Looking for a 205 70 15 tire... suggestions?

[John Palmer]

Dean have you had the weight of the motor in the car yet? They will pull in a little, But probably not enough. Try takeing a wooden or plastic dowel and put between tire and fender edge and roll car back and forth. Each time leaning on dowel more and more. One thing to think about is sliceing fender next to apron and up to about bumper bracket grommet and then try the dowel treatment. But get the engine weight in it, Things change. Just A idea from a simple body guy ! Good look and post some picture after.

Danny, I know you could massage the fenders and make it fit.  But........hey dude, it's already been painted by Buddy Hale, let's find a less painfull way to help Dean out.

[danny gabbard]

How about contacting somebody that does metalspinning and have some outer wheel halfs made with different offset? Just another Idea. But the cheap and fastest way would cut fenders and have buddy spot them in. 4-5 hours and boom! There done! or If ya wanted to spend the time, Unroll fender lips and stretch fender lips out.  Or have somebody cut/weld front section of wheel, That and maybe run something like a 185-95 70 tire. But first get it on the ground with weight on rear and height its going to live and figure what width something needs to be narrowed , So your not guessing.

[Gavin - DVKK]

Recaps? They have the height and very straight sidewall? The were one of the few tires I could get to fit with the offset of my sprintstars.
Cheers, Gavin

[Taylor]

I am just ass-u-me- ing here but wider fenders has to be out... right?  Also, the weight thing isn't an issue, just re index the spring plate! Much less work and a lot less chance to scratch everything. I bet it has bigger bars than stock so pre-load won't be an issue.  Narrowing the suspension creates about 1 billion more problems.

[Jason Foster]

Dean I have a set of wide five 6" cms wheels with 3 1/2" back spacing that have DOT's mounted you are welcome to use them for mock up if you want. I need them on April 29th though. 

[kingsburgphil]

How about contacting somebody that does metalspinning and have some outer wheel halfs made with different offset? Just another Idea. But the cheap and fastest way would cut fenders and have buddy spot them in. 4-5 hours and boom! There done! or If ya wanted to spend the time, Unroll fender lips and stretch fender lips out.  Or have somebody cut/weld front section of wheel, That and maybe run something like a 185-95 70 tire. But first get it on the ground with weight on rear and height its going to live and figure what width something needs to be narrowed , So your not guessing.

I'm with Danny on this one. Pull the NOS fenders and screw them to the wall in the man-cave. Stretch and squirt a pair of repop fenders while your paint is still

fresh. No one will ever know...it'l be our secret 

[WCB Hitler's Hot Rod]

I would just go with a 195 tire by Continental.

[Jon]

Is the body straight on the pan? In other words, are the wheel sticking out the same on both sides?
Depending on what ride height you are aiming for the thread pattern might just slip inside.

[IP359]

Recaps? They have the height and very straight sidewall? The were one of the few tires I could get to fit with the offset of my sprintstars.
Cheers, Gavin

Gavin,
You car kills !
One of the best cal look ever
Please don't hesitate to post more pics
Thxs

[Zach Gomulka]

I would just go with a 195 tire by Continental.

A 195/??. 195/65's are too short, and 195/70's aren't available here (far as I know).
I feel like I'm the only one looking at those pictures. That is a wiiiiiddddeee track!!
I think a 185/70 (thinnest tires I would fit to a 6" rim) with narrow drums *might* get it there. That would be the easiest solution.




And loose the 175/55's. Sorry, but they just look wrong to me!

[Rennsurfer]

195 15" have been available here in different profiles. They're a perfect tire for 6" wide wheels. The sidewalls end being perfectly where they should be... not bubbled out. Haven't seen a 185 15" in decades. Used to be the hot ticket thirty years ago.

Dean, I'm guessing that your D.D.S. rear wheels are 6" wide, yes? If so, the 195 would be well suited on that wheel... hopefully, you'll be able to get around the backspacing issue and get those even with the wheel arches.

[qubek]

185/70 (thinnest tires I would fit to a 6" rim)

But why?

Narrow drums had this small disadvantage, that they are not the best as far as braking is concerned. And with skinny tires at front, fat tires at the rear and cal-look stance, heaving rear brakes strong enough may be important. That is, of course, if a way the car drives is a priority, which is not always (or often) the case.

[Zach Gomulka]

185/70 (thinnest tires I would fit to a 6" rim)

But why?

Because anything narrower than 185 looks like shit on a 6" rim. I too think a 195 looks great on a 6", but I feel the 65's are too short and unfortunately the 70's aren't easily had over here.

