New Member

[hawkeyesheroes]

Hi everyone, I'd like to take a quick minute to introduce myself to a great group. I've surfed this site a few times and think it's terrific. My name is Marlin (Hawkeye) Huiras, ,hometown Sleepy Eye , Minnesota. I am 63 immature years. I have worn two hats all my adult life (since college ) , a John Deere and a Peterbilt-- so I am a farmer and a truck driver. I did teach high school a couple years just to get some " white collar " experience in case this "blue collar " stuff didn't work out . So far it has. My trucking days started in 1973 and took me all over the USA---what a great country we live in ! The last 23 years I was strictly MN to Los Angles and back. I just sold my 2011 Peterbilt a week ago because ---well it would take an hour and a six pack to cover all the woes of the trucking industry ! So now I am " semi " retired ! Farming takes a lot of my time , but I'm looking forward to some project time. This winter is already filled with finishing up a 69 mustang 428CJ, a 70's dune buggy with a covair motor mated to a volkswagon 4 speed, and a 1983 Peterbilt. A few years ago in Los Angeles I bought a 1969 Monza, stuck it in my trailor, and brought it home. It's in pretty nice condition, nothing special. I had a 1964 Monza while in college after I destroyed some great cars of the day, and my insurance company wouldn't issue me coverage unless I drove a low horsepower ride. Had great times with that Corvair !
So now I have some basic questions on wheels and tires for my '69. I bet all you seasoned veterans are tired of us newbes asking obvious/stupid questions, but I'd really appreciate your help. Scott directed me to some great info on this site , but I'd like a little more specific help if anyone can chime in. I'm looking at some used wheels, trying to unravel a few things. The original 13 inch rims ( 6 inch width) had a front backspace of 4.5 inches--I think . Not sure about rear , but probably about the same . I am looking at a set of wheels made by American Racing, 7inch by 15width with 4 inch backspace. Also interested in some Centerlines, 6inch front , 8inch rear, backspace only 3.375 or 3.625. So if you deviate from the original backspace are there issues with wheel bearings, front end linkage, handling' etc , or will they just stick out beyond the fenders and look stupid? My wife insists that 3/4s to 1 inch can make a real difference( as she sympathetically pats my shoulder), so I don't want to mess this up. I didn't even know she was into Corvairs, but then I remembered an exciting night she once had with the previously mentioned 64. Anyway, would anyone care to offer an opinion on the wheels I mentioned and recommend tire sizes if either will work? Your knowledge is greatly appreciated. THANKS-----Hawkeye

[cad-kid]

Welcome to the forum

[bmwtodd1]

Welcome. I don't have any great information for you, but welcome just the same...

[bbodie52]

Welcome to the Corvair Forum!

The American wheels should fit, but the Centerlines may be too shallow in the backspacing and may produce some body clearance problems. The detals below will trace through my thinking in wheel and tire sizing...

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/results. ... sort=Brand

VNT70R(Silver w/Polished Lip)
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelClo ... sort=Brand
Size: 15x7
Offset: 0mm
Backspacing: 3.90"
Bolt Pattern: 5-475
Rec. Tire Size: 225/60-15
Weight: 16.8lbs.
Finish: Silver w/Polished Lip

SELECTING CUSTOM WHEELS AND TIRES FOR YOUR CORVAIR

viewtopic.php?f=225&t=6066

Sizing Corvair Wheels and Tires

http://autoxer.skiblack.com/tires.html

My Current tire sizes on my 1966 Corsa are:

Current Tire Product and Size:
Front: Goodyear Eagle ST P195/70 R14
Overall Diameter: 24.8" Revs per Mile: 839 7.4" Tread Width, 7.9" Section Width
Rear: Goodyear Eagle ST P235/60 R14
Overall Diameter: 25.1" Revs per Mile: 829 8.7" Tread Width, 9.5" Section Width

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... &tab=Specs
After looking over the above material, and determining that these wheels should fit on all four corners with a 3.90" backspacing, the desired 15" diameter and 7" width, and the correct lug pattern for a LM Corvair, I started with the recommended tire size for a 1968 Chevelle (no Corvairs listed on the Tire Rack). The 225/60-15 tire seemed a little large in overall diameter — especially for the front at 25.6" I know that my current front tires are OK (195/70-14) with an overall diameter of 24.8", and it appears that the target BF Goodrich Radial T/A tire in size P205/60R15 has an overall diameter of only 24.7". With a tread width of 7.4" and a section width of 8.2", it appears that it is a pretty good bet for the front clearance in a 15" diameter. The same size should also work well on the rear, since even more clearance is available there, and running the same size on all four corners will help to prolong tire life by permitting tire rotation to balance tread wear.

The links I provided will guide you in selecting wheel diameter, lug pattern and wheel lugs, and backspacing. Those same sources, including tire specification charts and performance reviews and recommendations should help you to home in on your desired wheel and tire combination using this "desktop" research method. Careful research will help you to mount tires successfully without any unhappy surprises with cut sidewalls when they impact the body, or other fitment problems that are usually discovered when the tires and wheels are delivered and mounted. There is no substitute for some careful research and reading before you buy.

[1949chevy]

I have a set of 14X7's on my 66 monza...they have had NO ill effects....make the car handle with the Hankook 205-70-14's..we have a lot of curves here in the mountains and I am not light on the throttle in the curves....bought the 442 wheels complete for 60.00...then put on new rings and lug nuts...sand blasted the wheels with my tarheel blaster and sprayed the rims with my Devilbiss touch up gun....two of the tires and rims only took 1/2 ounce to balance.

I have a good friend who owned a tire place until about a month ago...one day a guy came in complaining about the new mag wheels he had for 1 month...it was the second set...1st set had rust down in the crevices within a week....the super well known wheel company did nothing about the 2nd set...said they are yours now. Upon my inquiry about new mags...my owner friend said most of the new mags now are made in China...or parts are and are put together here...they are junk in his words...so be careful placing your order for new mags.

I might add....the speedometer stayed correct as the overall size of my tires and wheels is the same as the original.