Time to Buy Tires for the Duster......help please.

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FJRdoc

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Time to purchase tires for my 1970 Duster build. Rear and front suspension is factory. 8 3/4 rear. Manual disc brakes front. 1+ rear springs.
I will be running 14 x 5.5 Rallyes up front and 15 x 7 with 4.25 BS in the rear. Like the look on Polyglas but can't bring myself to pay the crazy money for them. Have decided to go with Goodrich T/A's for retro look and radial handling. I'm think that 225/70R-14's should work up front without interference issues. Would 255/60R-15's work on the rear without rubbing? I'm not looking to go crazy wide I just want to fill the rear fenders.
Pics would be graet if somebody has this combo.
 
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I run on my '74 Dart Sport i run 14 x 5 1/2'' rallyes on the front with a 215 70 14 tire with no problems.
On the back, i have a '69 B-Body 8 3/4'' stock width rear with the spring perches moved in 1'' total to make it the same as A-Body spring width with a set of Super Stock (002 and 003) springs which raise the back end up considerably.
The wheels on the back are 15 x 6 1/2'' factory BBP rallyes and the tires are 255 60 15s. The offset is about 3 3/8'' inward.
They fit well, but i rolled in the inner lip on the quarter anyway, just to make sure they didn't slice the tires.
Here's a few pics...........

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Thanx for the reply Dartnut. I prefer not to mess with my freshly painted fender lips. How much clearance do you have on the inside of the rear tire to the springs?
 
I've been digging into tire combos while searching through threads. Sounds like 225/70R-14 might cause rubbing issues. The 215's might be a better choice up front. I'm still looking for more info on the 255's will work without suspension or body modifications.
 
215 70 14 is a good choice for front and widest recommended on a 5.5 wheel. That's what I have all around. Yeh, they look a little lost in the back wheel wells, but I wanted the stock look for mine.
Can't say what fit's on the back, but at an inch difference height should look good

BE64D2CA-5996-4616-85BA-2D0AB1D673F2.jpeg
 
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225 is a bit much for only a 5.5 rim.
15 x 7 with 4.25 BS is the factory offset. Dusters have a pretty good size rear well so 255 will fit there.
 
Doc
I have the same size rear rim on the back of my duster, 8.75 rear, with 275/60/15 Bfg’s with no rubbing or fender massaging.
Stock A body rear, with large bolt pattern axles.
 
Time to purchase tires for my 1970 Duster build. Rear and front suspension is factory. 8 3/4 rear. Manual disc brakes front. 1+ rear springs.
I will be running 14 x 5.5 Rallyes up front and 15 x 7 with 4.25 BS in the rear. Like the look on Polyglas but can't bring myself to pay the crazy money for them. Have decided to go with Goodrich T/A's for retro look and radial handling. I'm think that 225/70R-14's should work up front without interference issues. Would 255/60R-15's work on the rear without rubbing? I'm not looking to go crazy wide I just want to fill the rear fenders.
Pics would be graet if somebody has this combo.
 
After reading your post - checked too see what we have - stock suspension frt & rear , 8 3/4, BFG t/a s front= 235 60r 14 , alignment shop had to change fronts to allign- only what I was told, never a rub, rears are 245 60r 14 plenty more room xcept inside @ spring. I can slide my fingers between and no more. on a 71 Duster with sbp.
 
Thanx for the reply Dartnut. I prefer not to mess with my freshly painted fender lips. How much clearance do you have on the inside of the rear tire to the springs?
I have about 1 1/2'' between the side of the tire and the leaf springs on both sides.
I could go 275 60 15s easily with the wheels offset at about 1'' more on the inside or 4 1/2'' backspace as some call it.
I tried factory 15 x 7'' rallyes on it and it was getting very close to the wheel lip.
The extra 1/2'' goes toward the wheel lip on the factory wheel, not towards the rear differential.
On a 15 x 7'' factory wheel, the offset to the inside is the same as on a factory 15 x 6 1/2'' wheel, which is 3 3/8''.
BTW, i tried the same tires and wheels on an A-Body 8 1/4'' rear that i had in the car originally, and the tires hit the springs even before tightening them down.
 
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I have 235/60/14 on 5.5 inch rallyes.
That is a bit much sidewall roll, but they'll be fine until they wear out.
I'll get 225's next time but I bought the 235's to test how they fit my 6.6" Spyders.

On the back I have 255/60/15 on 6.5" "Cordoba" rallyes.
Despite being technically too wide, they fit fine and look correct, without undue sidewall roll or tread deformation.

As for a Duster rear wheel well.....they are SUPER GENEROUS.

I think you could approach a 300 series and still be OK.
 
P25560R15 on a 15 X 8 Wheel. No rubbing, Picture is with +1 ESPO leaf spring. Running P22560R15 on 15 x 7 wheels in front, rubbing just a bit when turning left... (left Wheel only)
IMG_1579.JPG
 
Thanks for all the info gang. Keep it coming. You have a beautiful blue Duster Phil. My plan for now will be to get the 215/70-14 tires first. I will use them on the rear for installing the rear suspension and transporting the car back home. Once the car is home, I'll have a better chance to make some measurements.
 
i worked for Firestone for years as a manager, when you are talking tire sizes 205,215,225 and so on has nothing to do with width, this is how tall the sidewalls are,and that determines height, if you are wanting width , that is the 70,60,55 and so on, and the last number is size for rim, 13,14,15. so if you want a wider tire for back go to 60 or 55s, i run 50s on back of a 74 duster, but you have to watch what type of wheel you use about spring rub or fender rub
 
Dave, those 275's fill the rear fender nicely. Are you running a stock suspension? I wonder if they will fit a 7 inch rim? You have some awesome rides. I am so lusting after your m code 'Cuda. A m code coupe would be my ultimate dream car.
 
Doc,
I found a pic of mine, mounted on the same size rims as yours, with 275-60-15.
Bolted to a 8.75 stock A body axle, but converted to big bolt pattern using Dr. Diff axles.
Springs are Mancini X-heavy duty with a 1" lowering block.
Ny87vQ.jpg
 
Dave, those 275's fill the rear fender nicely. Are you running a stock suspension? I wonder if they will fit a 7 inch rim? You have some awesome rides. I am so lusting after your m code 'Cuda. A m code coupe would be my ultimate dream car.
Thanks but I did sell the M code. Yes stock suspension with a small lower blocks. 4 1/4 backing space should fit. I know 4 1/2 does not(to close to the spring). Do you have anybody you know that you can try tires?
 
If my car was not at my buddies body shop I would gladly loan him a tire and wheel.
 
I don't know if I can find anybody to try tires. Maybe I could ask around as I get closer to dropping the body over the engine, K member and front suspension. That's the time that will definitely need to have 4 tires. Back in the day (1980) the car rode on 14 x 8 Cragars with McCreary J60-14's with a drum spacer. It was a tight fit but it worked.
 
If you want to error on the safe side, just go a size smaller, 255, they will fit with room to spare.
 
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