I just want to make the right decision for my 67. From what I gather, my car seems low in the front, but not 100% on that, maybe it is the correct height. I see where we only really have the BF Goodrich tires if we want a good tire at a good price that is Raised White Letter. Presently, the car has Magstars with the repro Goodyear E/70/15, I will be putting on original 10 spoke wheels.
So, sizes. Now before everyone says, stuff like, we cannot do everything for you, etc....I have searched high and low, read all the measurements, revolutions per mile, Bla bla....
I was thinking of the very standard 215/65/15, according to tire rack and other searches, including one that was on this forum, the rev per mile are 799, I would like to get that down. If the revs per mile is a lower number the engine will rev lower on the highway, correct??? I am running 3:89 gears with an automatic, although the car is revving high on the highway, it is fantastic around town and for a auto, moves nicely because of that gear ratio. I don't want to make this an ordeal, but some sizes I am looking at are:
215/65/15
215/70/15
225/70/15
235/60/15
I want them to fit nicely without issues, (I forgot to say, my front fenders appear to be rolled, not sure if that is factory or not). Two pictures included, one Front and one Rear. I fully understand that there is a lot of play with the rear, I would like the same size all the way around, but one size bigger will not bother me. I have not figured out how to turn pictures correctly, the second picture is the FRONT, at 25" from the ground to the fender lip.
Thank you all and have a Happy Easter!
I have 235-60-15 BFG on the front. Probably will replace with the "Goodyear" Avons.
Performance wise, the BFG is a good compromise. You don't need to worry about revs per mile with the front. Just the back.
My rears are 295-50-15 BFG on 10 spokes. 3.50 rear. 5 speed with 1:1 rear.
Good all round set up but needs a '66/Versalles rear banjo to get the tires within the wheelwell.
Those probably will go to the Avon trick 295's as well, budget permitting.
The nicest set up by far will be the Avons. I'm at just over 22,000 original miles. I need to worry about the tires drying out before I wear them up?
25" is what I have also.
Here are the two images rotated.
(just in as a footnote for those that may not be aware, '67 GT350's with auto came with a 3.50:1 rear gearing the 4-spd's got the 3.89:1 rear gear)
If we leave the 15" tire, then there is quite a choice.
The worst wear tire I ever had were Kumo 245-55-17's on my 92 SHO. They were I think 92w's? I went through three sets at just about 3,200 miles each.
That was with a tire rated at a 400 wear factor.
The tire dealer explained to me that often the wear rating means nothing. It is the "aggressiveness of the tread design that determines the wear rate".
Now that was a strange tire to begin with. It had to be set at a negative 1 degree camber to keep the car going straight in the wet.
If I was driving it aggressively, having to look for the cops in every shadow, that would have been different. I got tired of forking out $900 for just driving to work once a year. They weren't any more fun then the original Goodyears.
If I put 3,200 miles on my 68 in the next three years, I'll be shocked. My BFG's are drying out from age.
It all depends on your criteria for you car? How you use it.
The best bang for the buck unquestionably is the BFG in a 15". Go into other diameters, it's an entirely different ball game and I wouldn't be surprised if everything needed to be retuned? Shock rate, spring rates, ride heights?
Try re-engineering the car? Venturing even a little can require the attention level of NASA, and you won't realize it until you come to the fork in the road. No problem you say? It's a wall. Once you go over, you can never come back and likely you are all on your own, all by your lonesome self?
On the topic of ride height, does anyone have a rear number ground to bottom of wheel lip with stock large letter Speedways? GT 350.
Heres some measurements for you:
BFG P215 70 R15 is 26 1/2" in diameter. The road contact is 6 3/4" wide. No fender rub.
Repop Goodyear E 70 15 is 26 1/8" in diameter. Road contact is 7" wide.
Randy: My car sits in a bubble with Klunk tires on it during the winter. No measurement is available at this time.
All please read my post and give advise, I am choosing BF Goodrich due to they have raised white lettering and are a radial, they are reasonably priced, and while not the best they are a good tire.....Again, I listed some sizes and am wondering if anyone has SIZE advise. I have searched all the measurements....
