Tire time for my 67. I am wanting to stay with a 70 series tire. From what I can find on the internet, the original E70-15s equate to a modern 205-70r/15. Am wondering if an increase to an F70-15 (215-70r/15) or be a safe choice as far as not having any tire rubbing concerns. Have tried searching the web but not finding much info from anyone running this size. Any help appreciated. Thanks.
Brian
I would think a F-60-15 would work? But not sure, see my thoughts below....
I also would like simple tire selections, the web is a pain to find anything. I have the repro Goodyear E-70-15's and I however would like to go to a 60 series tire. I was wondering if a F-60-15 like the Bosses had would work? And what would be the correct metric conversion for that?
It is too bad that they don't make the Goodyear repro like they do for the Firestones, where you can buy both the radial and the non-radial version of that tire and the lettering is the same.
I find my 67 to be all over the road with the repro Goodyear tires, they suck and I don't want a BF Goodrich on it like everybody else has.
I run 215 65 R15 . If you want something fatter on the back, they are the same diameter as a 235 60 R15.
Dave
Go to the Tire Rack Tech section if you want to learn a lot of information about tires. I believe they have the conversion from old size to newer sizes at least they used to
Sincerely, Roy Richards
Conversion charts show the stock 67 Shelby tire size of E70-15 to convert to 205-70R15. The question is if, the next size up "back in the day" which would have most likely been an F70-15, which converts to a 215-70R15, would cause any FRONT fender rubbing issues. I know that many (non-concours) are running 60 series tires but I prefer the look of the 70 series. Dave, do you have any pics of your tire combo that you could share? Thanks
Brian
Brian'
I don't have good luck posting photos and it looks like this one didn't go through. I will email you some photos.
If anyone else wants to see photos, email dmathews@prodigy.net. My other car has 225 60 R15's on the front and they look too small.
Dave
I'm surprised they went through. This car has the 215 65 R15's on the front and 235 60 R15's on the back.
Another shot.
Dave
You're having some good luck, Dave! Keep 'em coming! :D
I'll have to look to see the sidewall size (I'm currently traveling), but I know I have 235s in the front and 255s in the rear. She looks totally 70s, IMO. I should have kept the air ride suspension to complete the look. ;)
And, no rubbing in the front or rear.
I just found a saved picture from the rear. Here, you can see the 255s in all their glory ;).
This car has 225 60 R15's on the front and 235 60 R15's on the rear. I think the 225's are too small. I had rubbing issues with 235 60 15's on the front with both cars.
Quote from: GT350DAVE on October 07, 2019, 06:01:26 PM
This car has 225 60 R15's on the front and 235 60 R15's on the rear. I think the 225's are too small. I had rubbing issues with 235 60 15's on the front with both cars.
Dave, the 225's seem to fill the fender well. What makes them too small?
I have 225 60's at all four corners on mine. Looks like I have more gap than you.
Greek
235-60's
I have 235-60-15 BFG radial T/A's on 15 inch ten spokes. The car is lowed and has no rubbing issues at all.
To help answer the first poster's original question, I've been running 225/70s with no issues. So, with stock height suspension, you should be able to go up a size or two from the E70 equivalent.
I realize that everyone has an opinion and I have offered mine from my own experiences. I drive my cars more than most people do and having a sloped driveway 90 degrees from the road taught me about tire clearance issues when I turned into it. The 235's worked well going down the road but that driveway and some slopped parking entrances when the tires are turned made me look further for a front tire.
Greekz. The 225 60's work very well and have used them successfully. I do prefer filling the fender openings with a bigger tire but that just me. This photo is of a friend's 67 with 225 60 R15's.
There is an additional factor to consider which likely is affecting the tire rubbing situation. If you dial in more castor into the front it pulls the tire forward enough in relation to the wheel well opening and you likely will have fender interference in the front of the fender. Some chassis tuners do recommend that. Been there, done that. Don't go that route.
1-1/2 degrees of caster is all you can run without creating fender interference. 2-1/2 will hit in the front.
I've got lowered springs and lowered a-arms so my geometry isn't stock. My rear leafs have an extra long leaf and the front bar is 1-1/8". These are all factors in how the front tires traveling arc changes from a completely stock configuration. I just want to qualify that.
Completely stock has greater limitations as the arc of the tire travel lets the tire lean out at the top, stays less flat to the pavement and edge loads the outer tread more enough to cause tire to fender clearance issues. In other words, completely stock the top of the tire leans out towards the fender in travel.
I do remember that when I first got the car in 1972, even E60-15's were rubbing with a completely stock configuration. Those combinations are what set me off to find the right solution 40 years ago.
If I recall correctly, there was a TSB issued for '68s when the car was new dealing with the stock Goodyears rubbing on the fenders so if you want to be completely stock and Concourse correct, your front tires should rub? The correction using the TSB is after the car was first delivered new, i.e., a modification to stock. ;)
Someone may have noticed that a simple answer to the OP question is not that simple. ;D
225 60's. Fender lip rolled, lowered springs. No rubbing issues, unless you
turn into a "ramped" driveway at speed.
Quote from: GT350DAVE on October 10, 2019, 01:04:41 AM
I realize that everyone has an opinion and I have offered mine from my own experiences. I drive my cars more than most people do and having a sloped driveway 90 degrees from the road taught me about tire clearance issues when I turned into it. The 235's worked well going down the road but that driveway and some slopped parking entrances when the tires are turned made me look further for a front tire.
Greekz. The 225 60's work very well and have used them successfully. I do prefer filling the fender openings with a bigger tire but that just me. This photo is of a friend's 67 with 225 60 R15's.
Thanks Dave for the photo. This car sits about like mine, up in the front. I suppose that is about normal for a Gt-350, unless it had been lowered.
Greek
Dave - what brand of tires do you use?
I'm not a fan of the tires I am using presently which are BFGoodrich but there aren't a lot of good options for that tire size.
greekz, yes, the cars all seem to sit high unless you alter them. I lowered the front of both my cars. I first tried the available replacement rear springs but what is presently available are soft compared to the originals so I removed them.
Brian - a few guys are running these, have you seen them? There is another discussion elsewhere on the forum...
https://www.vredestein.com/classic/tyre-finder/tyres/product/3/990-sprint-classic#specification
Hope you find something that suits you.
I suspect the 67 GT 350 stance isn't far off from a 66. That being said, 205 60R 15 on mine with no rolled fender and no rubbing issues. Plus the A arms are lowered and I used 475 pound springs with a 1 inch drop. No rubbing issues.
Quote from: Tom Honegger on October 10, 2019, 10:26:36 AM
225 60's. Fender lip rolled, lowered springs. No rubbing issues, unless you
turn into a "ramped" driveway at speed.
Tom,
Is that raven black with silver stripes I see ???
Bob
PS.... I screwed up when I put 215/60R15s on the front..... should have gone 215/65R15 to match the 235/60R15s on the back..... rookie mistake.
The reason I asked .......
Being this isn't a concours question I am running 245 40 17 front and 255 40 17 rear.
My Shelby has the Arning drop, 1" lower Global West 635LB front springs, 175lb rear 1" lowered.
No rubbing and the Traction masters and leaf spring snubbers work well with putting the tire to the pavement.