Trouble rally’s wheels tire’s etc…NEED PICS!!

[wmill]

Hello everyone, thanks for allowing me and thanks for a great forum.
I’m from western Canada (Alberta) and have just purchased a 1965 Monza, Medeira red in colour and a convertible.
I bought the car from a member of this group who is well known for Corvairs on Vancouver Island.
The car is a 140 and has a 4 speed manual…..again just got it but very happy with it.
I do however would like to change the wheels and rims out though. They have very old and worn 5 spoke Cragers on them.
I definitely want rally wheels with the beauty rings and a 3 bar centre cap with the Chevy flag logo.
My issue is that I have gone to 3 well known tire rim shops and they have flooded me with so much info that I can’t see straight.
I want to go with 15” rims with 7 width all around. Seems the go to tire for a 15 is a P205 60R15. most people on this forum seem to think so.
But I have been inundated with these shops trying to talk me into …..no go 17, or stagger front to back, they have given me so many combos of sizes and profiles and widths , I’m drowning in a sea of wheels. I’m afraid the tires will look silly with the wrong combination….thus the request for pictures. I’m sure this has been requested a few times, I have found a few but no sizes mentioned or the opposite
Yes I have searched this forum from what I think is head to tail …..I’m sure I’ve missed something. There have been lots of guys inserting cars under “hey, show me your wheels” thread titles.
I’m finding the issue here is either a lot of great pictures, but hardly anyone states the size. Or vice versa.
So…..as a new guy , again I’m going to say SHOW ME YOUR WHEELS”!!! WITH SIZES, RIMS, TIRES, ETC.
PICTURES
Remember, I’m partial to rally wheels, possibly some American Force greys 5 spokes….but nothing too glittery.
Oh yeah …..four will drums ……for now
Thanks for your help with this and it’s great to be aboard!

Wade

[Lane66Monza]

I posted on CCF. Take a look at my wheels over there. I saw the request over there and not here and thought I could help out. No need to post again. I will wait for the dual posting next time.

[wmill]

Ok thanks……ya I saw that on the other forum.
Are these two forums combined?
Or completely separate?
Don’t want to dual post if that’s the case.

[66vairguy]

Wade --- I understand your situation. One problem today is there IS NO STANDARD WHEEL SIZE. There are also MANY Rally wheel sizes made now.

At one time folks said "Go with 15" as you can't find 14" tires", but either is now not common. The good news is muscle cars sizes are still in demand so you can find a 205 in 14" or 15" sizes.

Years ago I was "given" as set of 14" original Chevy Rally wheels. They were 7" wide with a 4.5" backspace and fit fine.
Now ---- A 205 will fit a 6-7" wide rim, but is happier on a 6.0 to 6.5" wide rim. I run a 205/70X14 on the front and a 235/60x14 on the rear. Because I run 205/70 x14" tires the profile is 70 for a taller sidewall and it JUST fits on the 7" wide rim. Any wider rim and the tire sidewall would be pushed too far. The 235/60x14 fit just right on a 7" wide rim.

About tire diameters/circumference --- the speedometer ideally wants 825 revolutions per mile, but in the 60's manufactures allowed for variations in speedometers and tires so the usually read 1 to 2 MPH fast at 60 MPH or about 850 revolutions per mile. Some tire companies use a simple calculation that does not allow for tire "squish" under load. So their 825 revolutions on the road will give a real 850 revolutions. Anyway ---- if you want to go 15" ideally a 6.0 to 6.5" wide rim with a 4.5" backspace for a 205" tire would work well and be close to stock geometry.

See article explaining wheel geometry and backspace vs. offset and tire fitment.

[jfreez]

since you mentioned 17" I figured I would share what I did. At least this will give you a little more info with a specific tire size.
These are American racing wheels 17*7 zero offset, with 215/45-17 Khumo all season tires. I also have a disk brake conversion in front, so there is a 1/4" (I think) difference from stock mounting surface. on the tire comparator website, it looks like my diameter and revs per mile should be very similar to stock, so I expect my spedo to be very close.

I believe the car to be stock height, but right now there is a lot of weight out of it right now so it is sitting a bit high. I also have the rear axels out of it so the camber looks off.

[Lane66Monza]

2 separate forums. Some of the same people on both, but not all. This group built up more following the Kerfuffle the other forum had in the summer and fall of 2023. Some went back, but most are posting here and in the other forum the same info and helping owners in both forums. I am waiting to see how long that will last.

[wmill]

These are a few pics of some cars that look exactly what im looking for…..hopefully someone recognizes one of them.

[Lane66Monza]

That last photo have mid-60s Vette center cap identified and I believe they have the Impala wire wheel cover tri-bars mounted on it. Similar to my centers, but my Vette centers has the Corvair wire wheel tri-bar mounted.

[wmill]

So you see my problem. It seems everyone else gets excited tells me what things are, but not the sizes that will fit our cars.
I totally get that it’s just a picture, and it’s Very hard to tell from a picture, especially if it’s not a very good one.
But there are people out there that are truly amazing that can take one look at a tire in a room and say yeah that’s a 15 x 7 x 60 series or whatever.
My issue is not finding the tires I want. It’s finding the correct combination where I won’t get any rubbing and the wheel won’t look stupid in the wheel well.
They need to make tire stores that are like shoe stores you can go and try them on and take a look I like them and then just move on if you don’t.

[wmill]

That last photo have mid-60s Vette center cap identified and I believe they have the Impala wire wheel cover tri-bars mounted on it. Similar to my centers, but my Vette centers has the Corvair wire wheel tri-bar mounted.

Do you have pictures of these on your car…….sizes?

[Lane66Monza]

Shown on the other forum. Sizes of wheels and tires also provided.

[jfreez]

go to a tire comparer site and compare the successful sizes people are using to the ones you want. It will tell you everything you want to know

https://tiresize.com/comparison/

[wmill]

Thanks, I’ll give that a try!

[gbullman]

I have mid 70's Chevy Rally Wheels on my 66. They are 14x7 with 215/60 R14 tires all around. Wheels have 4 1/4" backspacing which is less than ideal but no negative side effects that I've noticed. In my opinion they look period correct for the car and I love the way they ride and handle. Also no rubbing /interference issues at all.

This is the site I used to figure out what to do with wheels;
http://autoxer.skiblack.com/tires.html