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
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.
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.
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....
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.
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.
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.
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.)