Tire size for stock cop wheels

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Rooster34

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Hey guys hope all is wel! So I may have an opportunity to buy some stock 15x7 cop wheels. I have a 1965 Plymouth fury II 4 door I am pretty sure I can fir a 275/60 on the rear with plenty of clearance. My question I suppose would I be able to fit a 255/60 up-front without any rubbing issues while turning. The rear wheel overall size would be 28 inches and the front would be 27 inches. I really wanted to do a staggered look but trying to find the wheels I want is being a bit of a problem, anyway I am trying to do a subtle rake for the car but still want some good decent handling. Any input or advice is appreciated.

Roost
 
Rooster34 said:
Hey guys hope all is wel! So I may have an opportunity to buy some stock 15x7 cop wheels. I have a 1965 Plymouth fury II 4 door I am pretty sure I can fir a 275/60 on the rear with plenty of clearance. My question I suppose would I be able to fit a 255/60 up-front without any rubbing issues while turning. The rear wheel overall size would be 28 inches and the front would be 27 inches. I really wanted to do a staggered look but trying to find the wheels I want is being a bit of a problem, anyway I am trying to do a subtle rake for the car but still want some good decent handling. Any input or advice is appreciated.

Roost
Click to expand...

Police cruisers of that era typically ran a 6 ply rated 8.55x14 tire. In the later belted tires, they were usually a 6 ply rated H-78x15 tire, a few with the performance option ran H-70x15 tires. By the radial tire era, usually "Patrol Rated" or "Pursuit Rated" P235 or P245-75R15, some also ran 70 series radials. The later police wheels that you probably have have a slightly different offset than a stock wheel, so measure carefully. Jacking the tail up more than a little with air shocks etc will throw off the steering geometry, usually making the car handle poorly and eat tires, these cars were designed to run level.

Dave
 
Last edited:
Davea Lux said:
Police cruisers of that era typically ran a 6 ply rated 8.55x14 tire. In the later belted tires, they were usually a 6 ply rated H-78x15 tire, a few with the performance option ran H-70x15 tires. By the radial tire era, usually "Patrol Rated" or "Pursuit Rated" P235 or P245-75R15, some also ran 70 series radials. The later police wheels that you probably have have a slightly different offset than a stock wheel, so measure carefully. Jacking the tail up more than a little with air shocks etc will throw off the steering geometry, usually making the car handle poorly and eat tires, these cars were designed to run level.

Dave
Click to expand...
Ok thank you Dave, I'm definitely not doing any air shocks or anything like that just stock suspension, just looking for a 1 inch rake via tire size but if handling plays an issue getting a rake then I will keep it level. They guy I'm talking to is a pretty vud Mopar head. You may know him, Gary Pavlovichim just trying to figure the front so when I turn there is no interference up front. He said fitting 275 60s out back shouldn't be a problem and should fit going with the 15x7 stock cop wheel as a 15x8 would add more bulge. So would a 255 60 on a 15x7 wheel up front work with no issues except what you had mentioned?up front would be 27 inches overall and out back would be 28 inches. Or I could go with 255 65 up front to keep it level.
 
are you talking about solid c body cop car wheels or slotted mid 70s to mid 80s b body/ diplomat wheels ?
 
Rooster34 said:
Ok thank you Dave, I'm definitely not doing any air shocks or anything like that just stock suspension, just looking for a 1 inch rake via tire size but if handling plays an issue getting a rake then I will keep it level. They guy I'm talking to is a pretty vud Mopar head. You may know him, Gary Pavlovichim just trying to figure the front so when I turn there is no interference up front. He said fitting 275 60s out back shouldn't be a problem and should fit going with the 15x7 stock cop wheel as a 15x8 would add more bulge. So would a 255 60 on a 15x7 wheel up front work with no issues except what you had mentioned?up front would be 27 inches overall and out back would be 28 inches. Or I could go with 255 65 up front to keep it level.
Click to expand...

Check the width of an inflated tire, years ago with drag slicks 8" wide was about the max unless a lot of trimming was done to the rear wheel house. Those were the older profile tall slicks, so you might get away with a little more width with a lower profile, but not much. The top of the wheel house is curved so hitting pot holes etc forces the tire upward and usually it will scrape the sides of the wheel house.
I don't think going to a wide tire on the front is to your advantage, stay with something about 7" wide.

