I have a 67 442 with SSI wheels and I want to install disc brakes and have the wheels rebuilt for discs. They are currently 14X6, and was thinking of going with a 15X7. Has anyone put 15's on a 67 with something like a 225/70r15 tire or 235 and has it cleared OK? I have 255/70R15s on my 77 El Camino and they are the maximum that will go under the wheel wells and not rub.
Thanks, Charles

 

No problem with tire clearance on a '67 a-body. I have 15x6 fronts with 215/70-15 and 15x8 rears with 275/60-15 radials. No clearance issues at all. Get the rear wheels with as close to neutral offset as possible ( 7" rim with 3.5" backspace, 8" rim with 4" b.s.).

 

Yes, 15x7 SSI wheels will clear front rotor and calipers up to 11" if I recall correctly. What disc brake conversion kit are you looking at?

As per tire size, 225/70r15 or 235/60r15 will function with no issues. I believe factory tire size was 215/70. Many owners go with a 245/60r15 tire size but it looks odd to me as the tires mushrooms over the wheel.

Are you looking to improve handling as well?

 

If you want to stay more standard, look for a set of "LY" code '69 SSI 14X6 wheels. They were produced for only about 4 months - from early April 1969 to mid-July 1969 - and were built specifically for the disc brake option on the "A" bodies. The '69 model year LE code SSI wheels (also 14X6) don't work with disc brakes.

Personally, I think I'd like the 15X7 look a lot better. The bigger wheel fills that opening a bit more. Just throwing out another thought with the LY wheel.

Randy C.