I was wondering if anyone knows what the biggest tire and rim combo I can fit on a '69 Chevelle. I want that high in the back low in the front aggressive look with the serious wide rubber in the back. I don't want to tub the car at this time. Stock fender wells with a stock 12 bolt rear end. Thanks for the help.

325/50/15's is the widest I've seen without some major work. Here's a pic of mine.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Purs/frt-side-web.jpg

Gotta make sure that your backspacing is perfect to run a tire this big. Mine are on a 15x10 with 5.5" of Backspacing. Others like Clint44 are running 17's with tires that big. Do a search or go to the showroom and start looking at different combo's.

Are you going to want to keep the stock 14" rims or go with some aftermarket wheels like Weld or Gragar. If you go with a 15" wheel a 275/60 would look good on the rear of your 69, I have them on the rear of my 72. I'm using Weld draglites with 15x8 rears with 4.5bs this should work for a 69 I'm sure someone will correct me, as for the front a 235/60 on a 15x7 would make for a nice combo which is also pretty popular. I have 215/70's on the front of my 72 for that big n' little look :cool: Your choice on the tire size on the front will depend on the look that you like and how your Chevelle is driven because it will make a slight difference in it's handling.

Purs, thanks for the info I like how wide the tires are but I want the back end up and the front end down more rake I guess is what they call it. Do you know if I could run a 60 series in that width? Or anyone who makes this? Jill

Brandon

My car has 15" rims already I will stick with that. I am pretty sure I want a 60 series but trying to determine the width I can stuff under the fender well without tubbing, or rubbing :)If I run a tall, fat tire in the back and smaller tire up front how will that effect the handling? Or should I just lower the front to get the look I want? What do you think? Thanks, Jill

Slam-it and put big rims on it!!! http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/10/web/47800-478999/478862_11.jpg :D :D :D

The kinda prosteer look is OK, not so god for handling. You could run like a 275/60R15 in the back and 215/70R15 in the front, it will give you the look you want, just wouldn't enter any autocross events.For a cruiser, should work out nicely.

Jill: When I was searching for my current wheel and tire combo I was told to try and keep the tire heights close to the same to help with the handling some. It is obvious if you put a wide tire on the rear of a car and a thiner tire on the front it will have an effect on it's handling, it won't make it so it won't drive right but you won't want to try and drive like an autocross driver like Dennis mentioned. Mine still handles good, I can still take it around twisty back roads at 50mph and it handles fine. As for the stance I know what your looking for you want the raked look, the stinkbug stance (I'm sure there are other names ;) ) you might want to consider adding some airbags in the rear springs (not air shocks) these are similar but are much better, they will raise the rear of your 69 like you want, I have had them on my 72 for a little over a year. Good luck with your search.

There a few different sizes you can run:

295/50, 275/60, 305/50, 325/50, 295/65
The first 2 can be used on a 15x8 wheel with 4-4.5" Backspacing and no mods to the wheel well lip.
The last 3 need a 10 inch wheel and 5.5 inch BS and depending on how centered the rear is under your car or stance you might need to roll the lip.. I have had 4 of the 5 on my blue 68 in the last 8 years. I like the fit of the 305/50s the best.
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/ACE841/jeffss2a.jpg

with 295/50s:
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/ACE841/park2.jpg

I also have had slicks(28x10.5) under there too:

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/ACE841/IM000097.jpg

My old Bu with 275/60s:
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/ACE841/malibu.jpg

This last pic was right after paint and no interior or drivetrain so it is sitting quite high:
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/ACE841/OldBlujan97.jpg

I think I am a tire/wheel fiend :D

Ace, I suffer the same affliction graemlins/beers.gif it's like a woman and shoes :D

BBlondie,

the rake look can be achieve by different rear springs (Moog CC507's) I installed some on my car but removed them because I didn't like the way it sat an inch or two above the rear tires....

The 325/50's are just over 28" tall, just a little taller than a 275/60.... a 295/65 is like 29.6" tall :eek:

Jill, I run a 15x8 steel rim with 4.5" backspace and a 295/65/15. This gives the car the awesome rake I think you are looking for. You can e-mail for pics if you wish. Tony A. graemlins/hurray.gif

Tony,
I would very much appreciate pics, that seems to be the best way to get an idea of what it will look like thanks alot. I will email you with my email address. Jill

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/ratuned/Dadnsbndayandmikennscar011.jpg
15-10 rims. 28.5" tall 12.5" wide sportsman pro tires. also a N-50 15 fits in there real well and looks tough. i'm a big fan of the old school big and little look. mike