1970 442 W30 tires, help!!!
#1
1970 442 W30 tires, help!!!
My car: a 1970 W30 442 in need of new tires, I have a picture of the original owner in the car with Goodyear bias plays on it. My issue: this car is a great driver, that I do drive, I am hesitant to put bias plys on her, both due to ride and the cost.
I'm not sure how to proceed, my desire would be radials that look great and perform. I am bummed out that in this day and age there are so FEW ALTERNATIVES, I can buy a complete aluminum Pontiac engine ( and likely Olds?), BUT THERE IS NO TIRE MANUFACTURER ABLE TO SUPPLY A DECENT 14" PERFORMANCE RADIAL THAT LOOKS GOOD?!?
Apologies for the caps rant, I have an older restoration trans am car with decent Goodyear Eagles, I'm not such a fan of BFG to put them on a classic ride. I though I had heard someone was going radials with the bias ply look sided, however I did not find this site....?
So help, do I bow down and buy the ugly a$$ BFGs or is there a better, somewhat cost effective sly? ( and if you know someone that works for Goodyear or firestone - band their ear on what they may be missing!
Thanks David
I'm not sure how to proceed, my desire would be radials that look great and perform. I am bummed out that in this day and age there are so FEW ALTERNATIVES, I can buy a complete aluminum Pontiac engine ( and likely Olds?), BUT THERE IS NO TIRE MANUFACTURER ABLE TO SUPPLY A DECENT 14" PERFORMANCE RADIAL THAT LOOKS GOOD?!?
Apologies for the caps rant, I have an older restoration trans am car with decent Goodyear Eagles, I'm not such a fan of BFG to put them on a classic ride. I though I had heard someone was going radials with the bias ply look sided, however I did not find this site....?
So help, do I bow down and buy the ugly a$$ BFGs or is there a better, somewhat cost effective sly? ( and if you know someone that works for Goodyear or firestone - band their ear on what they may be missing!
Thanks David
#6
Trouble with 15's is the fronts rub the fenders when you turn. I've got them on my 70 convertible. No I'm not going to trim the fender on my vintage Olds.
I'm looking for tires as well, if I find anything other than the handful that are prevalent I'll post it up.
I'm looking for tires as well, if I find anything other than the handful that are prevalent I'll post it up.
#7
#9
I run 245/60/15 (far from rubber band)15x8 on my 70. My car is lowered 2.5" in the front and it has never rubbed the fender in the front.
Do you really need truck tires on your cutlass??
Do you really need truck tires on your cutlass??
#10
#11
The only time I had the fronts rub was when the tire shop mistakenly put a 255-60-15 on one front wheel, and it rubbed on hard turns.
Last edited by Fun71; July 7th, 2016 at 12:55 PM.
#12
Not really.
Dude.
Original tire: F70-14 -- Diameter 26.2" -- Width 8.71"
Common replacement: 225/70-14 -- Diameter 26.4" -- Width 8.9"
Closest 15" size: 205/70-15: Diameter 26.3" -- Width 8.1"
Next larger 15" size: 215/70-15: Diameter 26.9" -- Width 8.5"
The largest of these are 0.35" taller or 0.1" wider, respectively, not enough to rub on anything.
- Eric
Dude.
Original tire: F70-14 -- Diameter 26.2" -- Width 8.71"
Common replacement: 225/70-14 -- Diameter 26.4" -- Width 8.9"
Closest 15" size: 205/70-15: Diameter 26.3" -- Width 8.1"
Next larger 15" size: 215/70-15: Diameter 26.9" -- Width 8.5"
The largest of these are 0.35" taller or 0.1" wider, respectively, not enough to rub on anything.
- Eric
#13
Here's my car with its current 245-60-15s on 15x7 SSIII wheels:
1971convertible15x7SSIIIc_zps66f89e96.jpg
1971convertible15x7SSIIIc_zps66f89e96.jpg
#14
I don't understand what the Op is asking here. Is he looking for original style tires in a radial form to keep the car original or a modern radial that will work on his car. He mentioned Goodyear and a radial version of those are available through Lucas tire.
http://www.lucasclassictires.com/Goodyear_c15.htm
http://www.lucasclassictires.com/Goodyear_c15.htm
#15
I recently went to belted F'Stone Wide Ovals F70-14. They drive better than I expected and look GREAT! I do notice some more on-center wander but I'm not auto-crossing it.
58F10B6F-0AE1-4137-B3EA-6417B65D5535_zps2opgrqo4.jpg
58F10B6F-0AE1-4137-B3EA-6417B65D5535_zps2opgrqo4.jpg
#16
15 rims is the way to go
225 70 15s up front on 15 x7 and 275 60 15s out back on 15 x 8 with 4.5" BS. Nothing rubs. This is a great stance on any 1970-1972 A body.