Are you going for a "look" or is this some monster that needs more traction?

Others are bound to chime in.

Dave
 
Do your homework for sure. Make sure you are going down a beaten path because everything has been tried in these last 50+ years. My 69 Fury in the rear runs 275/60/15's on 15/8 wheels and just recently I acquired some 255/60/15's for the front. I mounted them on 15/7 wheels. But my 69 Fury is bigger than your 65 Fury so I cannot make any educated recommendations.
I researched my car and threads on what will fit with correct backspacing etc and there were no problems at all. As long as you do the same all should be good. Love to see your car before and after. Good luck!
 
Not sure if would go with staggered tyre sizes on a 4-Door myself (of course everyone has their own tastes etc), but with 15 x 7" sized wheel would go 235/70R15 all round. If going staggered, an outer diameter match would be 235/70R15 up front, with 275/60R15 rear (with wider 15 x 8" wheel at that end, to avoid wall bulge).
 
marko said:
are you talking about solid c body cop car wheels or slotted mid 70s to mid 80s b body/ diplomat wheels ?
Click to expand...
They are slotted, here's a pic

20210318_102927002_1618156694702.jpeg
 
Davea Lux said:
Check the width of an inflated tire, years ago with drag slicks 8" wide was about the max unless a lot of trimming was done to the rear wheel house. Those were the older profile tall slicks, so you might get away with a little more width with a lower profile, but not much. The top of the wheel house is curved so hitting pot holes etc forces the tire upward and usually it will scrape the sides of the wheel house.
I don't think going to a wide tire on the front is to your advantage, stay with something about 7" wide.

Are you going for a "look" or is this some monster that needs more traction?

Others are bound to chime in.

Dave
Click to expand...
Going for a look but performanceas well, definitely want a bit more traction as I plan on updating the stall converter and gearing to 3.73s. It has 2.93s in right now which are great for highway and cruising at 60 mph I'm right where my power band starts at 2500 rpm so it's sweet if someone wants to do a rolling race at 60 mph , im sure it would just walk away.
 
Turboomni said:
Do your homework for sure. Make sure you are going down a beaten path because everything has been tried in these last 50+ years. My 69 Fury in the rear runs 275/60/15's on 15/8 wheels and just recently I acquired some 255/60/15's for the front. I mounted them on 15/7 wheels. But my 69 Fury is bigger than your 65 Fury so I cannot make any educated recommendations.
I researched my car and threads on what will fit with correct backspacing etc and there were no problems at all. As long as you do the same all should be good. Love to see your car before and after. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Aidan1976 said:
Not sure if would go with staggered tyre sizes on a 4-Door myself (of course everyone has their own tastes etc), but with 15 x 7" sized wheel would go 235/70R15 all round. If going staggered, an outer diameter match would be 235/70R15 up front, with 275/60R15 rear (with wider 15 x 8" wheel at that end, to avoid wall bulge).
Click to expand...

Thanks for both of your inputs, and yes I've been researching this extensively for the past at least 2 months and want to make sure with what I choose will work. I've seen a 2 door sport Fury with a staggered set up they did 15x7 215 65s up front and 15x8 255 60s out back and it looked great IMO but again it was a 2 door. Anyway heres a pic of my progress on my 65 4 door

20210707_184654.jpg


20210707_184628.jpg


20210705_174908.jpg


20210629_200117.jpg


20210622_122418.jpg
 
The agency I work for had P215/70HR15 tires on the Gran Furys with 15X7 wheels. The Caprices had P225/70HR15 tires with 15X7 wheels up to 1994 (P225/70VR15 95-96). The tires often got mixed up between the 2 models. The P225/70HR15 didn't "rub" on the Gran Furys but looked too big and vice versa on the Caprice looking too small.
 
So I ended up getting the 15x7 squad/interceptor wheel. Still debating on what tires I'm going to go with but definitely want white walls/lettering. What would be the widest tire I could get on a 15x7 rim safely, I do plan on driving it spirtited. Also would anyone happen to knkw the cone degree for the wheels and type of Lug nuts for the 65 fury? The driver side still has the LH studs.
 
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