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Magnum 500s

qkcuda

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I just purchased a 1966 Charger, but do to scheduling issues, I won't be able to pick it up for about a month. It is a 20 year old restoration and is in excellent running condition, but the tires are not safe to drive on. I was ultimately going to go with magnum 500's anyway, but now I will have to have tires ready to install when I pick it up, so I can drive it home. I want at the least 15 inch wheels, but am considering the 16 or 17 inch Magnum 500's due to tire availability. I would like to end up with at least 27 inch diameter tires. What combos has everyone used and how do they fit? I will not be able to install them until I pick up the car.
 
I get 15's and even 14's in RWL from discounttirediect via ebay all the time.
 
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15 X 10" rear - 295/50 tire
15 X 8" front - 215/65 tire
Note: This is about the largest tire that will fit the rear with a standard opening.
They will rub on the inside if I drive over an uneven grade.
Such as backing out the driveway.
Straight line they are fine.

Charger201906resized.jpg
 
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I just purchased a 1966 Charger, but do to scheduling issues, I won't be able to pick it up for about a month. It is a 20 year old restoration and is in excellent running condition, but the tires are not safe to drive on. I was ultimately going to go with magnum 500's anyway, but now I will have to have tires ready to install when I pick it up, so I can drive it home. I want at the least 15 inch wheels, but am considering the 16 or 17 inch Magnum 500's due to tire availability. I would like to end up with at least 27 inch diameter tires. What combos has everyone used and how do they fit? I will not be able to install them until I pick up the car.

It so depends on the look you're after. It's such a personal thing. I prefer to not venture too far off from what they came with originally, and not too different if at all from front to back . I like the 27" diameter target. So that would probably be P235 70 15s all around, or the 235 70 in the front, and a P255 60 15 in the rear. Here is mine with both 235/235, and 235/255

Zelie 3.JPG
DSC07763 50%.JPG
 
It so depends on the look you're after. It's such a personal thing. I prefer to not venture too far off from what they came with originally, and not too different if at all from front to back . I like the 27" diameter target. So that would probably be P235 70 15s all around, or the 235 70 in the front, and a P255 60 15 in the rear. Here is mine with both 235/235, and 235/255

View attachment 900965 View attachment 900967

That is the look I'm going for. I assume when you put the 255's on the back they were on an 8 inch rim? Is everything 4 1/4 backspacing? Any issues with the 27 inch height with clearance on the lips of the front fenders or on the leading edge of the rear wheelwell? I had an A body before and I had to watch the tire height.
 
15 X 10" rear - 295/50 tire
15 X 8" front - 215/65 tire
Note: This is about the largest tire that will fit the rear with a standard opening.
They will rub on the inside if I drive over an uneven grade.
Such as backing out the driveway.
Straight line they are fine.

View attachment 900811

Thanks for the info. My old car was a drag racer and I stuffed the biggest tire I could fit. This one is more of a cruiser so I think I will go a little smaller. Still haven't decided but I may go larger in the back just to fill out the wheelwell a bit more. This one looks a little small in the back.

View attachment 901171

1966_dodge_charger.jpeg Me at St. Thomas.jpg
 
Here is mine with both 235/235, and 235/255
The first picture looks like the wheels are staggered?
Sure they are all 235 in that one?

Also another note:
I had 245/60/15's on an 8" rim (no offset) and they caught on the wheel lip molding. No larger than 235/60 on the front.
 
Nice blue Charger.

Don, the 8” rim on the front is too wide. That’s why the 245/60’s rubbed.

I like the 255/60 15 on the rear, they are 27” tall.

I like 15x7” rims all around, no rubbing ever. And the larger/wider wheels are just extra unsprung/rotating weight to haul around, power up and stop. 15x8 steel wheels are heavy like 30-32 lbs depending on style and thickness.
 
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You will have a tire selection problem if you go with 17 inch rims.
We put 15x7” rims on the front with P225/70R TA`s
Back. 15x8” rims. P275/60R TA`s
Drove to the Charger 50th in Detroit, more that 4000 miles round trip. Love the look and ride.
Won’t work as well if the springs are sagged.
 
That is the look I'm going for. I assume when you put the 255's on the back they were on an 8 inch rim? Is everything 4 1/4 backspacing? Any issues with the 27 inch height with clearance on the lips of the front fenders or on the leading edge of the rear wheelwell? I had an A body before and I had to watch the tire height.

My 255s are on a 7" rim. The 235s on 6.5" rims. Never measured the back spacing.
 
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The first picture looks like the wheels are staggered?
Sure they are all 235 in that one?

Also another note:
I had 245/60/15's on an 8" rim (no offset) and they caught on the wheel lip molding. No larger than 235/60 on the front.

Don, you made me laugh. Yes, I'm sure. They've been on the car for, I'm embarrassed to say, 25 years. I'll post a couple more pics when I get home.
 
Maybe an optical delusion then...
or
an illusion:)
 
Maybe an optical delusion then...
or
an illusion:)

I will say that when you burn enough tread off, the actual contact patch gets a little bigger :lol:

DSC05022.JPG
 
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Our car at Ludington Michigan June 2016 on the way home from the 50th Charger anniversary in Detroit.
P225/70R 15 TA 7x15 rim on front
P275/60R 15 TA 8x15 rim on back
 
OK so I have a line on some 17x7 magnum 500’s. I want about a 27 inch diameter so I am looking at 225/55-17 or 235/55-17. Has anyone tried these sizes. I am wondering about clearance especially in the front.
 
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