Bias Ply tire options for 1969 Camaro

[x33rs]

Originally Posted by Survivor 69/Z28

Hello,

I am looking to replace some tires on my 69 Camaro SS/RS with some bias ply. Right now I am running 215/65/15 in front and 255/60/16 in rear on SS wheels, 15/7 in front and 15/8 in rear. I am wanting the same size tires but in bias ply. I was looking at F60's in front and G60's in rear as a possible option. Need to be around 26" tall in front and 27" tall in rear or close to this.
Anyone running these tires sizes in bias ply on a 69 Camaro? Wondering if F60's will rub in the front? Wish Firestone would make the Wide Oval in a G60 radial. They just don't have a lot of options yet. So looking at the Goodyear's....

Thanks in advance.

RS's are a little tricky on the front. Too tall or too wide and they'll rub the plastic headlight actuator covers.

On our 69 RS Z, at stock ride heights, we run a 215/65-15 on the front (26" tall), and a 255/60-15 on the rear (27" tall).

I'm not totally happy with the front though. That tire is still an inch shorter than the rear tire. Factory was an E70-15 which is almost 27" tall. The 215/65's are pretty darn close to everything up front.

The equivalent radial size for the stock E70 is a 215/70-15. I'm either going to buy a pair of those or possibly try a 225/70-15 which is a 1/2" taller and wider.

If I were going for the bias plys, on mine the E70's are factory and they fit the front, but I tend to think I could squeeze an F70 in there....maybe.

I'm pretty certain the F60's in the front aren't going to fit, they'll rub the actuator covers.

[x33rs]

Hopefully this will help some. I didn't explain that very well above.

E/70-15 is 8.4" section width - 26.73" dia - 6.63" tread width

F/70-15 is 8.4" section width - 27.09" dia - 6.34" tread width

F/60-15 is 9.23" section width - 26.27" dia - 8.25" tread width

Radial 215/70-15 is 8.7" section - 26.9" dia - 6.5" tread width

Radial 225/70-15 is 9" section - 27.4" dia - 6.9" tread width

Radial 215/65-15 is 8.7" section - 26" dia - 7.1" tread width

Running that 215/65-15 radial on my RS, clears the actuator cover, but it will sometimes lightly rub the very top inside of the fender when backing up and turning sharp over a bump. All those stipulations have to be met to have any rub. Otherwise works fine, it's just shorter than I want.

Given that info, on mine anyway, I could go straight to the 215/70-15 and it would work. Tread width is less so it would clear the top of the front fender, and also give me more clearance for the actuator cover, even though the tire is slightly taller, less width makes up for the room in that area.

The 215/70-15 is also the closest radial match to the factory E/70-15 Z/28 tire, and we know that fits. Going to the 225/70-15 radial may also work but it's probably pushing the limit of height and width for clearance on a stock RS Z ride height. These things sit lower than other 69's, and the RS stuff takes up room in front of the tire.

Looking at that F/60-15 bias, I'm pretty certain there is no way that would work, not without raising the front of the car with more spring...maybe. At stock height though, it's too wide for sure.