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Tire Size Question

Old Dec 24, 2024 | 09:35 AM
  #1  
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Tire Size Question

I had made a post in parts wanted about rims and it led me to question tire size, and it got a bit confusing, figured I'd start new thread in wheels and tires.

I have a 69 442 which came with brand new Cragars and BFG tires. Rear 275/60/15 Front 215/65/15. I prefer a more level stance or lower rear end than higher as it sits now. My thought is to keep the rear tires as they are but need to figure out which front tires will give it the stance I'm looking for. Is there a webpage besides tiresize.com that I can enter tire sizes, and it will show how the car will look from side view so I can see the stance? Thanks for any suggestions.
Old Dec 24, 2024 | 10:16 AM
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You can just use any of the tire size calculators. The 275-60-15 is 28" in diameter, your 215-65-15 is 26", so you have a 2" diameter difference.
I use this one:
Tire Size Calculator | Tire Size Chart | Tire Size Conversion | Discount Tire

Last edited by oldcutlass; Jan 6, 2025 at 03:11 PM.
Old Dec 24, 2024 | 11:28 AM
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Originally Posted by oldcutlass
You can just use any of the tire size calculators. The 275-60-15 is 28" in diameter, your 215-65-15 is 26", so you have a 2" diameter difference.
I use this one:
Tire Size Calculator | Tire Size Chart | Tire Size Conversion | Discount Tire

Yes, Tiresize.com shows there is a 2" height difference. I don't like the stance. I'd like to keep the 275/60/15's on the rear, they are 10" wide. I'm trying to find a suitable size for the front that won't rub when turning. I plan to put 15" Rally wheels all around. I'd prefer to buy only 2 front tires and not replace all 4.
Old Dec 24, 2024 | 02:13 PM
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235/70-15 is one of your only choices that is the same height as your rear tires.

My ex-bro-in-law used these as front tires on his 1970 W30 and they did not rub during turns.
Old Dec 24, 2024 | 02:29 PM
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I think a 235-70-15 may rub in the wheel well. Post some sideview pictures of your car in its current state.
Old Dec 24, 2024 | 03:25 PM
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Originally Posted by oldcutlass
I think a 235-70-15 may rub in the wheel well. Post some sideview pictures of your car in its current state.

These are the only 2 pictures I have right now. I just bought the car in November. The weather has not been good enough to take her out. The BFG's are white letters in which I plan to turn them out when I finally decide on front size. This is with the Cragar wheels which will be replaced with 15" Rally wheels



Last edited by 442b; Dec 24, 2024 at 03:27 PM.
Old Dec 24, 2024 | 06:42 PM
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What's bothering you is the car has been lifted. This is what it looked like stock.



Automobile Catalog is saying the original F70-14s were 25.6 inches tall. And as you can see the entire sidewall at highpoint of fender lip is hidden behind the fender. Now imagine how high your 442 has been lifted to fully expose a 28.1 inch tall tire.

Here is a real world stance on a then new 68 442.


Motor Trend Dec 1967
Old Dec 24, 2024 | 06:54 PM
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The modern equivalent to your factory correct tire is a 215 70 14 which is 25.8 inches in diameter.

Your speedometer is way off with a 28 inch tire, and to match it up front would obviously call for a 28 inch tire as well. I've had oversize tires on the front of A body Cutlasses, up to 27 inches tall, and they make incidental contact on turns...

If I held your opinion regarding looks I would drop the height back to factory correct, keep the fronts and go with a much shorter rear tire. Maybe 265 50 15s, but you need to verify fitment because they are even wider than your current in section width. They are 11.4 inches wide. But 25.3 inches tall...

Last edited by 69CSHC; Dec 24, 2024 at 07:59 PM. Reason: removed links, did not open properly
Old Dec 24, 2024 | 07:06 PM
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I like the stance as it is.
Old Dec 24, 2024 | 07:38 PM
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So do I, I believe I have the same exact oversized rear springs on my car. But with 26.1 inch tires. So you can see plenty of wheel well and some frame on mine. Obscured to some degree because of how dark the car is overall.



Old Dec 28, 2024 | 05:50 PM
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Late to the party, but I find this site helpful due to the visualization of the comparisons.
http://tiresize.com/comparison/
Old Jan 7, 2025 | 09:54 AM
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Besides the Price and the top tire stating it's an All Season, what is the difference? I'm assuming by the looks of both tires they are both All Season. One says Cooper Tires the other says Coker Tire. Trying to justify the price difference. They both read within the descriptions that they are Seasons Year Round. I guess another way of saying they're all season tires.

Last edited by 442b; Jan 7, 2025 at 10:00 AM.
Old Jan 7, 2025 | 01:51 PM
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There is no difference between the two. My local Discount Tire has them at $137 ea.
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