Questions for all of those who have stepped up from stock 14" to 15" reproduction wheels.
Im ready to pull the trigger on Wheel Vintiques Series 52 Repro SS1 on my 68. Its a sparsely driven show queen so I want it to look relatively stock on stance and in wheel well fillout. Although touch larger cant hurt it. But dont want the over sized look.

Im on the fence between the 15 x 7" wheel with 4.375" back space or the 15 x 8" with 4.5" back space from "hows it gona look" standpoint. IMO you really cant totally fill out the 68-69 wheel wells on a stock appearing car, drag or hot rod yes.

Im leaning more towards the 7" wheel. Now for tires...235/70R15 or 225/70R15 or 235/60R15 or 225/60R15 . Not sure I want the 60 series tire though that would put the look back to where it is now.

Second Q does anyone know of a source for the correct wheel centers with the lip. I cant find one. Looks like I'll suffice with the non-lip or go after a good used set then re-chrome.

Pictures of 68-69 with both sizes strongly welcomed. Opinions welcomed as well!

 

You definitely do not want to put a 225- or 235-wide tire on an 8" wide wheel, in my opinion. Stick to the 7" wheel.

The two 60-series tires you mention will be too small, diameter-wise, and will not fill the wheelwell. The 235/70R15 is too tall. Of the four, I'd choose the 225/70R15. However, my favorite is one you didn't mention: 245/60R15. Both the width and diameter are very close to original. Someone else will have to comment on how these fit a '68, as my experience is with '70-72.

 

Attempted to post a poll...but the forum gods put a crazy 10 minute rule on it that makes tons of sense...OY!

Combo choices are:
15x7 wheel 225/70R15 tire
15x7 wheel 235/70R15 tire, Thinking this combo
15x7 wheel 225/60R15 tire
15x7 wheel 235/60R15 tire, Or this combo
15x7 wheel 245/60R15 tire, In the running
15x8 wheel 235/60R15 tire
15x8 wheel 245/60R15 tire
15x8 wheel 255/60R15 tire
15x8 wheel 275/70R15 tire, too big

Like a chineasuim menu too many choices!

 

TX Brian, I think the 70-72 can take a lil bit more tire as far as the look. Humm havta do some homework on the 245/60R15. Not a bad suggestion. Do you have those on a 7" rim?

Agreed the 225/60R15 or 235/60R15 series on a 7" rim would be too small. I dont want the tread contact area to look thinner than the side walls. Id prefer a Square looking taller tire.
Steve

 

Yes. Heck, I've got 275/60R15 on a 7" rim (even though it's not recommended).

 

I have 225/70R15s on 7s on my stock rims on my 72 Monte Carlo, and it really fills them. Not your application, for sure, but I'm pleased with them on that car. I believe my dad runs 235/60R15s on his 8 inch wide Corvette ralleys (71) and it looks good, too.

 

Steve,


You've seen my car. I have 245-60-15's all the way around. IMO the 245's are too big for the front and not quite big enough for the back.


BTW I just scored a set of those 15x7 chrome SSIII rims and they came with two 225-60-15's and two 255-60-15 Cooper Cobra's. I'm switching the 255-60-15's to the 15x8 rims I have and keeping the 225's on the new 15x7's. I've also got a set of air bags I'm going to install to hopefully pick the rear squat up a little.


I'll send pics in the next couple weeks. We'll have to meet up again this summer.

 

Wanna sell those 2 extra chrome 15x7 SSIII wheels?

 

Another member here has first dibs. I'll let you know if he decides not to buy them.

 

Ok, I have 3 already so it would make a set for me, thanks!

 

Thanks everyone great feed back, thats what I needed, keep it coming.

Mike, nice rim score. I do like the look/stance of your car. Bringing up the rear will change the look and yes a little larger is probably not a bad deal if you "bag" it.

Do the 245/60s rub up front? You think 235/60 is a better fit up front?

You have to try to make Friday night Damascus Shrine cruse on Bay road, Webster. 400 cars is a slow night. Blows Log Cabin cruse away IMO. Less of everything else and more muscle & vintage. Killer fish fry, burgs, doge, $3 cans if frosty working fluid as well.

I wanted to keep the same size all around but after thinking about it the rear does need a little more rubber than the front.

So from the current feed back Im leaning towards 235/60R15 on 7" wheel up front and 255/60R15 on 7" wheels in the rear. I do not want the bigs n littles look from a height stand point. Width is fine.

No sources for the correct SS1 center caps???

 

The 235-60/255-60 is a very common combo and should look great! I already have those sizes in BFG's to ho onto the SSIII wheels I asked about above. The correct looking repop caps are sold by Thornton and probably a few others like Fusick.

 

Mine rub but I'm running a oversize sway bar

 

Orange you may be correct. Fusick shows the correct cap, no other vendor does. I was under the impression all the repros dont have the OEM ridge at the bottom nor the raised embossed Rocket logo? Guess Ill have ta give em a call.

 

I know Thornton had them at one time but may be out or may not be produced anymore.

 

I bought my SS1 caps from Thorntons about 6 months ago. There very nice. I did have to send one back for exchange as it had too many tiny pits in the chrome. They exchanged it no problem.

 

Steve,
Did they have the original design with lip?
TX Steve

 

Bump TTT....do they have the ridge at the bottom per OEMs?

 

We went with 255/60-15 tires on the back of the '70, with 225/70-15 tires on the front. This seems to work well with the 15x7 rims front and back, all the while better filling the rear wheel wheels, keeping the car level, and not having the front tires rub while turning or hitting any bumps.

I think the 68-69 models, with their rounded and protruding wheel wheels, look great with 15" rims and wider tires, even more so than the 70-72 models. One of the reasons why the '69 H/O looked fantastic with that combination. No one has figured out why Olds cancelled the 15x7 SS-II rim & G-60 tire combination at the last minute for the '70 model year.

 

Just pulled trigger on 15x7 SS1s. Now for tires and centers. Thinkin 255/60 out back. On the fence with what to do up front. 245 or 235 60s...

 

Were you wanting your front tires taller than the back? A 225 70 15 is just about 1/2 inch taller than a 255 60 15 is it not?

Perhaps it is not noticeable mounted on the car but it would be with the rims and tires next to one another.

 

255-60-15 and 225-70-15 side by side. Hardly noticeable. I'm putting them on this weekend.

 

Hey sorry I never saw this post again, yes the Thornton center caps have the lip. There very nice. They were great to deal with, the one i had to exchange, i felt like he didnt care if i sent it back to him or not. But i did, they promptly sent me another it was alot nicer.

 

The fronts definitely look taller to me. It will be less obvious when mounted.

Enjoy your new shoes.

 

Mike which is which in the pic? Can you snap a pic of the tread width side by side too. Just ordered the center caps from Fusick. Tires next!

 

No worries Steve, Fusick has them as well. Steve at Fusick was out of them in the warehouse but has them on the truck. Hope to see them next week
-Steve

Steves cubed!

 

Fronts are on the right. I'll post a pic of the widths later.

 

Thanks Sir Mike! Cant to see it in person.

 

New Rims n Tires...finally... 235/60/15 up front and in trunk, 255/60/15s out back. All 5 are 7" wide SS1s series 52s from Summit.
Why would installing new high quality equipment cause the steering wheel to no longer be centered (7 O'clock now) and it pulls slightly left at speed. Was aligned with the old tures n rims 3 years ago. Drives like a cloud other wise, 'cept for some steering box slop. Quick ratio steering box rebuild is next!
Before and after.