I'm thinking of changing to 15" police wheels on my 67 valiant 2-door. I have LBP disks and 8 3/4 rear, matching front/rear sway bars, .89 torsion bars, 20-1 manual steering-box, KYBs on all 4 corners, stock 5-leaf springs. I've been running high quality Michelins (205/70s) on 14" volare
stock steelies. I want to keep all tires the same size without modifying body panels, I'm looking at the Yokohama AVS ES100s in either 205/60 or 215/60, but I'm really not to sure if I'm missing something. Can I go to 50 series or wider 60s without mods. How heavy is my steering going to get with these?

I would run 225/50s or 215/60s, depending on how you want the diameter. I've run 225s and they're not bad on steering effort, although my car is a little lighter in the front than yours. Stock 15X7s in the cop or 80s Diplomat/5th ave variety should work w/o fender mods.

My 2 cents,

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

right lou, i run 225/50/15 on my 74 dart on cop car rims and they fit no problems at all.

--chad

Lou,
Do you know what size tire would be on the 80's 5th Ave with the 15X7 wheel for identification purposes. I had pulled one back a couple of months ago but it turned out to be only 5 1/2". Unfortunately I don't remember what size that tire was but I did notice that the 5th Aves around it had the same size tires.
Bob D

That's what I was looking for!
Thanks Lou & Chad

Bob,

Can't remember that tire size, but I think it's a 225 or 235 section width. You should be able to stick a tape measure on the underside of the rim and get a close width measurement.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

yea, i think the bigger M-bodys use a 225/70r15 tire if im not mistakeing. the 7" rims should have about 4 1/4" backspace on them----give or take because there are different ones floating around out there.

--chad

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74 swinger slant 6, the slowest, most fun car i have ever owned.

I have several of the 15x7" and 15x6.5" steel wheels from the late 70s/early 80s. They both have 4.25" backspace. The extra .5" is on the outside. I don't have one here at home to double check but I think they may be marked next to the valve stem hole. Also check the drivers door jam, it may have a sticker that gives the wheel size along with the VIN#. I found mine 12 years ago, I can't remember exactly how I did ID them before buying but I think it was one of the 2 things above.

Cecil

Up to 1970 the wheel dia. and width are stamped near the valve stem, also usually stamped are a manufacture and build date.
a typical code would be something like 14 M39 11 09 69
or a 14" motor wheel built in november of 1969.
after 1970 just a PN was stamped by the valve stem. look for a pentastar and something like a 7 digit number under the grime.
All i can say is whatever you find measure. I've found cars w/ 3 different backspacings out of the 4 rims on it. =:^o

good luck!

-JYH
64 Dart 15X7 Cop wheels, cop shocks, cop brakes...
Chicago... er, i mean, SoCal