Hello, looking for some advice on which size of tires I should mount on 15” SS11 factory mags for my 70 442. Mags came with 215/75/15 which I think are too tall for the car? I haven’t tried it since rubber & mags were seperated when I purchased mags.
I was thinking going 235/60/15 or 245/60/15 or ??
Question is for all u 442 experts. What looks best, filling out wheel well & car stance? Your thoughts would be much appreciated.
Thxs Alf

 

You might read through this thread:
Wheel and tire size data base, please post yours - ClassicOldsmobile.com

 

245/60 will be fine

 

Ok Thxs, what about the 215/75/15, that came with the mags? They’re virtually brand new Hancook , which I would like to use, but wondering if they are too big for the wheel wells.

 

Joe's recommendation is in line with the diameter of the tires that the factory supplied for your 442. As such, they will look good.

Your preferred 215/75-15 is taller and a size & load match with the H78-14 factory tires that came on my 1970 Vista Cruiser. In my opinion, they have a good fill to the wheelwells and will not create any interference. However, they will raise the car about a half-inch. And they might look skinny on a 442. Consider those aspects in your decision.

 

OEM tires on a 1970 442 were G70x14, which hade a 26.82" outside diameter and an 8.75" section width.

Your 215/75-15s are 27.70" outside diameter and 8.46" section width. They may be a little tall. Depending on the wheel offset, you might get a little rubbing with the wheels turned to the stops.
245/60-15s are 26.57" outside diameter and 9.65" section width. Again, what is the offset of these aftermarket wheels? The OEM wheels are zero offset.

 

I was able to get 275/60R15 mounted on 15x7 steel wheels.. WILL SEE How they work on the front..... AND SS1 or SS2..??? decisions decisions

 

I have 255/60R15 on the front of my 1970 VC and the specific problem is the tire catching the edge of the stainless steel wheelwell trim and bending it. This only happens when the wheels encounter a bump when turning at low speed. It happens on the right when turning right and left turning left. I learned to avoid those situations or go very slow.

Just wanted to tell you what specific problem you should be aware of.

275/60R15 on the rear have lots of room as you probably assumed.

 

Exactly the same problem I have with the 255/60-15s on the front of my 69 H/O, though I have the original H/O wheels with zero offset and the rubbing is not on the lip. It only happens with the wheels turned full lock and you hit a bump.

 

I'm considering mounting 255s on the front of my Supreme. Just curious exactly where this hits/rubs on the tire. Is it the inside part of the tire that rubs or hits on the trim or some other part of the tire? Is it the width of the tire that causes the hitting or the diameter or maybe both?

Thanks!

-Joe

 

The previous two posts have most of that information.

The problem is the width of the tread.

 

OK thanks - i read the both your post and Joe's several times but wasn't sure if it was the inside of the tire hitting (because of the width) or the top of the tire hitting (because the tire is taller) but sounds like it's the inside because of the width as you confirmed. I'm actually wondering if a 15x8 wheel on the front with a 4.5" BS vs the 15x7 with a 4.375" BS would prevent this since it will give a very small amount of additional clearance to the inside. Of course this may cause issues to the outside since that's were all the addition width will go. I've seen several guys running the 15x8 with 4.5 BS using 245/60/15s on the front saying no rubbing any where but never seen anyone confirm they were running 15x8s with 255s on the front. I did find a few on a Buick site for Buick GSs but not sure if that is the same as a 70 Supreme. I may be a guinea pig for this. Will start another post if so. Sorry for the thread jack here btw!

-Joe

 

Got it.

The contact occurs between the outside part of the tread and the stainless steel trim that outlines the wheel opening in the fender.

Feel along the inside of the wheel opening in the fender. You will come to a point in the front half of the opening where there is additional clearance stamped in the fender lip. The stainless trim mirrors the shape of the fender lip. However the tire tread can catch on the edge of that thin stainless and pull it downward.

Increasing the wheel width would make the sidewall fatter. The inner sidewall would rub on the frame or suspension parts. Changing offset would cause the same problem.

The only complete solution is to use a tire with a narrower tread. Otherwise be careful in certain situations as outlined previously.

Factory tire sizes pose little problem in this regard. It is only when you start using a tire with wider tread than factory-issue that this problem appears.

 

Thanks for the detail that really helps. I'll probably start by mounting my current 245's on the new 15x8 aluminum SSIs once I buy them and check all the clearances with those before I even consider 255s. Maybe I'll just get a new set of 245s and be done with it. I still have to mount my new aluminum SSI 15x10s on the rear with my 275 drag radials so that will be step one. I have my own thread going for that one so will update there.

-Joe

 

Hi Joe, the rims are stock 15” SS11, which I assume has no offset. 245/60 should work, how about 235/70. A slightly taller tire & wider than the tires 215/75. I don’t want any chance of rubbing.
Thxs Alf

 

Yes, the OEM wheels are zero offset. I have 245/60-15s on OEM 15x7 steelies on my 69 wagon and I'm very happy with that combo. Zero issues.
245/60-15s are 26.57" OD and 9.65" section
235/70-15s are 27.95" OD and 9.25" section
215/75-15s are 27.70" OD and 8.46" section

Yes, the 235/70s are taller than the 215/75s

 

Thxs Joe for all the info, I’ll go with ur recommendation 245/60/15. I like the idea of no issues.
Alf

 

245/60R15 all the way around look great! I have them on my 72. Like stated above the 255's will rub in the front.

 

Thxs for all ur help. Seems like the consensus is to go with 245/60/15 all around without any rubbing, steering issues.
Alf