I drove it today and the more I drive it I just wonder why anyone would want repop Goodyears. I also understand that my car should have 3:50 gears, (I might change them), I am thinking of going with 215/70/15 instead of the 215/65/15, might want bigger in the back.
SIZE recommendations is what this post is about.
Quote from: 67 GT350 on April 12, 2020, 05:50:04 PM
All please read my post and give advise, I am choosing BF Goodrich due to they have raised white lettering and are a radial, they are reasonably priced, and while not the best they are a good tire.....Again, I listed some sizes and am wondering if anyone has SIZE advise. I have searched all the measurements....
I drove it today and the more I drive it I just wonder why anyone would want repop Goodyears. I also understand that my car should have 3:50 gears, (I might change them), I am thinking of going with 215/70/15 instead of the 215/65/15, might want bigger in the back.
SIZE recommendations is what this post is about.
I think size and profile are going to be personal preferences. We all had our reasons for choosing certain sizes.
It just comes down to what you think your car looks better with? None of us can decide that for you or tell you what is right or wrong. Your choice.
No, not saying I am asking to tell me what looks good, I am I guess asking, what clears in the front, the back is easy as I think if you don't mind it looking fat, you can go big and wide, if you like that look. Personally most of the time, I would like all 4 corners to be the same, but if I am filling wheel wells, that is a different story. I do think I might go with:
215/65/15 in the front......I am thinking on the rear:
215/70/15
235/60/15 or 245/60/15 as I think getting my RPM's lower on the highway is important. Interesting enough the size 225/60/15 as per tire rack claimed that with a .6 more diameter over the 215/65/15, the revolution per mile is more at 813, does not make sense.
I am running 225/60/15 BFG's on my 67 GT-350, front and rear. No rubbing. Automatic, with 3:50 gears.
Greek
Quote from: shelbydoug on April 12, 2020, 10:44:19 AM
I have 235-60-15 BFG on the front. Probably will replace with the "Goodyear" Avons.
Performance wise, the BFG is a good compromise. You don't need to worry about revs per mile with the front. Just the back.
My rears are 295-50-15 BFG on 10 spokes. 3.50 rear. 5 speed with 1:1 rear.
Good all round set up but needs a '66/Versalles rear banjo to get the tires within the wheelwell.
Those probably will go to the Avon trick 295's as well, budget permitting.
The nicest set up by far will be the Avons. I'm at just over 22,000 original miles. I need to worry about the tires drying out before I wear them up?
25" is what I have also.
Your running 295-50-15's on a 15"x7" Ten Spoke? That's a HUGE tire!! Got any pics?
I ran Cooper Cobras on my last 67 car 235-60-15 and 255-60-15. I did roll the rear lips but they would have fit with no issues. They're "OK", not bad, no flat spots like BF's and rode well. Just NOT performance based at all.
I really like the Avon's but beside the price, they throw stones pretty good because they get sticky. About the only performance tire available really!
My pictures were previously posted.
This post is about GT350's tire dilemma. Not mine.
Also, I thought the tire sizes recommended were all ready listed in this thread? Why are we making decisions for you...again?
I'm getting confused?
For what it's worth, attached car was lowered upper front and rear lowered 1 inch standard/stock springs with 215/65/15 Goodyear's and the Goodyear got painted white on each tire - no rubbing. You don't say if the suspension is like factory (Shelby) stock or modified - are/were the font upper arms relocated? There will be an un-used set of holes (17/32 in diameter) about 1 inch above where the bolts are holding the upper arms to the body. If "stock" you could go with the 215/70/25 no problem You can probably bigger.
Do some checking to see the section width and diameter of the sizes you list and compare to the Bias-plys you have. Some times easy to find sometimes a bit more difficult, call the seller/dealer get them to find that info.
Get what your comfortable with have them mounted and check - roll straight and turn the wheel but don't drive on them, if there is an issue typically you can return tires that have not been driven. Yes tire size is a formula/ratio and any tire to that "size" should be the same BUT they are not all the same they do vary. (insert rant here).
