Did the 69 Polara ever come with 14" wheels?

polarnj

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Just wondering, I would possibly like to put the 70-72 Challenger style wheels, but it seems like most of the used ones are the 14" size. Don't feel like spending thousands of dollars on new ones.

Would like 22570r14 tires handle/steer that much worse than the 23570r15 that I have now?
 
I don't have a '69 manual, but 1970 Monaco / Polara manual says 15 inches for all models. Sedans and hard tops came with 5.5" wide rims and H78-15 tires, all wagons came with 6.5" rims. And the spec tire in 1970 was still biased. Radials not recommended.
 
Just wondering, I would possibly like to put the 70-72 Challenger style wheels, but it seems like most of the used ones are the 14" size. Don't feel like spending thousands of dollars on new ones.

Would like 22570r14 tires handle/steer that much worse than the 23570r15 that I have now?

From The 1970 Hamtramck Registry - 1969 Dodge Dealership Data Book - Monaco & Polara

You'll see that 15" wheels were standard.

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As far as converting to 14" wheels.... It's just not a good idea. Try to find new 14" tires and there aren't many choices in reasonably priced tires. I don't expect this to get better in the future, probably gonna be worse.
 
The owner's manual that was in my '70 Monaco stated that radial tires could be used, but they would basically "ride rougher" than the standard bias-belted tires that came on the cars that model year. I put some Pirelli P76 radials on mine JR78x15 (8.85x15) rather than the stock H78x15 belted tires to raise it up a little bit so the rear factory dual exh pipes did not drag on some driveway approaches. Accounting for the sidewall flex, too. They worked well. The P76s were claimed to be tuned for American car suspensions.

Not sure about 1969, but some 1970 C-body power drum brake cars had "recessed mount" drums. Basically, the finned portion wrapped around the brake shoes, which meant that some wheels would hit the fins before the lug nut area touched the drums. W23s came on my car and seemed to not have that problem, but other wheels might.

IF you like the look of the E-body Rallye Wheels, look for a '76 Charger SE in the salvage yards. They came with a version of that wheel, but in 15x6.5 sizing. The E-bodies used 15x7s, which is what everybody wants, sometimes. The 6.5s probably need a narrower trim ring. The E-body 14" Rallyes were 14x5.5 . Something else that might look good if you can find them is the 15x7 Polycast wheels that came on '76 Cordobas, just get the trim ring and center cap.

Happy Holidays!
CBODY67
 
The owner's manual that was in my '70 Monaco stated that radial tires could be used, but they would basically "ride rougher" than the standard bias-belted tires that came on the cars that model year. I put some Pirelli P76 radials on mine JR78x15 (8.85x15) rather than the stock H78x15 belted tires to raise it up a little bit so the rear factory dual exh pipes did not drag on some driveway approaches. Accounting for the sidewall flex, too. They worked well. The P76s were claimed to be tuned for American car suspensions.

Not sure about 1969, but some 1970 C-body power drum brake cars had "recessed mount" drums. Basically, the finned portion wrapped around the brake shoes, which meant that some wheels would hit the fins before the lug nut area touched the drums. W23s came on my car and seemed to not have that problem, but other wheels might.

IF you like the look of the E-body Rallye Wheels, look for a '76 Charger SE in the salvage yards. They came with a version of that wheel, but in 15x6.5 sizing. The E-bodies used 15x7s, which is what everybody wants, sometimes. The 6.5s probably need a narrower trim ring. The E-body 14" Rallyes were 14x5.5 . Something else that might look good if you can find them is the 15x7 Polycast wheels that came on '76 Cordobas, just get the trim ring and center cap.

Happy Holidays!
CBODY67
 
Thx for all the info, not sure how many 76 Chargers there are in salvage yards

Did the 70-72 Challengers or 68-74 Chargers ever come with 15's? Seems like most used wheels are 14"
 
Just looking at the 1970 Charger / Coronet service manual, which includes Superbee and station wagons, they were all 14 inch. Even 440 and 426 came with 14" rims. Apparently you could get disk brakes with 14" rims with those cars.
 
There are plenty of 14" tires for sale. Online places including Walmart. If you keep checking back they do have sales a couple times a year. You won't see many 14's at your local tire stores, they stock what they sell and 14's don't sell.

This is a link to Walmat tires IDK why it says robot or human?? Robot or human?

Mastercraft avenger GT on sale for $120 right now. WAY WAY better tire than the crowd favorite BFG radial TA

225/70R14 is a decent size. A similar height and width tire is a 215/70R15.
The 15" has more load carrying capacity.
 
Just looking at the 1970 Charger / Coronet service manual, which includes Superbee and station wagons, they were all 14 inch. Even 440 and 426 came with 14" rims. Apparently you could get disk brakes with 14" rims with those cars.

Interesting, all the muscle cars came with 14 as standard, I'm assuming that applies to the Challenger as well since it's smaller
 
Thx for all the info, not sure how many 76 Chargers there are in salvage yards

Did the 70-72 Challengers or 68-74 Chargers ever come with 15's? Seems like most used wheels are 14"
Check the Dealer Order Guides in the "Library" at www.hamtramck-historical.com (might need to manually enter that address) for the ins and outs of 15" wheels/tires on E- and B-body cars of the target years.

Check the option of the 60-series tires and 15" wheels on the E-bodies.

There were some Budd disc brake B-bodies, but unsure of the wheels that could come with them. The dealer order guides might define that issue.

I happened upon a set of those Charger SE wheels at the local salvage yard. Being that they were not the "golden" 15x7s, they were "normal" wheels (with normal prices). So they followed me home.

Enjoy!
CBODY67
 
1966-69 B body 4 piston disc brakes are Bendix brakes.
1970 went to KH single piston disc brakes. B &E bodies.
There are no Budd brakes on B or E bodies.

Yes 1970 B & E bodies came with 14" wheels standard and 15" optional. The 14" wheels come standard with the disc brakes. The only 1970 B & E cars to only come with disc brakes are Superbirds and AAR/TA. Disc brakes were part of the optional 4.10 Dana axle package.

Now the 1969-1969 426 Hemi B bodies came with 15" wheels standard.
 
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