4" skinnies with 1 1/2" backspacing
 

Is a 15x4 skinny with 1 1/2" backspacing enough to use on the front of a 69 Camaro? Looking for a tire that won't give any issues. I would assume the wheel will be more outboard or closer to the fender edge. Thanks guys.

I Run the Coker /Firestone Deluxe Champion 7.75x15 (OEM size for 65-67 Corvettes) 0n my 4" Cragars on my 67 Camaro with disc brakes, Fit Great, Look Great , Kinda Pricey Tho

That's a bias ply correct? How tall? I think I read 26" is about the tallest you can go on a 69 Camaro. Trying to decide radial or bias ply.

Bias Ply , think they are exactly 27"tall. All my Hot Rods have Bias, The Look is way more important to me than the Ride ,especially with the Skinnys...

You Sir are absolutely correct! I put Bias ply all the way around my 69 chevelle and loove the way it looks !

Radials look awful on 4 inch wheels. I've got Firestone 6.40 15 on my Camaro. They are about 27 inches tall.

I love the 6.40-15 Firestones. They look great with an L60 rear.

What backspacing are y'all using? I've read 2" on up. The skinnies I plan on using are 1 1/2" BS. If I go bias ply the tire shouldn't balloon like the radial tire if what I'm reading online is correct. I was informed about the MT Sportsman tires, but not too keen on the roundness of it. I'm thinking this skinny needs a full tread pattern I would think. And I have been looking at a ton of tires for the past week. Anything you guys can point to will be appreciated.

If you are cruising around I'd run a DOT tire of some kind, available in bias or radial.

I have M/T SR fronts, heavy but drive great.

John, what size are the front M/T tires on the yellow 67?

Thanks,

Car looks killer John!

I’m running bias ply on all four corners…..if you’re trying to go for “The look”, that’s the only way to go as radials don’t look right.

My combination is 15x4 Cragars-Moroso Drag Special in the front with 15x8-M&H Racemaster in the rear. I’m not positive on the basckspace for the fronts but I don’t think there were a lot of options. The car drives fine except on wide cracks/seams in the road……I have manual steering which helps…..IMO

With that being said, the fronts are not DOT approved but the rear are……I have driven my car a lot like that since 2009 and never been questioned on them. But……if you’re going for plan on using a 4” wide wheel…..I’m assuming that’s not DOT approved either…….?

Kurt

M&H used to make a nice DOT "Muscle Car'' Front tire 185/85 27" tall, last time I looked availability was a issue tho, Still have a pair on the front of my Chevelle and my Boss.

The ones on my '68 Chevelle are 5" with 2.5" backspace, so the extra inch is all to the inside compared to yours.

I can't imagine you'd have any fitment problems with the backspace. I've actually been considering putting a 1/2" spacer on mine just to move them outboard a little to match up to the rears a little better. From some angles, they look like they sit way in the fender opening.

That's why I'm asking the BS question. How far OUTSIDE is too far? There are a lot of tires out there and I have noted from 165/80, 165/70, 195/75, 205/70, 205/65, 205/75 and some of the tires y'all mentioned.

Curious what the tallest would be for the 69 Camaro at the front well. My car is already low, Z28, with 235/60/R15 with 15x7 Vintage Wheel Works V40 version of TT II's and they fill the wells good. I'm ready to go for a different look. Going day two. I want to go with a 15x8 rally 4.50 BS and something that will fit for the rear. The rear tires are a no brainer L60 or 275R. Sure seems to be a 50/50 thing with who is running what tire.

Thanks guys for the back and forth on this, it sure will help with my decision.

Wheel /Tire combo & sizes Make or Break a Cars Attitude ! Especially a period Day 2 look. Stance is Everything

5.60-15 Firestones up front on 15x3.5 Fenton Gyros
N50-15 M&H RaceMaster on 15x10 American Racing slot mags

Getting the 5.60’s to air up was a bear and required ether and a torch. But they do look cool. Even if the car has a long ways to go.

I ran the Coker Tire 640.15 Firestone Pie Crusts on the yellow Day 2 Camaro with 4" wheels up front and they fit great. There's a shorter version as well (540.15) but they look too small IMO . Tried them on the Green Z28 but didn't like the smaller tires.

Also ran the 640 pie crusts on the Day 2 Nova I rebuilt a few years back and they were awesome on there as well.

All these cars look sweet! Great job

MT SR 26 x 6.00 x 15

The yellow Z and the Nova, look just right. So a 27" front tire fits nicely.

These are a 27.30 height which is a little taller than the original E70/15 Goodyear Wide Treads (26.73 height) chosen for the Z/28, but they have a narrower tread width at 4.45 vs 6.63 so they work well on a standard height car.

Your car with a lowered stance may become an issue for this tire and wheel setup. If you're looking for a day 2 look, you might want to ditch the lowered springs and raise the car up to where it will achieve the right stance / look.

Good luck with everything. :beers:

5/8 spacer
 

I have to use a 5/8 spacer for the Cragar Skinny’s I have. The car has disc brakes and the wheel won’t clear the caliper without the spacer.
That little bit of outboard width with will make a difference in required tire height if your not careful. If a car sets just a bit high it shouldn’t bother you concerning rub.

I had a set of ProTrac tires on the front for a while. They were too short and looked stupid. My friends also thought they looked stupid, but didn't say anything about it until after I took them off. The 6.40 Firestones look a lot better. I don't have a good picture of the car with the short tires on it, but the first picture is with the sort tires and the bottom picture is with the 27 inch Firestones.

Everything is still factory original with the suspension. I got it with 80,000 miles on it, still has original ball joints with the rivets. No issues there, just low.

You're sitting low, too. Looks like how mine sits with the tires IN the wells. The shorter tire doesn't look bad at all, but the taller tire pic looks more to my liking.

Just found this on FACEBOOK...

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid...07261543806270

Tire budget says go with these. These seem to be a commonly used tire, and there are plenty out there to buy. I just don't like the roundness of the tread. They are 26".

I still have to figure out the rears, so I may go with L60's If they'll fit. I was thinking on a black 15x8 rally with 4.50 back spacing on the rear.


https://www.jegs.com/i/Mickey-Thomps.../1572/10002/-1

Gack.

Horible tire and meant for drag racing as the surface contact patch is quite minimal. Hope you never have to hit the brakes because it'll skate...but if that's what you like?

That's just not a good picture with the short tires on it. If it was a direct side shot like the other picture you would be able to see how bad it looked with the short tires. I got my Firestones from Rusty Small (SmallHurst) who is a member here and has a classic tire business.

I’m like Freddie I’ve had too small- short tires on my 15x4’s that looked terrible. This thread has been very informative to me and I’ve decided to buy the M/T radials that ProStockJohn has on his yellow 67 Camaro.

Good driving tire at higher speeds, true radial.

These M/T ET Street fronts interest me too, I assume they won't have the same grip but they are lighter.

I just don't like the roundness of the tread on the MT skinny tires. Kind of looks like a bike tire. Still looking to see what suits me and the car. The car will be driven on the street...so at least the very least a DOT tire. Been doing a lot of reading online and there are so many 'OLDER' post. Thanks for ALL the input. The more usable info the better.

I sent a message to Mr. Smalls.

I have those on my '55 Chevy. I really don't like how much the sidewalls bulge out. They almost look like a radial.

Bias-
Pros: Old school look; lighter.
Cons: Don't handle as well, wear faster.

Radials-
Pros: Better handling, less oversteer
Cons: Modern looking tread, noticeable heavier.

Grant is Correct! these Suck unless you want a 1990'S Pro Street look

Does look fat doesn't it?