Cleaned up and painted my old SSI's and swapped out the Cragars I had on the car. I know it's a very subjective question, but which do you like better? I'll keep both sets but the SSI's need new tires (really old 215/70R14's) so trying justify spending $400+ to keep them safely on the car for a while.

SSI's - Originality. Chrome is a little thin with some dings on the caps but not terrible. 14x6 and actually fit with the disk brakes but need new tires, probably BFG 225/70R14 unless someone has a better idea. RPM's higher on the highway with a 3:42 rear end.

Cragars - Old school aftermarket. Beefy 275/60R15 on 8" rims in back and 255/60R15 on 7" in front. Really fill the fender wells and give the car an aggressive stance. Better take-off traction and lower RPM's at highway speeds.

 

SS1's IMO

 

FWIW, I think the SS1's define the car better. I think the Cragars give to much bling and tend to dominate the pic. My eye was drawn to the wheel, not the car if that makes any sense to you. Could also be I tend to like the SS1's better. Now if you were comparing some Torque Thrusts in cast/chrome finish it would be a tough call.

EDIT: I just went back and re-looked at the pics. There was something bugging me about the Cragars. Then it hit me! With the Cragars the car tends to look like a Camaro or Firebird!

 

x2 the SS1's

 

SSI would be my choice.

 

tough choice I luv Craiger's but have to agree... with those lines and the red the SSI's are the way to go

 

Here is the diplomatic answer....keep both sets and swap them out as needed. If you're like me, your preference may change with your moods. Some days red heads are hot, other days brunettes, and blondes are always hot. So, if you have the room, hang on to both sets and switch as needed.

 

what scott said ...blondes....

SS1s rock wish they were 15s tho
Cragar SS gotta love em

yeah I think keep both to hard to choose

 

I sure love my Cragars. I love your '69 too. Nice looking car.

 

I like Scott's answer. Id say keep them both, drive it regularly with the cragers (more traction is safer, lower rpm is better for cruising and mileage), but keep the SS1s and put them on when you go to a show or take pics of the car, or if you might want to sell it at some point the SS1s will make the car look like its worth more. They give the impression that it's an original car while the cragars give a more hotrod kind of feel. And we all know an original car sells better than a hotrod. But as said before, the cragars would be my choice for daily driving

 

My mortician friend owns a good looking old Firebird. He also has a set of correct wheels for his ride, along with a very nice set of Cragar SS1's. He rotates them every other year.
I bet he would drop dead if he saw this post!

 

Thanks for all the input and the responses are pretty much what I expected with the SS1 majority. Guess I need to ask Santa for new rubber. Tires on the SS1's have decent tread but are probably 15+ yrs old. Any better options than BFG 225/70R14's?

Will definitely keep both sets to match my mood. Cragars were the wheels to have in my youth and add that over the top look. Kinda like Pamela Anderson vs. Sandra Bullock if doing the blonde/brunette analogy. Both have a certain appeal.

 

If I were still in HS I would have definitely said Cragars. But now, I like the SSI wheels much better - it's the originality.

I'm in a similar dilemma. I've got 2 sets of wheels - one with red lines and SSIs and the other with the basic drum brake steel wheels and white line tires with wire wheel covers. The car originally came with the latter but I much prefer the former. I told my dad the wire wheel covers make it look like an old man's car. Dad simply asked, "How old are you"? (60...). So, for real originality, I use the wire wheel covers. But the SSIs and red lines make it look like a real 4-4-2!

Randy C.

 

Who says you have to choose? I have bias ply redlines with the original poverty caps and radials on vintage Drag Mags. I also have some 15 inch E-T 5s at the polisher right now. Wheels are one thing that you can change that changes the whole attitude of the car.

 

I agree with being able to change the appearance of the car. I like old school. Most of us put mags and hyjackers on our cars in the 70s.

Lee

 

Most definitely the SSI's. Cragars just seem out of place to me on an Olds.

 

What Scott said x2

 

My opinion... whatever has the tire to burn! Nice olds!

 

SSI Wheel

 

FWIW, I like the look of the lugage rack with the Cragars. Kinda diffferent.

 

WOW what a difference, the SSIs completely change the look of that car - I remember seeing a 70 charger with poverty caps, thought it was the ugliest car made until I saw one with craigers - couldn't believe the dramatic difference - they are still one of my favorit cars after olds and GSs

 

They both look good and you would be wise to keep the SS1's for resale purposes. I don't see the Cragars making it look like a Camaro or Firebird. I've got two sets of wheels too. One set SS11's and a set of aluminium slots (American Racing), Goodyear G70/14 RWL on one set and BFG's on the other.I usually put the SS11'S on for shows and the slots for cruising. There is not a lot of choice for new radials, so good luck in your search.

 

I will go contrarian and say the Cragars. From the side view the SS1's look good but I like the way the 15's with the taller tires fill up the wheel wells. From behind I like the way the big meats look as compared to a 215 or 225. You should post that angle as well. Hopefully, that is the way people will be seeing it as you pull away from them.

If you hold onto both & switch off I'd consider getting some belted tires for the SS1's for a real original look.

 

I agree with the way the tires fill up the wheel well with the Cragars!! It gives it a period correct hotrod look!

 

WOW! they both look good on you're ride.
I would keep them both!

 

You asked about options to the BFG 225/70/14. I'm not sure if you meant a different size or a different brand, but the Firestone Indy 500 is a nice alternative to the BFG. And best of all, they are considerably cheaper than the BFG's...at least they were locally.

 

Hmm, Cragars getting more love in the later posts. Much better look from behind as someone mentioned. I will probably continue to use them primarily but will use the SS1's much more now that I have them looking better. Still on the fence about what tires use on the SS1's. Really like the idea of classic belted but the car is just nice driver quality and not "original" enough to justify the cost. Firestones are cheaper than BFG but wish they would revive the "super sport" lettering from my youth instead of the "Indy 500" available now. Might try to remove some tread on the existing tires in the meantime but don't trust them on the highway due to age. Kinda fun since the big meat on the Cragars stays well planted with just a 350 and posi rear end.

 

I like them so much I put a set on my pontiac

 

It's not a fair comparison. The Crager's have the correct stance and fill up with wheel wells properly. The 14" SSI's look correct but are way to small for the wheel wells (I know that's the way they came but....).

In my opinion you should sell both sets and get 15x8 SSIs rear and 15x7 SSIs front and go with your 275/60/15 and 255/60/15 tires and you will be able to have your cake and eat it too.

My opinion is biased of course because that's exactly what I put on my son's 70 Supreme:

driverside2.jpg