Dear Guys, I am trying to gather as much unbiased information as possible as I am about to buy tires. I have frequently asked what is the biggest tire that will fit the back of a '69 Chevelle and consistently get the answer 275, 15, 60's. I don't choose to dispute it. My question is why do we always stipulate the 60 series tire, is it just favored over the 70 for appearance and performance. Or will the 70 not fit. I want a wheel that will "fill up" the wheel well ( of course not hit ) My understanding is that a 70 series tire would be a tiny bit taller in the sidewall. Hope I haven't made this too fuzzy. Will 275, 15, 70's fit? Thanks as always, R. B.

rb,

I shouldn't answer this as I am at work but and any reference material I have (which isn't much) is at home, but if I am incorrect I am sure someone else will correct me. I believe the 70 series tire is a little taller profile and has limited width availability. I don't think a P275 70R 15 is available. I think maybe 235 or 245 maybe the widest. Hence, this is why most opt for the 60 series to be able to go up to P275 width. Some want even a little wider and they go for the 50 series P295 tire. The P295 is not available in 60 series.

When I replaced the tires on my 67 they had Polyglas G70's on the back and F70's on the front. I felt (at the time) that they looked plenty good on the car and I wanted to duplicate it with BFG's. I went with (from memory) P215 70 R15 on the front and P235 70R15's on the back. If I were to do it today I probably would have went with 60 series P275's on back and and probabley stayed with what was on the front as long as the overall tire diameter for the back was greater than the front. I don't like a car to sit leaning backwards.

Hope this helps

Mytmouse

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67 SS396 350HP 4 sp 3:55 Posi Butternut Yellow w/Black Vinyl (http://www.pascale.org/Muscle_Cars/Mytmouse/mytmouse.html)
68 RS Z/28 302 350+Hp? 4sp 4:10 Posi, Euro Red on Black (http://www.pascale.org/Muscle_Cars/Myts_Mouse/myts_mouse.html)
70 SS396 350HP 4 sp 3:55 Posi, Black on Black (http://www.pascale.org/Muscle_Cars/Myt_70/myt_70.html)

Mytmouse A.K.A. Robert Stacho
ACES Member # 04359

Dear Robert...I sure appreciate your answering similar questions on about three different posts, wheel size stuff etc. Thank you for being so helpful. The reason I keep posting wheel and tire questions, as they occur to me, is because I have bought things in the past which turned out to be the wrong thing, or there was something better, and I don't have a lot of luck taking stuff back. Up here in Canada, probably the same all over, they take a deposit, then they special order stuff, and they make it clear, "You bought it, pal.", if you know what I mean. So I am trying to get this all together by early spring. Thanks again. Don't be surprised if I think of something else. Thanks R. B.

No problem. I try to help when I can. I am far from an expert but I have some experience and this board has helped me and I try to repay back in kind.

Mytmouse

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67 SS396 350HP 4 sp 3:55 Posi Butternut Yellow w/Black Vinyl (http://www.pascale.org/Muscle_Cars/Mytmouse/mytmouse.html)
68 RS Z/28 302 350+Hp? 4sp 4:10 Posi, Euro Red on Black (http://www.pascale.org/Muscle_Cars/Myts_Mouse/myts_mouse.html)
70 SS396 350HP 4 sp 3:55 Posi, Black on Black (http://www.pascale.org/Muscle_Cars/Myt_70/myt_70.html)

Mytmouse A.K.A. Robert Stacho
ACES Member # 04359

RB,

Keep in mind tire fit is also affected by your ride height, rim width, and rim offset. Try swapping tires and wheels with friends to see how they look, then do some accurate measuring.

Thanks Bruce....my ride height is the same as all other Chevelles in stock appearance. I should know what it is, but it's a little cool to go out and measure right now. The rims are 8" width and the offset it 4 1/2". I will be looking at tires ( if they are there ) at the upcoming Detroit Autorama. I think I am probably going to make out okay on the backs. Now I need to figure out what goes on the front, narrower, on a 7" rim, but the same overall height. My hangup is I have just learned to shift my thinking from the old style "F's and G's and H's" to the one currently in use. I have been told that the problem on the front will be hitting the back of the tire against the inner fender during turns. The good news is that tire manufacturers list the diameter of the tire, and that should help a lot. Thanks for your comments. I appreciate all efforts to assist. R. B.

Rod:
I went to this site: http://www.powerdog.com/tiresize.cgi

Looks like the same diameter/circumference for 275/60R15 is a 235/70R15 if I did it right.

There are other sites out there if you do a search on tire calculator.

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Ron Cook TC Gold Member #1276
1969 300 Deluxe HTSS396 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/bow_tied4.jpg) The L35-325HP 396cid (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/bow_tied3.jpg) 69 Memory Lane (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/bow_tied.jpg) 1971 Malibu 2DR HT (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/bow_tied_71Malibu.jpg)
CanAm Chevelle Club (http://www.angelfire.com/folk/canam) _____________"Now, don't go and cloud the issue with facts..."