185/70's are available, but are SPENDY. I truly wish there was an affordable option, I love that size tire.

[Rennsurfer]

185/70 (thinnest tires I would fit to a 6" rim)

But why?

Because anything narrower than 185 looks like shit on a 6" rim. I too think a 195 looks great on a 6", but I feel the 65's are too short and unfortunately the 70's aren't easily had over here.

185/70's are available, but are SPENDY. I truly wish there was an affordable option, I love that size tire.

To each their own, but a 195 tire width is actually made for six inch wide wheels. You're right about finding those in a 70% profile in this country. I have a set of 195/65 Pirellis on my rear (5.5") 356 steel wheels and the sidewalls bubble out, slightly. 185 tires ARE cool, if you can locate the proper profile, though. Loved seeing cars with those in the old days.

[deano]

Slicing my wrists appears to the easy way out.... Yikes. I have some new 6" wheels from B&R Buggies that have a better offset and look very close to DDS. I will mount those wheels and a 205/65 tire and see how close we get. I understand that the final judgement won't until the engine and full weigt applied before I go crazy again. Thanks for all the photos and ideas.

[Rennsurfer]

Slicing wrists = never an option.

 

Jason's B&R wheels look great. Can't wait to see 'em on your car, Dean.

[Bill Schwimmer]

Just run the 205 65's, they will drive much better than the M&H's & they will look more in proportion with your short front tires. They M&H's have a huge sidewall bulge. You may be able to run the radials on the DDS &  have a wheel made to fit the race tires. If you are still having problems you can talk to Mike H. @ Rancho & he has some ideas about taking some off the drums &  axle spacers. This will gain a little room.

[Brew 66]

Dean
I know this are small but they sure fit nice. These are my 195 65 15 Kumho on '68 with stock length axles on 15x6 wheels.
Bill

[Brew 66]

Another view same ones

[draven898]

here is my 67 back in the day on 205/70-15's on short axle's back in the day def something going on with deanos  
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/639182.jpg

[Rennsurfer]

Just run the 205 65's, they will drive much better than the M&H's & they will look more in proportion with your short front tires. They M&H's have a huge sidewall bulge. You may be able to run the radials on the DDS &  have a wheel made to fit the race tires. If you are still having problems you can talk to Mike H. @ Rancho & he has some ideas about taking some off the drums &  axle spacers. This will gain a little room.

WIN.

Problem solved.

[kingsburgphil]

Slicing my wrists appears to the easy way out.... Yikes. I have some new 6" wheels from B&R Buggies that have a better offset and look very close to DDS. I will mount those wheels and a 205/65 tire and see how close we get. I understand that the final judgement won't until the engine and full weigt applied before I go crazy again. Thanks for all the photos and ideas.

For what it's worth, my combination works with a 4 1/2in. backspace. It gives me 1in. clearance at the spring plate and the fender lip.

[morkrieger]

FWIW, here's Radial GT 205/70/15 on EMPI 8 Spokes on stock rear drums, under stock fenders. It fits, but thats about it. Only slightly touched the inner fender at first try.
Light massage of the inner lip in the fender made it rotate freely without problems. I drove several thousands of kilometers with this setup
without a hitch, handling was a bit weaker on the rear due to the higher tire-walls.



Cheers!

[Fiatdude]

Like DKK FRED pointed out, I don't care for the sluggishness of the taller 70 series tires.  Good luck, Deano!

IF you were making some HORSE POWER there wouldn't be any "sluggushness"     

[Rennsurfer]

Like DKK FRED pointed out, I don't care for the sluggishness of the taller 70 series tires.  Good luck, Deano!

IF you were making some HORSE POWER there wouldn't be any "sluggushness"     

Awwwww, that's not very accurate; Sarge's car makes plenty of that.

[bluestar]

F-560 , short axles and 311 drums....

[kingsburgphil]

Welcome back from BFE.  

Short axle's, 311 drums, erco 6's and a 6x26 slick with a 1 inch trans raise. I considered changing to a 215/65 radial, but settled on 6x26 M&H dots. Better suites
the cars unpleasant manners.

[kingsburgphil]

Welcome back from BFE.  

Short axle's, 311 drums, erco 6's and a 6x26 slick with a 1 inch trans raise. I considered changing to a 215/65 radial, but settled on 6x26 M&H dots. Better suites
the cars unpleasant manners.

Finally mounted the M&H dots, changed just the tires and lost 1/2 inch clearance at the fender lip.