Author Topic: How big of a tire will fit on the front of a 69  (Read 10450 times)

sixt9x33rs

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How big of a tire will fit on the front of a 69
« on: February 01, 2014, 04:27:08 PM »
I am thinking about putting four P235 60 R15 on all corners of the Silver Z with the Torque Thrust wheels and will put original style tires on the Rallys. Will this size tire fit the front of the car without rubbing?
'69 RS Z/28 65B, 711 Flat hood no spoiler, endura, 4:10 43K miles
69 X77 Z/28 69 69 711 Original Paint Unrestored (Sold)
'69 X66 Convertible 69B 712 auto, (Sold) 44K miles

69Z28-RS

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Re: How big of a tire will fit on the front of a 69
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2014, 05:48:50 PM »
I don't know about your wheel sizes or offsets, or which brand of tire you are considering, but back in the '70's in attempt to put more rubber to the road on my '69Z RS, I used 235/60-15 BFG Radial TAs on 8" Corvette Rallyes, and I had issues with the front.. during sharp turns they rubbed against the bolts holding the inner fender to the fender so I exhanged those bolts for rounded head allen screws, then I found the tires were scrubbing against and wearing thru the plastic covers behind the RS actuators.. so I finally took them off, and put back the 15x7 wheels.   A friend had the same size tires on 7" rallyes on his car, and he had no issues, but his car wasn't an RS, and his car seemed to sit higher, as I believe the springs had been exchanged for 'BB' springs..?
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sixt9x33rs

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Re: How big of a tire will fit on the front of a 69
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2014, 06:10:55 PM »
I am running 15 x 7 Torque Thrust. The springs are a concern because they are the original ones and they do sit lower than the Gold car with new Moog Z28 springs. I am going to measure the tires when I get to the tire store and see what is up.
'69 RS Z/28 65B, 711 Flat hood no spoiler, endura, 4:10 43K miles
69 X77 Z/28 69 69 711 Original Paint Unrestored (Sold)
'69 X66 Convertible 69B 712 auto, (Sold) 44K miles

vonroll

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Re: How big of a tire will fit on the front of a 69
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2014, 12:56:47 AM »
I'm running (gulp) 245/60-15s on stock rally sports and yes they rub big time.  I didn't notice them rubbing on my test drive on reasonably flat roads.   Now that I'm driving the hill country back roads in central Texas, I feel it big time.   The fronts rub a lot more than the rear.  I've seen recommended size being the 215/60-15s, so I'll be trading out the fronts soon. 
69 Z/28, 01C,  X77, 711, 72 BPNT.   Hugger Orange, Black Vinyl Top

sixt9x33rs

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Re: How big of a tire will fit on the front of a 69
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2014, 02:30:37 AM »
I put the 235 60 15's on and they seem to be ok. For now...will see.
'69 RS Z/28 65B, 711 Flat hood no spoiler, endura, 4:10 43K miles
69 X77 Z/28 69 69 711 Original Paint Unrestored (Sold)
'69 X66 Convertible 69B 712 auto, (Sold) 44K miles

JohnZ

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Re: How big of a tire will fit on the front of a 69
« Reply #5 on: February 03, 2014, 03:52:06 PM »
My all-original unrestored '69Z came to me with BFG 235/60-15 T/A's on the stock YH rallys, and the fronts rubbed at 12 o'clock on the bright wheel opening moldings and bolts. I swapped the whole set out for 215/65 T/A's (same size as the original E70-15's), and the rubbing is history.
'69 Z/28
Fathom Green
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sixt9x33rs

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Re: How big of a tire will fit on the front of a 69
« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2014, 01:24:31 AM »
These tires are going on the Silver X77 original paint car. As far as I know it too has not been restored (looks that way anyway). The car naturally does not have the wheel well moldings so no rubbing on those or the inner radius of the fender. I have driven the car over speed bumps, down the road made turns etc. and so far so good, no rubbing. The torque thrust wheels that these tires are on are 15 x 7.

