15" vs 14" Rims

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acarlson
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15" vs 14" Rims

Post by acarlson »

My Corsa currently has 15x7" rims. I am considering switching to 14" rims. Any opinions, pro or con, on switching to a smaller rim size ??

Alec
Alec Carlson
Dahlonega, GA
1965 Regal Red Corsa 4 Speed Turbo Convertible
Restoration "In Progress"...
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caraholic4life
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Re: 15" vs 14" Rims

Post by caraholic4life »

As you well know, 13" tires are becoming increasingly difficult to find in sizes we might want for our cars.

With that said, I would imagine that 14" and even 15" tire sizes may eventually have limited size availability as time goes on with a couple of exceptions.

My guess is that the common OE size tires for the 1960's and 1970's muscle cars will remain available for a longer time than some of the other options.

For a while, I had considered going with 16" or 17" wheels on my late coupe but decided to go with the 15's this time around.
1962 95 FC Van
1964 Greenbrier Deluxe
1965 Monza Coupe
1965 Monza Convertible
Mid Engine enthusiast &
Prior Kelmark Owner
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bbodie52
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Re: 15" vs 14" Rims

Post by bbodie52 »

Sizing Corvair Wheels and Tires
:link: http://autoxer.skiblack.com/tires.html

For the time being, I have chosen to retain the 14" GM Rally wheels and 14" tires on my 1966 Corvair Corsa convertible, even though tire choices have declined somewhat in the 14" and even 15" sizes. I have been running 14" tires on my Late Model Corvairs since the late 1960's. (The Goodyear tires shown in the pictures below are no longer manufactured).

My 1966 Corvair Corsa convertible in Florida in 2012.
Image

Since I want to retain the Raised White Letter look, I recently purchased a replacement set of BF Goodrich tires for my car from The Tire Rack
:link: https://www.tirerack.com/content/tirera ... epage.html

Front: BF Goodrich Radial T/A P205/70 R14 ($119.45 each)
Overall Diameter: 25.4" Revs per Mile: 821 Sect. Width: 8.2" Tread Width: 6.4"
Rear: BF Goodrich Radial T/A P235/60 R14 ($132.45 each)
Overall Diameter: 25.1" Revs per Mile: 829 Sect. Width 9.5" Tread Width 8.7"

My 1965 Corvair Corsa convertible at Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts in 1980, just before I shipped it to my next assignment with the USAF in Germany.
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Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
Image 1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
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acarlson
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Re: 15" vs 14" Rims

Post by acarlson »

Brad, do you run the same size rims front and back ?
Alec Carlson
Dahlonega, GA
1965 Regal Red Corsa 4 Speed Turbo Convertible
Restoration "In Progress"...
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bbodie52
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Re: 15" vs 14" Rims

Post by bbodie52 »

Yes, I usually use 7x14 wheels.

According to the Tire Rack, the specs for the BF Goodrich Radial T/A tire sizes I mentioned are...

P205/70R14 Rim Width Range: 5-7"

P235/60R14 Rim Width Range: 6.5-8.5"


Image :link: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.js ... mpare1=yes

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Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
Image 1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
skipvair
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Re: 15" vs 14" Rims

Post by skipvair »

Brad, what springs are you running?


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Frank Metasavage

65 Corsa 140 4 speed with Weber IDAs
66 Corsa 140 4 speed Stock
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bbodie52
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Re: 15" vs 14" Rims

Post by bbodie52 »

I have no idea. I bought the car in Florida in 2012 and have no idea if the springs are stock for 1966 convertibles or something else. It came with the 14" GM Rally wheels and Goodyear RWL tires.
Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
Image 1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
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Re: 15" vs 14" Rims

Post by skipvair »

Thanks. My cat is a little nose down. I believe but can't confirm PO cut front springs. Have seen a few with nose up front ends which Clarks says is normal for stock springs. Like a little lower than stock and like stance of yours. Just trying to figure it out. You are in SC, right?


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Frank Metasavage

65 Corsa 140 4 speed with Weber IDAs
66 Corsa 140 4 speed Stock
skipvair
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Re: 15" vs 14" Rims

Post by skipvair »

My "car" not cat. Don't have a cat!


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Frank Metasavage

65 Corsa 140 4 speed with Weber IDAs
66 Corsa 140 4 speed Stock
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Re: 15" vs 14" Rims

Post by terribleted »

acarlson wrote: Sun Aug 20, 2017 2:35 pm My Corsa currently has 15x7" rims. I am considering switching to 14" rims. Any opinions, pro or con, on switching to a smaller rim size ??

Alec
14" wheels will have taller sidewalls on the tires than 15" wheel to be at the proper overall diameter which you want to keep very close to the original 24.7" for so as not to effect overall gearing and speedo accuracy. This will result in a slightly smoother ride on rough pavement. Pretty much when considering 14 or 15 inch rims it comes down to look and personal preference. Overall diameter should be kept close to 24.7" with proper tire selection in either case...so wheel well fill will be similar. 15" tire profiles will be a bit wider at this diameter and of course the 14's will show 1/2" more side wall.
Corvair guy since 1982. I have personally restored at least 20 Vairs, many of them restored ground up.
Currently working full time repairing Corvairs and restoring old cars.
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Located in Snellville, Georgia
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