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  •  » tire size

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    2/09/2023 3:49 PM  #1

    retired65
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    Registered: 6/18/2020
    Posts: 37

    tire size

    What is the maximum 15 inch tire size that can be used on the  '65/66 Mustangs rear, without rubbing the outer lip of rear quarter panel?  This would be with stock rear axle.

     

    2/09/2023 5:00 PM  #2

    mjacobs
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    From: Crossville Tn
    Registered: 2/07/2014
    Posts: 91

    Re: tire size

    i have 15x7 rims with 4.25" backspacing
    tires are 15/60/215.  easily clear front and rear fenders. Shelby drop on front.

    I think there is room for larger tire but I will leave that to someone else to provide info

     

    2/09/2023 5:21 PM  #3

    50vert
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    From: QLD Australia
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 1,411

    Re: tire size

    Rim width and backspacing are what dictate maximum tyre size.

    Last edited by 50vert (2/09/2023 5:23 PM)

    "Those telephone poles were like a picket fence"
     

    2/09/2023 9:31 PM  #4

    MS
    Forum Originator

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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 12,156

    Re: tire size



    15x7 with 4.25” backspacing. 215x60/15 tires.   Fits quite well. 
    Wheel width and backspacing are most important.

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

    2/10/2023 9:20 AM  #5

    BobE
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    From: White Plains, NY
    Registered: 4/04/2013
    Posts: 2,558

    Re: tire size

    I have 225/60-15, with 3.75 backspacing on all four corners, with no issues of the rears. 
    I had to slightly bend the lip on the front fenders, as it would rub when turning and hitting a bump at the same time. 

    65 Fastback, 351W, 5-speed, 4 wheel discs, 9" rear,  R&C Front End.
     

    2/22/2023 9:35 AM  #6

    retired65
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    Registered: 6/18/2020
    Posts: 37

    Re: tire size

    Anyone have 225-60-R15 tires on 8 inch wide rims and 4 1/2 backset  on a stock rear axle assy?  If so, do you have any rub problems on rear fenders?  Thanks

       •Thread Starter
     

    2/22/2023 10:10 AM  #7

    BobE
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    From: White Plains, NY
    Registered: 4/04/2013
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    Re: tire size

    For reference, my wheels are 15x7".  

    65 Fastback, 351W, 5-speed, 4 wheel discs, 9" rear,  R&C Front End.
     

    2/22/2023 11:18 AM  #8

    Rufus68
    I FYI 24-7

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    From: Knoxville, TN
    Registered: 4/26/2017
    Posts: 865

    Re: tire size

    It depends on how long your leaf spring shackles are... 

    1968 T-code Coupe with a 302.  Nice car, no show stopper for sure, but I like it.
     

    2/23/2023 1:05 PM  #9

    retired65
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    Registered: 6/18/2020
    Posts: 37

    Re: tire size

    Rufus68 wrote:

    It depends on how long your leaf spring shackles are... 

    I guess I don't understand what the length of the spring shackles has to do with the question I asked.
     

       •Thread Starter
     

    2/23/2023 1:39 PM  #10

    TKOPerformance
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 7,417

    Re: tire size

    retired65 wrote:

    Rufus68 wrote:

    It depends on how long your leaf spring shackles are... 

    I guess I don't understand what the length of the spring shackles has to do with the question I asked.
     

    If you can raise the rear of the car enough with longer shackles you can fit most any size tire.  Pretty sure he was being facetious, but that's surely what guys were doing in the late '70s and early '80s.  Jack up the rear with longer shackles and gas shocks and stick tires under it that weren't even inside the fender lips.  Stinkbug stance.  Ugh, thank God we've evolved. 
     

     

    2/23/2023 2:27 PM  #11

    Rufus68
    I FYI 24-7

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    From: Knoxville, TN
    Registered: 4/26/2017
    Posts: 865

    Re: tire size

    TKOPerformance wrote:

    retired65 wrote:

    Rufus68 wrote:

    It depends on how long your leaf spring shackles are... 

    I guess I don't understand what the length of the spring shackles has to do with the question I asked.
     

    If you can raise the rear of the car enough with longer shackles you can fit most any size tire.  Pretty sure he was being facetious, but that's surely what guys were doing in the late '70s and early '80s.  Jack up the rear with longer shackles and gas shocks and stick tires under it that weren't even inside the fender lips.  Stinkbug stance.  Ugh, thank God we've evolved. 
     

    What he said

    Back in the early 80s, the '68 Mustang I bought had "A" 13s on the front and "H" 14s on the rear.  It also had long shackles to enable the "H" 14s to fit. 

    Last edited by Rufus68 (2/23/2023 2:28 PM)

    1968 T-code Coupe with a 302.  Nice car, no show stopper for sure, but I like it.
     

    2/23/2023 6:18 PM  #12

    Toploader
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    Registered: 4/15/2013
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    Re: tire size

    Rufus and TKO, is this what you are talking about? 😆




    Last edited by Toploader (2/23/2023 6:19 PM)

    1964-1/2 D Code Coupe - 289 V8, 4 Speed Toploader, 3.00 ratio rear, Autolite 4100 Carb, 15" tires, Pertronix ignition
     

    2/24/2023 10:57 AM  #13

    BobE
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    From: White Plains, NY
    Registered: 4/04/2013
    Posts: 2,558

    Re: tire size

    Yep, 'back in the day', most drag cars looked like these ... except for the last picture.

    65 Fastback, 351W, 5-speed, 4 wheel discs, 9" rear,  R&C Front End.
     

    2/24/2023 11:08 AM  #14

    MS
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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 12,156

    Re: tire size

    I have always maintained there is a huge difference in brainpower consumed between “fitting tires on the car” and “fitting the car on the tires”.

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

     

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