What's the stock width of a '68 Riviera wheel? I'm guessing 6" but hoping 7". Here's the good old tire question: what's the max I can fit under the '68? How about 255/60-15s? Thanks.
Not sure of the stock wheel width, but... I've currently got 245/60-15's on my '67 Rivi. The first set of tires I had (on the same aftermarket rims) were 245/50-15's. No clearance issues on either.
I believe they are 15x6. I would think 255/60 would be too wide for the rim, but would still clear the wheelwells.
Frank, do you have any pics of you car that you could post? I'm looking at picking up a '68. It has factory mags and cone caps! But I would eventually put new tires on it. I'd like to see what others are doing.
wheels the roadwheels are 15x6...i had 275-60-15 on the rear for years-no prob...they will get close to the shock mounting points at the axle if underinflated. Otherwise, it is a nice look. If you go with an aftermarket wheel with different backspacing you can go wider on the tire. Plenty of wheelwell on 66-69 Rivs. Good luck, hope that helps.
What's the backspacing on those wheels Frank? I noticed today that backspacing is a real issue with the Riviera since it has such large diameter drums. The drum wouldn't fit inside my stock GS wheels with 4.25" BS (I know, the bolt pattern is different). I layed the GS wheel on the ground and dropped the drum inside - no way. The Riv wheels have only 3" backspacing. Looks like to get even an 8" wheel under there and centered might require something other than 15".
Sorry, I have no idea of the backspacing on those wheels. They were purchased over ten years ago. o No: I vow to make detailed notes of my upgrades in the future so I can be a helpful member of this board. :Smarty:
Hi Frank, Does your Riv have drum brakes at the front? If yes, was there a clearance problem with the drum fins? A friend of mine had to grind them to fit aluminium wheels on his 67.
We had a 69 riviera in here with 255 70 15 tires mounted on the stock big car rallye wheels. Aside from the fact that these tires were HUGE there were not clearance issues on any corners. Dan
BqUICK is talking about outfitting his electra GSX with 275 nascar slicks .... course, that's a highly modified almost purpose built road racer and i have no idea what mods he might have had done to the wheel wells. uzzled: :error: p :3gears: :Brow: hey, don't look at me, i think these wide bodies handle just fine if you set em up and strip em down right. how does that saying go? widerer is bedderer? :beer
but then sbbuick on this very board has gotten 285s under his 72 skylark custom. truly, there is no end to the madness. :jd:
I'm the friend Phil was talking about. I have American Racing Outlaw 1s. 15X7 up front and 15X8 in the back. Backspacing is 3.75" and as Phil mentioned, I did have to do some grinding of the fins (a lot for the back wheels to fit, just a tad up front) Tires are 235/70 15 front, 275/60 15 back. Will swap the 235/70s for 245/60s up front next spring which should lower the car up front an extra inch, which is just what it needs to get the stance I'm looking for. No rubbing front or back. Serge.
So let me get this straight before I go order these tires 255/60's are not too big for the 15.6 ralley wheel on my 69 riv? thanks, will
Hi 1969riv, According to BF Goodrich (fot the tires I have which are Radial T/As), you would need a 7 to 9 in. wide wheel to fit a 255/60 15 tire. I'm not an expert but I'm pretty sure that's what other tire manufacturers would recommend as well. On a 6 in wheel, largest recommended is 235/70. Otherwise, the tires would bulge out too much from the rim and could pop off the rim under heavy cornering. Serge.
Man I was really hoping you wouldnt say that I really wanted to get some wider tires out back without having to change the wheels. In fact I was going to get the BFG's. The only reason I wanted to clarify was because I thought I heard someone say that they ran the 255/60's with no prob on the 15x6 wheels. thanks, will
the 67 riv rallye wheels have a 3 5/8 inch backspacing. i fit 15x8 torq thrusts with 3 7/8 backspacing on without grinding fins.... Used longer studs on all 4 wheels. Had to use 1/2 inch spacers to clear drums and 3 inch pipes on rears. On fronts had to grind off rivets that hold drum to hub but otherwise fit fine, no rubs with 235/70 tires.
Yes, you don't want to put a wider tire on a rim than the manufacturer recommends. I had 275 60 15s on the Riv but the sidewall was really mushy and made the handling questionable. I went with 255s and I must keep the rears inflated to 38 lbs to keep the handling in check. If you get the right wheel, you can go even bigger than 275s. But on these Rivs backspacing is key as the lower shock mount is very close to the inside sidewall of the tire and a too deep backspace will let the sidewall contact the shock mount.