Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

have had the rallyes on my 69 since I bought it in `91. Now that the car is back to an original look I am on the fence on a "more correct" wheel & tire combo. These are my choices and was hoping to get input from you all.

1) 14" SS wheels with goodyear polyglas

2) 15" ss wheels with tires currently on car.

Q: How bad are polyglas to drive on?
Q: Do 15" ss wheels look ok?

Some pics of the car in question:
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...paug232012.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2..._SS/julep2.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...nload008-1.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...ownload004.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2.../dataplate.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...IMG_0685-1.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2..._69_SS/003.jpg

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

Great looking "Canadian" Chevelle. If your use to the Radials you won`t like the bias tires. I prefer the look of the Goodyear Polys especially since you`ve gone all this way to make the car look original again.

I really like the look of your Chevelle. Great job.

I`m sending you a pm.

Dan

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

My choice would be:


1) 14" SS wheels with goodyear polyglas

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

Your Chevelle looks GREAT!

After driving around on radials since 1991, Polyglas tires will take some getting used to! They do not respond to steering input as quickly as a good radial will, do not ride as smooth, and Polyglas's like to follow the ruts and crowns of the road, so you will be fighting the steering wheel from time to time. There are a couple of areas on Happy Valley Road and I17 where I'm fighting the steering wheel when driving over to the Pavilions. I don't dislike driving on them, but my Chevelle had better road manners with radials. Be prepared to get used to driving on them! However, you can't beat the look of Goodyear Polyglas tires on a muscle car.

Those aftermarket SS style wheels have a different look to them and do not quite match the original SS wheels. The trim rings definitely won't match. So, in my humble opinion, you will be switching out non correct wheels with different non-correct wheels.

If you have the room for storage, buy a set of 14" original SS wheels, mount a set of Polyglas's on them, keep your present tires and wheels, and switch them out. I debating on buying some aftermarket wheels and radials myself.

Hope this helps.

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69SUPERSPORT396</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Your Chevelle looks GREAT!

After driving around on radials since 1991, Polyglas tires will take some getting used to! They do not respond to steering input as quickly as a good radial will, do not ride as smooth, and Polyglas's like to follow the ruts and crowns of the road, so you will be fighting the steering wheel from time to time. There are a couple of areas on Happy Valley Road and I17 where I'm fighting the steering wheel when driving over to the Pavilions. I don't dislike driving on them, but my Chevelle had better road manners with radials. Be prepared to get used to driving on them! However, you can't beat the look of Goodyear Polyglas tires on a muscle car.

Those aftermarket SS style wheels have a different look to them and do not quite match the original SS wheels. The trim rings definitely won't match. So, in my humble opinion, you will be switching out non correct wheels with different non-correct wheels.

If you have the room for storage, buy a set of 14&quot; original SS wheels, mount a set of Polyglas's on them, keep your present tires and wheels, and switch them out. I debating on buying some aftermarket wheels and radials myself.

Hope this helps. </div></div>

Yeah - the aftermarket stuff is really horrible and I am not suprised they didn`t duplicate the originals.... I bought door panels for the car and the fit was so poor I threw them in the trash! Nevermind all of the other parts I ordered that were &quot;off&quot;.

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

just for fun..... a few other pics of the car along the road...

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...elopper168.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...elopper170.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...elopper216.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...elopper201.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...elopper180.jpg

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

Bias plies look great but ride very roughly and handle badly. They will track any groove in the road, so you have to be paying attentiion at all times when driving with these tires. There is nothing like the ride of the radials.

If only they could make a Frankentire with the &quot;Polyglas&quot; letters on a radial carcass.

The best idea is to have a set of bias ply tires on a show set of rims and have a set of BFGs on another set of rims for street driving.

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

It looks like you have the tire stance figured out with the radial TAs. Put a set of 15&quot; SS wheels in place of your rallys on your existing tires for the drivers and sell the rally wheels to offset the expense. The 15&quot; SS wheels can be found at Summit or Jegs then invest in a date coded set of restored YA wheels with the right tires for the car shows. Or for fun put a a set of 15x7 TTO Torq thrusts on it and keep the 14&quot; wheels for the car shows. Look at the pictures of Albert's ZL1 Chevelle with the TTOs.

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

Some good advice here on what you can expect with the bias ply's. My Camaro is not the same since I put on the Goodyear's, but it looks cool [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img].
Where I miss the radial's the most is when I get up on the freeway.
As far as the wheels, the SS wheels were made for that car.

Mike

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

Here's a couple of shots of a friend's '70 with 15 x 8s &amp; BFG Radials. IIRC, the wheels are Wheel Vintiques and the tire sizes are 235/60 fronts and 255/60 rears.

No clearance issues.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...2/DSCF0971.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...2/DSCF0972.jpg

Another view, although a bit distorted.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...2/DSCF0999.jpg

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: m22mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Some good advice here on what you can expect with the bias ply's. My Camaro is not the same since I put on the Goodyear's, but it looks cool [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img].
Where I miss the radial's the most is when I get up on the freeway.
As far as the wheels, the SS wheels were made for that car.

Mike </div></div>

Nice Camaro. I gotta say ii always loved the look of Cragars on these cars.....

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

Looks good with Cragars though these wheels are Rocket. This car has a nice stance

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

How about those torque thrusts that billd has in the for sale section. Would be a great look!

