All,
Looking for some help to determine the correct tires for a 1969 Camaro (standard, 6 cylinder, auto, non-SS/RS/Z28...very plain jane with full wheel hubcaps). From what I can tell on this website the standard tires were E78-14 blackwall with an upgrade RPO option to whitewall.
When I look at Coker Tires website, they show a 1969 E78-14 whitewall that is 2.375 wide. That doesn't seem right to me. Looking to see what someone knows (was it a ww that wide or more narrow)? Thanks!
Correct, base tires would be as you stated. First level w/w optional tire would have been the PK8 E78 x 14 2-ply Whitewall. Don't know about width of WW but no way it was that wide
I think they're an inch or so. Not a pin striped tire....Joe
Here's what's on Kelsey Tire's site:
Note for the 1st Generation Camaro only – Read Carefully
14" Goodyear Tire Fitments
Goodyear Polyglas tires were first used and going forward in April of 1969. For Goodyear RWL fitments for vehicle build dates beginning in April 1969 through October 1969, use Goodyear Polyglas SKU# CB5KL. November through December of 1969, a running change was in place with Goodyear Polyglas installations. Thus either the CB5KL or CB5KJ may be used. As you can see, this encompasses the first half of the 1970 build year. Prior usage from 1967 through March of 1969 was the Goodyear Speedway Wide Tread series.
15" Goodyear Tire Fitments
The Z28 cars of this generation are well-defined. 1967 735/15 Red Line SKU# CBBMV. 1968 & 1969 Goodyear Speedway Wide Tread GT E70/15 RWL STK# CB3EX. 1970 – see running change note above. F60/15 RWL STK# CB4GF or CB4GG, depending on the vehicle build date. The F60/15 RWL STK# CB4GG was used from January 1970 through the end of first-generation O. E. bias fitments.
Note: They are referencing their own part numbers on the tires they sell.
thanks, i went with some BFGoodrich G78-14s from Coker. They are the closest to the original E78-14 specs.
I know Kelsey are supposed to be the experts, but there is no way early '69 base Camaro came with a Wide Tread series tire.
Is it possible the wider tire could be ordered as an option?
Yes, in fact the F70-14 were the upgrade option (likely selected for RS/SS/Z28 models), which the Speedway Wide Tread series tires are. So that does comment from Kelsey does make sense. However, they were not the base option. I am 99.99% certain were not chosen for my base 230ci Camaro.
I think this looks more original...
My 68 6 cylinder was optioned with ww tires. This would be an interesting article to read about.