wheel n tire sizes????

what size's of tire and wheel combows are you guys runnin ?
I want to buy some new wheels and tires for my van in 6's for the front and 10's for the rear? I wood like some ideas on tire sizes for the front mostly , I like 275 60 15's for the rear usually.
from what ive read so fare the 6's up front should streer a little easyer?

I have 15x8's all the way around, 275/60 rear, 235/60 front. Steers easily enough with just a slight roll.



I also have a stock-size steering wheel.



If you are running a small steering wheel, you may want to run narrower tires up front. Me, I like the steamroller look

I am running 225/60/15 frt w 255/60/15 rear on Space Truckin   
15x7's on frt/ rear

215/70's up Front on 6 inch wide rims and 275/60's on 10 inch wide rims on the Rear of mine.!!!..I have had the best luck with the...Cooper Cobra GT's ..  ...Sharp looking Van Space Truckin.!!!.

215/65/15 on 7" wide up front, 295/50/15 on 10's in the back I was going for near matched tire height.
26.5" tall, 1 spare tire does both axles no problem. Big Littles look cool tho.

325/50r15 rear, 225/60r15  front

205/65R-15 Front on 7" rims
265/50R-15 Rear on 8"rims

(Click to see full photo)
No problems steering, 15" steering wheel and turns on a dime as they say with little effort.
There are pros and cons to mixing tire and rim sizes.  Going with mixed sizes and rim widths doesn't allow for rotating for wear, not a problem if you only go a few thousands miles a year for shows and summer cruising.  Use your van as an everyday year round driver, you may want to consider same size rims and tires all around.  Important things are tire diameter should be similar, mine are both 24.5" even though ones a 50 and the the other a 65 series.  Also fronts need to clear wheel well when turning, too lager diameter or width and they hit the body, mine just clear.  You can cut the body lip away for extra clearance. I have old, tired stock suspension (springs) and the 24.5" just clears the front fenders, anything larger may hit without modifying the fender or new front end springs. Another point to consider, if the front and rear tires are the same diameter, no matter what the sizes, get a spare to match the front and it will be good for the rear too if you have to drive any distance on it.

I had 295/50/15's on the rear with atleast 10'' slots. until yesterday when I picked it up. I replaced them with new 255/60/15's both sizes were futura super sports.
the fronts are 185/60/15's on 6'' slots , but may change to a slightly larger size when they wear out.

Great ideas a on tire sizes here... but can you tell me what the bolt circle measurement is on my 66 gmc. 5 on 4&3/4 like Camaros and such, or 5on5 like later vans. I have a chart somewhere but seemed to misplaced it

Found my chart, if it is right the bolt circle is 5 on 4&3/4. Right?

Yes, G10's are 5 on 4&3/4" same as chevelle, nova, camaro etc

And if you go for Cragars, don't get the unilugs with the slotted holes, go for the exact drilled 4.75" spacing. Heard nothing but bad about them...

Never had a problem with Unilugs, you just have to make sure you have the correct offset washer and proper lug nuts from the manufacturer. The cheap aftermarket lugs will pull thru the slotted hole. Sometimes if you are looking at vintage wheels, unilug is your only choice.

If you are racing- that's another matter. Most sanctioning bodies won't allow them.

Thanks for the responses, I found a set of 15X7 rallys, I think I'll use them for now.

I know everybody seems to be running 15s , and loved my 225 /60 15 TA s on my 4 banger , but im looking for a little something different ,to use my 66 chevelle 14 inch mag hub caps , using 14 inch ta s . any major handing problem or else things against them Anybody try 235/60/14 s on a 1st gen chevy w stock suspension? their 8.7 wide was wandering if would cut in steering . looking to stay w 14 in wheels , either my stock 14 rims or a set of 14x7  ralleys from 60s looking to go widest /tallest 14 that will work w stock suspension , no rake . thanks

I pulled the stock 14's off my '67 G-van just after I bought it. Went with 15x7 chrome rally's,
225x75 in back, 205x60 in front. Rides a little down hill I would have rather run 75's all the way around, but it was a package deal.
Main reason for changing to 15's is availability of tires. You've got more choices.
Good Luck with the project
Cheers Ric

ditdater wrote:I know everybody seems to be running 15s ,  and loved  my 225 /60 15 TA s on my 4 banger ,   but im looking for a little something different ,to use my 66 chevelle 14 inch mag hub caps , using 14 inch ta s . any major handing problem or else things against  them  Anybody try 235/60/14 s on a 1st gen chevy w stock suspension? their 8.7 wide was wandering if would cut in steering . looking to stay w 14 in wheels , either my stock 14 rims or a set of 14x7  ralleys from 60s   looking to go widest /tallest 14 that will work w stock suspension , no rake . thanks    

I'm also curious what tire size I can squeeze onto my 68. It came with a decent set of 14" aluminum wheels that I was hoping to use. I'll do some tire size conversions and crunch some numbers. I'll let you know what I come up with.

-Tom

The biggest issue I'm running into with these 14" wheels is the limited available tires sizes. I'm leaning toward the 215/70/14s on all 4 corners. Those come out o about 26" x 8.5" and they are offered by several manufacturers.

yep , I/m thinking they(215/70) would take up plenty of wheel well for a 14 all around , but do you think it is a nice wide stance too ? I kind of think the 235/60/14 all around might look too short for big wheelwell . think ill try the tire store to bring out ea see what they look like up against it

ditdater wrote:yep , I/m thinking they(215/70) would take up plenty of wheel well for a 14 all around  , but do you think it is a nice wide stance too ?   I kind of think the 235/60/14 all around  might look too short for big wheelwell . think ill try the tire store to bring out ea see what they look like up against it

My 68 sportvan has 205/75/14s on it now.  They are tall enough to fill the wheel well nicely but, they are quite skinny.  they are pretty comparable to the 215/70 you mentioned.  (see Below)  I think I'm going with the 235/60/14s for the wider foot print.



VS

225-60 on the front on 15x7's. 255-60 on the back on 15x8.5's

I run 215/75 on 15x7's, all around. It comes out to about 28 x 8.5"

For clear steering, that is about as big as you want to go. When my front axle wasn't perfectly centered and I hit a bump hard at full lock, my wheels rubbed against the body... This would happen when pulling into a mall's parking lot or something.

In theory you can go a hair larger than that. I would not recommend it though and it is not a common size. Plus, there's no Load-C tires in 225/75