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sixtynine</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: m22mike</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Some good advice here on what you can expect with the bias ply's. My Camaro is not the same since I put on the Goodyear's, but it looks cool [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img].
Where I miss the radial's the most is when I get up on the freeway.
As far as the wheels, the SS wheels were made for that car.

Mike </div></div>

Nice Camaro. I gotta say ii always loved the look of Cragars on these cars..... </div></div>

Those front runners were only on the car for a short time when I took it to MCAAN the year before last, usually has the Goodyear redlines are on it.
And yes the Cragers are cool too.
Mike

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

A nice clean restored 69 SS like yours will look awesome finished with what they came with, 14&quot; SS rims with the poly glas tires.
I have poly glas tires on my 70 and they are not as bad as everyone makes them out to be. Just keep your hand on the steering wheel and you will be fine [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] This is how it would look [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/drool.gif[/img]

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

I bought a new 69 with L78 engine with 410 gears, only problem with polyglas they would never hook up in 1st!Since your car appears stock I would go original 14 in ss wheels.

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

SS Cragars... You can fit a 295-50 15 with a 5.5 B/S 10&quot; rear and a 235-60 15 8&quot; front SS Cragar...Or a redstripe on the Ralleys you have already.

cheers Dave

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chevyfever</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I bought a new 69 with L78 engine with 410 gears, only problem with polyglas they would never hook up in 1st!Since your car appears stock I would go original 14 in ss wheels. </div></div>

Well she looks stock but can ROCK as it made 450hp/530tq on the dyno with qjet &amp; cast iron intake and a weenie cam (albeit with headers) Its a 454

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/cool.gif[/img]

http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...ps98f8dfbd.jpg

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

YUMMY. Makes me wish I put the vinyl roof on mine. Came with a Dark Blue one from teh factory....


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 6pakdave</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/cool.gif[/img]

http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/...ps98f8dfbd.jpg </div></div>

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

My vote is for OEM 14&quot; SS wheels and bias-ply tires! I was in the same boat about a year ago. Here's my car when I got it with 15x8 rallys with '67 caps and 255 60 15s. And now with original 14&quot; SS wheels and bias ply G70-14 tires. Eventually I will get some repro wide ovals, but these old bias ply tires were on the wheels when I got them and are in great shape so I left them on for now.
I LOVE the stock look with bias plys!!! Tradeoffs are the car doesn't ride quite as nice but certainly tolerable, and no traction as previously mentioned.
Before:15x8 rallys with '67 caps and 255 60 15s
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r..._4373-1024.jpg

Now: original 14&quot; SS wheels and bias ply G70-14 tires
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...G_7884cc72.jpg
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...G_7882cc72.jpg
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...G_7883cc72.jpg
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...G_7885cc72.jpg

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

car looks great with the SS wheels Brian.

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

Buy my American Racing Torque Thrust wheels... 15x7, mint, perfect.

Thanks,
Dan

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

<span style="font-size: 14pt">Since you are asking....... if you want a nice ride and better handling, buy yourself a nice modern muscle car and go carve up a canyon road or hurtle yourself around a switch-back. If you want to experience the true essence of vintage muscle in all its glory and faults, put the original spec bias plies on it and your car will look incrementally better than one shod with radials. There, I said it and I feel better now.</span> [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

This makes sense. We may have a winner.

I always ask my old man how he did it &quot;back in the day&quot; i.e. driving these cars in the harsh Quebec winters...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mockingbird812</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-size: 14pt">Since you are asking....... if you want a nice ride and better handling, buy yourself a nice modern muscle car and go carve up a canyon road or hurtle yourself around a switch-back. If you want to experience the true essence of vintage muscle in all its glory and faults, put the original spec bias plies on it and your car will look incrementally better than one shod with radials. There, I said it and I feel better now.</span> [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] </div></div>

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

pm me the details

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MosportGreen66</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Buy my American Racing Torque Thrust wheels... 15x7, mint, perfect.

Thanks,
Dan </div></div>

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mockingbird812</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-size: 14pt">Since you are asking....... if you want a nice ride and better handling, buy yourself a nice modern muscle car and go carve up a canyon road or hurtle yourself around a switch-back. If you want to experience the true essence of vintage muscle in all its glory and faults, put the original spec bias plies on it and your car will look incrementally better than one shod with radials. There, I said it and I feel better now.</span> [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] </div></div>

Sam you nailed it. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
I love the feel of my LS6 being all original with Goodyear Polyglas tires giving that old school feel,there is nothing like it. When i get in too my 2007 Shelby GT 500 with that new performance feel, there is no way an original non modified old school car can duplicate this. They are both unique in there own way but it does not mean i like one over the other as they are both extremely fun to drive in there own way!

Re: Wanting advice on wheels & tires for the 69
 

Of course, I love the look and the feel of the Polyglas!

The thing to think about is the car was made for these tires. If you changed your bushings out for harder bushings, you will feel it. If you put gas shocks on, you will feel it. Air them to the door sticker and roll!

I have friends that have rolled on their Polyglas from Chicago to the Grand Canyon and back. Car loaded with family and luggage, no sweat!

The new rubber means these tires dig! They have plenty of grip!

If you want to do stock or you want to do day 2, give me a call!

L60-15's in back and F60-15 in front!!!!!!