I do need new tires on the X33 car so good to know that the 215 65 70R15 fit well on the YH wheels. I will consider those tires. I currently am running 1993 vintage (ouch) P215 70 R15 BFG T/A Radials that don't rub at all. BUT the car has new springs in the front and re-arched stock springs in the back.
'69 RS Z/28 65B, 711 Flat hood no spoiler, endura, 4:10 43K miles
69 X77 Z/28 69 69 711 Original Paint Unrestored (Sold)
'69 X66 Convertible 69B 712 auto, (Sold) 44K miles

Steve Shauger

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Re: How big of a tire will fit on the front of a 69
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2014, 03:31:19 AM »
I had rubbing issue on my Yenko and Orange Z and I found the solution was to put 215-65-15. The 70 series rubbed just enough to annoy me :)
Steve Shauger
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69Z28-RS

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Re: How big of a tire will fit on the front of a 69
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2014, 04:43:04 AM »
These tires are going on the Silver X77 original paint car. As far as I know it too has not been restored (looks that way anyway). The car naturally does not have the wheel well moldings so no rubbing on those or the inner radius of the fender. I have driven the car over speed bumps, down the road made turns etc. and so far so good, no rubbing. The torque thrust wheels that these tires are on are 15 x 7.

I do need new tires on the X33 car so good to know that the 215 65 70R15 fit well on the YH wheels. I will consider those tires. I currently am running 1993 vintage (ouch) P215 70 R15 BFG T/A Radials that don't rub at all. BUT the car has new springs in the front and re-arched stock springs in the back.

You should check the plastic covers over the HL cover actuators to make sure the tire isn't scrubbing it.. they are easily damaged.
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Stingr69

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Re: How big of a tire will fit on the front of a 69
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2014, 05:24:42 PM »
245-60-15's on 7" Rally Wheels here.  I had to bend the lower edge of the front fender extension/moulding forward a small amount.  No permanant damage and clears/looks fine that way IMHO.  The inner side of the tire can touch near the subframe at full lock left or full lock right some times but on my driver car, it just does not matter much.  I would not worry but maybe some of you would.  I might go with 235-60-15's next time (but that might not ever happen).
-Mark.

sixt9x33rs

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Re: How big of a tire will fit on the front of a 69
« Reply #10 on: February 07, 2014, 01:14:09 AM »
The 235 60 15's are on the x77 car not the RS car.
'69 RS Z/28 65B, 711 Flat hood no spoiler, endura, 4:10 43K miles
69 X77 Z/28 69 69 711 Original Paint Unrestored (Sold)
'69 X66 Convertible 69B 712 auto, (Sold) 44K miles

z28z11

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Re: How big of a tire will fit on the front of a 69
« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2014, 02:49:49 AM »
My Pace Car rubbed on the actuator covers with FW series rallys and 235 tires. I am now running 205/50/15 TA's on the same FW's, and they do well. A little narrower than I wanted to run; shorter, too, but when I put NOS actuator covers on it I didn't want a repeat rub. Car sits well, almost like it's running 14 X 7 YJ's in stance.

Regards,
1968 Z28 M21/U17 BRG/W 1967 Chevy ll Nova SS 
1969 Z28 X77/M20/VE3 LeMans/W
1969 L78 X66/N66 Cortez/BVT
1969 Z11 L48/M35/C60/C06  1949 3100 5wd 235/6

sixt9x33rs

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Re: How big of a tire will fit on the front of a 69
« Reply #12 on: February 07, 2014, 03:21:30 AM »
I am running P215 70R15 on my RS Z28 with no problems. I like JohnZ idea of running 225 60 R15
'69 RS Z/28 65B, 711 Flat hood no spoiler, endura, 4:10 43K miles
69 X77 Z/28 69 69 711 Original Paint Unrestored (Sold)
'69 X66 Convertible 69B 712 auto, (Sold) 44K miles

69Z28-RS

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Re: How big of a tire will fit on the front of a 69
« Reply #13 on: February 07, 2014, 04:05:18 AM »
I am running P215 70R15 on my RS Z28 with no problems. I like JohnZ idea of running 225 60 R15
Actually, in reply #5 of this thread, JohnZ stated that he changed over to:    "215/65 T/A's"
09C 69Z28-RS, 72 B 720 cowl console rosewood tint
69 Corvette, '60 Corvette, '72 Corvette
90 ZR1 red/red #246, 90 ZR1 white/gray #2466
72 El Camino, '55-'56-'57 Nomads, '55-'57 B/A Sedan