14" rims are for judged shows. If you are driving your car buy the reproduction SS1 or redo a set of 15 x 7" SS 11/111 and mount on your car with good 15" rubber from BFG or Mickey T. Note the 15 x 7 is suited to a 255 60 15 rear tire. Many guys mount 275 60s on factory 15 x7 rims but tire companies do not recommend it & the tire does look bulged to my eyes when mounted. Use 215 70 15s up front if you go with 255 60 15s out back.
DSCN1299_zps73dda86a.jpg
DSCN1310_zps288c2175.jpg
DSCN1311_zpsbb975da1.jpg
IMG_20160420_152046_zpsk6azb6wy.jpg
IMG_20160420_152104_zpsy5ezqwee.jpg
IMG_20160420_152113_zps2g5aspoh.jpg
14" rims are for judged shows. If you are driving your car buy the reproduction SS1 or redo a set of 15 x 7" SS 11/111 and mount on your car with good 15" rubber from BFG or Mickey T. Note the 15 x 7 is suited to a 255 60 15 rear tire. Many guys mount 275 60s on factory 15 x7 rims but tire companies do not recommend it & the tire does look bulged to my eyes when mounted. Use 215 70 15s up front if you go with 255 60 15s out back.
DSCN1299_zps73dda86a.jpg
DSCN1310_zps288c2175.jpg
DSCN1311_zpsbb975da1.jpg
IMG_20160420_152046_zpsk6azb6wy.jpg
IMG_20160420_152104_zpsy5ezqwee.jpg
IMG_20160420_152113_zps2g5aspoh.jpg
Last edited by oldsmobiledave; July 7th, 2016 at 02:43 PM.
#17
Okay thanks you guys. All your cars look great. I took a look at my car and they are indeed 225/70/15(275/60/15 on the back). Though they are on 8" rims, wonder if that makes a difference. Or I need to lose a few pounds. That's true anyway.
Sorry David, wasn't trying to make your post about me. Though there's been some good information put up here.
Oldsmobiledave got me to thinking. Though I couldn't retain my deluxe full wheel covers like I want. Hm.
Sorry David, wasn't trying to make your post about me. Though there's been some good information put up here.
Oldsmobiledave got me to thinking. Though I couldn't retain my deluxe full wheel covers like I want. Hm.
Last edited by slantflat; July 7th, 2016 at 03:25 PM.
#18
Wheel diameter has no bearing on gas mileage, its the diameter of the tire. As stated wheel covers probably will not work. The reason you may have encountered some rubbing is weak springs lowering your car or wheel back spacing not compatible with your setup.
#20
allyolds reported 245/15/60 with 7" (rims I think)... rubbed the sway bar on his 68 vert. But he also has a larger than stock sway bar according to him. So Id say 245/60/15s are about as large as you can go with stock sway bars. Im happy with the 235/60/15s up front, no rubbing.
#21
I have the Firestone re-po wide oval. On 14" on my w-30.
There a horrible riding tire or theres something else going on, but the suspension is all new.
Im looking for either 15s or a 18inch combo, and keeping the originals
There a horrible riding tire or theres something else going on, but the suspension is all new.
Im looking for either 15s or a 18inch combo, and keeping the originals
#22
Thanks for all the replies and advice, I really don't want to go through the bother, expense, and storage to move to 15" rims. (At that point why stop at 15?)
Ideally they would make a 14" radial that has the original Goodyear or Firestone sidewall, or something reasonably close (which isn't the case with Lucas from what I saw Eric, they are all true bias ply). Something like like the old Eagle STs would be decent. The coopers and others don't look much better, in my humble view.
I may end up buying the BFGs and going black wall.
Ideally they would make a 14" radial that has the original Goodyear or Firestone sidewall, or something reasonably close (which isn't the case with Lucas from what I saw Eric, they are all true bias ply). Something like like the old Eagle STs would be decent. The coopers and others don't look much better, in my humble view.
I may end up buying the BFGs and going black wall.
#23
Just going by what it said on the page:
Goodyear
The name says it all. A leader in the industry for years, Lucas Classic Tires stocks all the popular sizes of Goodyear Classic Radials, Performance Series and Collector Series tires.
I know they look like bias plys, give them a call.
Goodyear
The name says it all. A leader in the industry for years, Lucas Classic Tires stocks all the popular sizes of Goodyear Classic Radials, Performance Series and Collector Series tires.
I know they look like bias plys, give them a call.
#24
Fair enough, I'll give them a call, but if you look under the tab http://www.lucasclassictires.com/Ame...adials_c65.htm
It's all white walls etc. I'll see what they say.
It's all white walls etc. I'll see what they say.
#26
I talked to Lucas this afternoon, all the Goodyear and Firestone tire repos they sell are bias ply, the guy on the phone was helpful, not incredibly knowledgable, the only option he suggested they have is BFGs for 14s.
My point: if someone would manufacture / offer a decent looking close assimilate to the OEM, in a radial, for a reasonable price, they would sell a few tires IMHO, apparently their market research tells them otherwise.
My point: if someone would manufacture / offer a decent looking close assimilate to the OEM, in a radial, for a reasonable price, they would sell a few tires IMHO, apparently their market research tells them otherwise.
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