'71 Charger Wheel/Tire Selection

[ltbiff]

Hey everybody! I know I'm pretty quiet around here, but I'm in need of some assistance. I've got a 1971 Dodge Charger SE that's about to get new wheels and tires. I'm not really sure what I want yet though. I'm thinking some Magnum 500's from Wheel Vintiques in a 15X10 for the rear with a 275/60R15 and a 15X7 or 15X8 in the front. I'm not really sure what size I want to run up front, maybe a 225/60R15. That's where you guys come in. I want a lot of rubber out back with tires up front that give it a mean appearance. As for tires....I'm leaning towards BF Goodrich Radial T/As Let me know what you guys think!

 

[dgraver]

15x8 rear/15x7 front powdercoated police wheels
275 60 15 rear
245 60 15 front

 

[ltbiff]

Nice pic! You've got me rethinking the 15X10....besides, the tires that I want have a maximum recommended wheel width of 9.5" and by going 15X8 in the rear will save me about $200.

 

[billfury]

I like it the way it is.Maybe go with 8" in the back.Nice car.

 

[ltbiff]

Well, the tires are 215/70R14 all the way around. The tread is like new, but the rubber is so old that it keeps spinning around on the wheel leaving me with flats and that's not cool. So, I at least need new tires. I've always liked the Magnum 500's and especially like wide rear tires. I figured since I had the money anyways, now is the time to buy them.

I've pretty much decided on 215/60R15 on the front with a 15x7 wheel. I don't know if I can go bigger than 275/60R15 in the rear without modifying anything, but that seems to be the tire to get for the rear. Still undecided between the 15x8 or the 15x10.

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

Many of us have gone through this, so good question. First thing is what will fit? Second is how much rake can you live with? Actually first is make sure you know how to calculate tire height.

i.e. 275/60/15 tire height is 275mm x .60 x 2 / 25.4mm/inch + 15 inches = 28"
215/60/15 = 25.15"

That's a lot of rake man! I think you actually want either 215/70/15 which are 26.8" or 245/60/15 which are 26.6" or 235/60/15 which are 26.0" tall.

As for the rears, I recommend either 255/60/15 which are 27.0" tall on an 8" rim or 275/60/15 on an 8" or 8.5" rim. 10" wheel for 275's is way too wide. Usually 295/50/15 are on 10", but remember that the shorter the sidewall the wider wheel you can fit on the tire. 275/60/15 has a pretty tall sidewall and most tire shops could not get one of those to fit a wheel wider than 9". If you get 8" or 8.5" though it gives you more flexibility to downsize to 255's later if you choose to.

Well, the tires are 215/70R14 all the way around. The tread is like new, but the rubber is so old that it keeps spinning around on the wheel leaving me with flats and that's not cool. So, I at least need new tires. I've always liked the Magnum 500's and especially like wide rear tires. I figured since I had the money anyways, now is the time to buy them.

I've pretty much decided on 215/60R15 on the front with a 15x7 wheel. I don't know if I can go bigger than 275/60R15 in the rear without modifying anything, but that seems to be the tire to get for the rear. Still undecided between the 15x8 or the 15x10.

 

[dgraver]

Nice pic! You've got me rethinking the 15X10....besides, the tires that I want have a maximum recommended wheel width of 9.5" and by going 15X8 in the rear will save me about $200.

I dont think you need to go bigger than 15x8. 275 60 15 will def fit and they will fill out the wheel well nice.

I'd look at going a little wider than 215 in the front. I was previously running 215 60 15s on my car before the 245 60 15s pictured, and i did not think they were adequate in both appearance and performace. I'd look at going to at least 225s if not 235s or 245s up front. My car rides so much better with the 245s compared to the 215s up front. Just my opinion but its coming from someone who was in a pretty similar scenario as you.

By the way your car is beautiful! No matter what you decide on it will look good!

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

I dont think you need to go bigger than 15x8. 275 60 15 will def fit and they will fill out the wheel well nice.

I'd look at going a little wider than 215 in the front. I was previously running 215 60 15s on my car before the 245 60 15s pictured, and i did not think they were adequate in both appearance and performace. I'd look at going to at least 225s if not 235s or 245s up front. My car rides so much better with the 245s compared to the 215s up front. Just my opinion but its coming from someone who was in a pretty similar scenario as you.

