'69 Valiant SBP on steelies: Comparison of original bias-ply with various radials
I mounted the P215/70/R14's to the front of the Valiant this morning as a test. I don't feel confident that the P215's bulging on the 4.5" rims is a good idea, but a set of the wider 5.5" SBP's will solve that (unfortunately, I have three 4.5" rims and one 5.5").
That said, it sits a bit high on the torsion bars, but so do the 13's - easing them off would solve that. Looks a hell of a lot better than the 13" wheelbarrow wheels:
Clearance is ample:
The best part about this is that after installing the P215 wheels, I found that my wandering front-end handling disappeared. It actually self-centers itself on the road now, allowing me to look down at the gauges for more than a quarter second.
The front end had previously been aligned with the 13's to the street specs for radials listed here on the forum (after doing the offset bushing modification), but it still darted around the road. I'm not sure if it's because the caster was increased with the back end on the ground, whether the larger sidewall deflects better, or if the control arms are in a sweet spot with the taller wheels.
Whatever the case, I don't hate the Mopar power steering box anymore. With the alignment dialed in, it's no better or worse than a Saginaw box of the same era.
-Kurt
I mounted the P215/70/R14's to the front of the Valiant this morning as a test. I don't feel confident that the P215's bulging on the 4.5" rims is a good idea, but a set of the wider 5.5" SBP's will solve that (unfortunately, I have three 4.5" rims and one 5.5").
That said, it sits a bit high on the torsion bars, but so do the 13's - easing them off would solve that. Looks a hell of a lot better than the 13" wheelbarrow wheels:
Clearance is ample:
The best part about this is that after installing the P215 wheels, I found that my wandering front-end handling disappeared. It actually self-centers itself on the road now, allowing me to look down at the gauges for more than a quarter second.
The front end had previously been aligned with the 13's to the street specs for radials listed here on the forum (after doing the offset bushing modification), but it still darted around the road. I'm not sure if it's because the caster was increased with the back end on the ground, whether the larger sidewall deflects better, or if the control arms are in a sweet spot with the taller wheels.
Whatever the case, I don't hate the Mopar power steering box anymore. With the alignment dialed in, it's no better or worse than a Saginaw box of the same era.
-Kurt