I run 235/60/15 all the way around with a low car, fenders are rolled and does not rub driving down the road, but does rub full lock when parking.... but I am pretty low.
^^^ looks fantastic
I went a different route as Doug suggested. Lowered front control arms, Global West front 635LB 1" lower coils, 1" lower Trans am spec rear leaf springs 190lb rate. 1" front bar, 3/4" rear sway, and Koni absorbers with underride traction bars. Front tires are on 17 X 7 10 spoke legendary with 235-45-17 G555 tires and rear are 17 X 8 10 spoke legendary with 255-45-17. No clearance issues. The Shelby handles well for what it is with that combination. The original 15" rims are here if I change direction at some juncture. The tire choices for 15" rims are far too limited. I don't own a trailer queen, despite it being just as clean as most of them.
Quote from: The Going Thing on April 13, 2020, 08:25:49 AM
I went a different route as Doug suggested. Lowered front control arms, Global West front 635LB 1" lower coils, 1" lower Trans am spec rear leaf srpings 190lb rate. 1" front bar, 3/4" rear sway, and Koni absorbers with underride traction bars. Front tires are on 17 X 7 10 spoke legendary with 235-45-17 G555 tires and rear are 17 X 8 10 spoke legendary with 255-45-17. No clearance issues. The Shelby handles well for what it is with that combination. The original 15" rims are here if I change direction at some juncture. The tire choices for 15" rims are far too limited. I don't own a trailer queen, despite it being just as clean as most of them.
I thought that one of the OP criteria here was using a 15" tire on an original wheel?
I switched my Goodyear bias-plys out last year with BFGs. I am happy with the driveability and they stick fine in the twistys.
I staggered them and put 215/60R15s on the front and 235/60R15s on the rear. I think they look just fine.
^^^ looks great!
Very cool,unique color palette.
Yes, Bob, I think I will be going that way also, but now I heard that Kelsey will be doing a few new radial Goodyear tires, I am going to try to get them to commit to as to when. What I was told is they plan on an E70/15 and a F60/15 They are finally thinking that people want a "Goodyear" radial, like Cooker did with Firestone.
I do like that combo that you have.
Quote from: 67 GT350 on April 13, 2020, 04:21:21 PM
Yes, Bob, I think I will be going that way also, but now I heard that Kelsey will be doing a few new radial Goodyear tires, I am going to try to get them to commit to as to when. What I was told is they plan on an E70/15 and a F60/15 They are finally thinking that people want a "Goodyear" radial, like Cooker did with Firestone.
I do like that combo that you have.
Fran,
That would be good/big news if they did...... please keep us updated as I'm sure there would be alot of interest here with the members.
Thanks,
BG
I still wouldn't buy them. 1600.00 for tires that don't hook up, forces you to use stock spec springs and ride height. Mustangs look terrible with the nose up ass down profile. It makes little sense and actually makes the vehicle less safe to drive. I have over 10.5" of tread on the ground. Once again, only for the old lady drivers and trailer queens.
Quote from: The Going Thing on April 13, 2020, 06:38:52 PM
I still wouldn't buy them. 1600.00 for tires that don't hook up, forces you to use stock spec springs and ride height. Mustangs look terrible with the nose up ass down profile. It makes little sense and actually makes the vehicle less safe to drive. I have over 10.5" of tread on the ground. Once again, only for the old lady drivers and trailer queens.
Yea, those early tread patterns were like banana skins.
Just switching a bias to an equivalent radial doesn't necessarily fix anything?
Quote from: 67 GT350 on April 13, 2020, 04:21:21 PM
Yes, Bob, I think I will be going that way also, but now I heard that Kelsey will be doing a few new radial Goodyear tires, I am going to try to get them to commit to as to when. What I was told is they plan on an E70/15 and a F60/15 They are finally thinking that people want a "Goodyear" radial, like Cooker did with Firestone.
I do like that combo that you have.
I worked with John Kelsey in a historic advisory capacity on every Shelby tire after his F60 15 no size debut. He always told me a minimum of 18 months from the time of blueprint approval to market availability. I haven't talked to him about this radial version of the bias ply but imagine the same timeline holds true with a radial . That is if he already had the radial design figured out. On the vintage Goodyear tires he had the advantage of original factory blueprints to go by.