By the way your car is beautiful! No matter what you decide on it will look good!

Great advice! One thing on the 225's, I tried 225/70/15 in front and those are 27.4" tall. With that big sidewall up front, handling was a bit compromised. 225/60/15 would handle better, but again, the overall height is 25.6" which is 2.4" shorter than the rears. I think the 245/60/15 recommendation is the way to go. I have 215/70/15 on the front of mine and have been considering going to 245's for awhile now.

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View attachment 107071View attachment 107070

15x8 rear/15x7 front powdercoated police wheels
275 60 15 rear
245 60 15 front

Hey do you have a side view of your car so we can see the rake and how the wheels fill things up?

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Oh and don't get hung up on the whole 60 series vs 70 series tire thing. It's all mathematically related and doesn't mean anything without using the tread width first number to calculate.

 

[dgraver]

Great advice! One thing on the 225's, I tried 225/70/15 in front and those are 27.4" tall. With that big sidewall up front, handling was a bit compromised. 225/60/15 would handle better, but again, the overall height is 25.6" which is 2.4" shorter than the rears. I think the 245/60/15 recommendation is the way to go. I have 215/70/15 on the front of mine and have been considering going to 245's for awhile now.

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Hey do you have a side view of your car so we can see the rake and how the wheels fill things up?

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Oh and don't get hung up on the whole 60 series vs 70 series tire thing. It's all mathematically related and doesn't mean anything without using the tread width first number to calculate.

side view and rear

 

[ltbiff]

Yeah...I'm not sure how I came up with 215/60R15? That may have been a typo lol I want it to have enough rake to look mean, but not be too ill handling.

 

[Wookie316]

15x10 with 5" BS & 15x7 with 4.25 BS. 295/50R15 & 235/60R15 Mickey Thompson

I like my 17x9 better 295/45R17 Mickey T

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

Looks killer!

View attachment 107196View attachment 107197

side view and rear

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I agree, on your car those 17x9's look better. But on the other guys orange red car the 15s look better to me. By the way, I am also running MT sportsman S/T's on my car. I see the 17s are MT ET streets. How do the two compare in the snow and rain?

Are you also running 17s in the front?

15x10 with 5" BS & 15x7 with 4.25 BS. 295/50R15 & 235/60R15 Mickey Thompson

I like my 17x9 better 295/45R17 Mickey T

 

[Wookie316]

The 17" Is a Drag Radial, no snow or rain for that tire.

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

that's what I thought! I saw the photo in the snow though, so just checking...

 

[ltbiff]

Currently leaning towards 15x7 up front wrapped in 235/60R15 and a 15x8 out back with 275/60R15. As far as tires themselves go I'm kicking around BFGoodrich Radial T/A's, Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/T's, or Cooper Cobra GT's.

 

[pabster]

Itbiff, that's a SWEET ride. I went through this a while ago with my '74, plenty of great replies in my thread... at the end I posted the final result, which I've been really happy with ever since. Good luck!

The short of it: Wheel Vintiques Mopar Rallyes with the dark center cap, 15 x 7 running 225 70 15s on all four.

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?28651-Shoes-for-my-Charger&highlight=new+shoes+for+the+charger

 

[ltbiff]

Thanks Pabster! How happy are you with the Cooper Cobra's?

 

[pabster]

I'm very happy with 'em. Didn't really know how capable they were until a month or so ago, when I was driving some twisty back roads nearby. I came across a Jag V12 coupe in front of me who was going way too slow, and when I flashed my brights for him to use a turnout, he took off. Just for fun, I kept up with him- hitting 25mph signed curves at 40-50. The Charger rolled and rocked like a ship at sea, but the tires stayed on the road nicely. So I can truthfully say that the Cobras fit the bill if you're casually racing an 80's British sports coupe.

 

[tallhair]

Magnums/Road Wheels, Rallyes, or Cop wheels will all look great, I would like to see what it would look like with the Magnums personally, the boys are steering your right one the tires, so i just want to say that's a really nice looking color/top/hood combo on your Charger

 

[71charger_fan]

15x8 rear with 275/60, 15x7 front with 255/60

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Same car, same tire sizes, 15x7 on all four corners