Rims / Tires for my 1969 Corvette

[1railman]

I agree nothing over 15. Like the idea of daisys, maybe with some Mickey Thompson "I block" tires.

[Dave Rifkin]

Here is where I am so far;

American Racing T70 (15 x 7 front, 15 x 8 rear)

BFG Radial TA's 255/60-15 for the rear and I was thinking of putting either 225/60's or 235/60's on the front. The issue I am having is the stock size 225/70-15's would have a diameter of 27.3". The 255's have a listed diamter of 27.1" (close enough); should I be concerned with the diamter of the fronts? The 225's have a listed diameter of 25.6" and the 235's have a listed diamter of 26.1"
I don't want the speedometer to be way off with the varying tire diameters.

I think if I can get this figured out I can pull the trigger and order my new rim/tire combination this weekend.

[Salvatore]

make sure with the offset on the rims the front tires don't rub. 27" on the front of a 69 camaro with a rim less than 4" of backspacing seem to rub/hit the wheel well. A vette may have more room.

[Dave Rifkin]

[ QUOTE ]
make sure with the offset on the rims the front tires don't rub. 27" on the front of a 69 camaro with a rim less than 4" of backspacing seem to rub/hit the wheel well. A vette may have more room.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think I should be okay; the '68 Corvettes came from the factory with 7" rims and I think they used an F70-15. I am hoping that using the 15 x7 with a 4" BS should maintain that stock fitment.
I want to be really careful with my selections since it's not a cheap investment and I doubt that these tings are returnable.

Thanks for the heads up.

[olredalert]

------Not trying to change your mind so much as inquire why you would put a narrower wheel on the front than your Corvette came with, at least in 69??? There is no difference between 68s and 69s anywhere as far as clearance is concerned. I have put more sets of aftermarket wheels on Corvettes than most and over the years I have migrated to 8s or 8 and a halfs all the way around. Depending on your tire choice you definetly wont have any problems with clearance. The 8s also give your car that road-racing flair that I kind of like on a Corvette. .......Bill S

[Dave Rifkin]

[ QUOTE ]
------Not trying to change your mind so much as inquire why you would put a narrower wheel on the front than your Corvette came with, at least in 69??? There is no difference between 68s and 69s anywhere as far as clearance is concerned. I have put more sets of aftermarket wheels on Corvettes than most and over the years I have migrated to 8s or 8 and a halfs all the way around. Depending on your tire choice you definetly wont have any problems with clearance. The 8s also give your car that road-racing flair that I kind of like on a Corvette. .......Bill S

[/ QUOTE ]

Just thought it might give the car a different, more muscular look.I really love the look of the August 2003 Feature car and hoped that that combo would get me close.
I wish I knew what that car's set up was.

Maybe I should stick with 15 x 8 all around with 255's in the rear and 235's in the front?

[markjohnson]

The Gold '69 L-88 Roadster with the American Racing 200S Daisys pictured earlier in this thread is as tough as tough gets! That's the look I'd personally be going for!

[MosportGreen66]

Sorry for the delay, Dave. Here is the photo I referenced before.

Dan

[Dave Rifkin]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry for the delay, Dave. Here is the photo I referenced before.

Dan




[/ QUOTE ]

Wow Dan that car does look nice with that set up. I also like that color; is that Donnybrooke green?

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
------Not trying to change your mind so much as inquire why you would put a narrower wheel on the front than your Corvette came with, at least in 69??? There is no difference between 68s and 69s anywhere as far as clearance is concerned. I have put more sets of aftermarket wheels on Corvettes than most and over the years I have migrated to 8s or 8 and a halfs all the way around. Depending on your tire choice you definetly wont have any problems with clearance. The 8s also give your car that road-racing flair that I kind of like on a Corvette. .......Bill S

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, now that I read Bill's post I think 8s all around would look better than "big-n-littles." Plus, you can rotate the tires every few years!