Quote from: shelbydoug on April 14, 2020, 10:37:22 AM
Quote from: The Going Thing on April 13, 2020, 06:38:52 PM
I still wouldn't buy them. 1600.00 for tires that don't hook up, forces you to use stock spec springs and ride height. Mustangs look terrible with the nose up ass down profile. It makes little sense and actually makes the vehicle less safe to drive. I have over 10.5" of tread on the ground. Once again, only for the old lady drivers and trailer queens.
Yea, those early tread patterns were like banana skins.
Just switching a bias to an equivalent radial doesn't necessarily fix anything?
It sure did on my Firestone tires on my 67 K code car! That car would do circles around my Shelby as far as driving.....
Quote from: Bob Gaines on April 14, 2020, 12:04:15 PM
Quote from: 67 GT350 on April 13, 2020, 04:21:21 PM
Yes, Bob, I think I will be going that way also, but now I heard that Kelsey will be doing a few new radial Goodyear tires, I am going to try to get them to commit to as to when. What I was told is they plan on an E70/15 and a F60/15 They are finally thinking that people want a "Goodyear" radial, like Cooker did with Firestone.
I do like that combo that you have.
I worked with John Kelsey in a historic advisory capacity on every Shelby tire after his F60 15 no size debut. He always told me a minimum of 18 months from the time of blueprint approval to market availability. I haven't talked to him about this radial version of the bias ply but imagine the same timeline holds true with a radial . That is if he already had the radial design figured out. On the vintage Goodyear tires he had the advantage of original factory blueprints to go by.
https://www.lucasclassictires.com/FR70-14-Goodyear-Polyglas-RWL-Radial-FR7014RL.htm
It's not just the radial construction, it's the entire engineering of the tire.
Those look like an expensive mistake to me.
They in fact may be the best looking tire but you've got to drive the car too.
As I recall, the worst combination was that tire on a GT500 Convertible. You would try to turn to the right and the car would keep going straight. Forget about it on a road surface that even looked moist. Lethal.
Tires are often trial and error. Try them. If they work and you like them, problem solved?
I will say, the car handled fantastic.
I will say that I just drive my cars for pleasure, I did track/autocross back in my younger days, not anymore. I just like to get out and go for a drive. The firestones were some of the most satisfying driving tires I ever had. I do not expect an old car to drive like a new Shelby.
Quote from: 67 GT350 on April 14, 2020, 03:19:36 PM
I will say, the car handled fantastic.
I will say that I just drive my cars for pleasure, I did track/autocross back in my younger days, not anymore. I just like to get out and go for a drive. The firestones were some of the most satisfying driving tires I ever had. I do not expect an old car to drive like a new Shelby.
It sounds like you are answering your own question and have found the tire that works for you? Great. Problem solved.
Firestones are engineered differently then the original Goodyears. Two different tires completely.
Quote from: shelbydoug on April 14, 2020, 04:28:20 PM
Quote from: 67 GT350 on April 14, 2020, 03:19:36 PM
I will say, the car handled fantastic.
I will say that I just drive my cars for pleasure, I did track/autocross back in my younger days, not anymore. I just like to get out and go for a drive. The firestones were some of the most satisfying driving tires I ever had. I do not expect an old car to drive like a new Shelby.
It sounds like you are answering your own question and have found the tire that works for you? Great. Problem solved.
Firestones are engineered differently then the original Goodyears. Two different tires completely.
Not really, Firestones did not come on a 67 Shelby.
Neither did BFG's.
It seems to me that you are asking for something that doesn't exist then?
Yes I am, Goodyears
On one hand, the firestones are cool, but never cam on the car....
On the other hand neither did the BFG's
The BFG's are a deal
The repro Firestones are not, and do not have ER/70-15
So I would have to get a size that would possibly be way off.
I will be calling Kelsey tire soon as they asked me to call them, maybe they will make a good size, if they do, then I am sure many SAAC peeps will jump on it!