SPARE TIRE

[Brian Mauro]

Hey everyone,

I am just about finished with the Dart GTS and now I have been looking for a spare tire to fit in the well in the trunk, I have the rim 14 inch and I am spending more money at the tire shop dismounting and mounting tires. Has any one run into this issue where the tire sits above the well and the board will not sit flush with the cardboard cover, any help is appreciated

 

[BrianT]

Yes. I found a compact spare from a mini-van and put it the spare tire spot. Finding a skinny 14" tire to fit in there is going to be expensive.

 

[SpeedThrills]

If no currently made cars use tires that are small enough, maybe Coker would be a source?

 

[Brian Mauro]

Yes. I found a compact spare from a mini-van and put it the spare tire spot. Finding a skinny 14" tire to fit in there is going to be expensive.

Yea I've been looking at the skinny tires and they are not cheap, I'm going to hit up the salvage yards next.

 

[Brian Mauro]

If no currently made cars use tires that are small enough, maybe Coker would be a source?

Coker is really expensive but in order to get it right I might have to.

 

[Ddaddy]

I put in a new Firestone F560 155/80/14 spare that would sit flush with the trunk pan like the factory original one did. It is the size used on VW Bugs. I got it from Coker.

 

[Bennoel 10]

I believe your car came from the factory with 5 wheels and tires all the same size. Probably E70 14. Could have been red lines or white raised letters and possibly white walls. Nevertheless as far as the spare in the trunk fitment it didn't sit flush with the floor. It was sat taller in the wheel well. The fiber board had some kind of jute packing to compensate for the gap. Personally never seen any but my research has led me to believe that is what was originally in place.

 

[Ddaddy]

The spare tire well depth on the 67-69 Dart was designed to accommodate the standard factory tire size options available in ‘67 when the body was first introduced and designed to sit flush with the fiberboard cover in place.

The available tire options all had section widths of 6.5-7”. That is the nominal metric equivalent of 165-175 width.

The availability of 165-175 width tires with the correct section width is nearly zero in the modern world. That’s why I went with the 155/80 since it has the correct section width it’s still being made for old VW Bugs.

 

[BrianT]

Yea I've been looking at the skinny tires and they are not cheap, I'm going to hit up the salvage yards next.

Also, you can look at Jeep XJ and Lincoln Town Cars. They both came with smaller space savor tires and have the 5x4 1/2 bolt pattern. Some of the Lincolns even had an aluminum wheel!

 

[A-Body III]

I believe your car came from the factory with 5 wheels and tires all the same size. Probably E70 14. Could have been red lines or white raised letters and possibly white walls. Nevertheless as far as the spare in the trunk fitment it didn't sit flush with the floor. It was sat taller in the wheel well. The fiber board had some kind of jute packing to compensate for the gap. Personally never seen any but my research has led me to believe that is what was originally in place.

I can speak from experience on the 1970 Duster 340. I ordered one new in Dec. 1969...yes the one in my avatar pic. The girl came later. Anyway, the 340 Dusters did come with 5 E70's (RWL) in my case. There really was no fitment, the Masonite board was about 3 or so inches above the trunk floor and the mat just kinda draped across it. There was no jute padding on the board on my car nor any others that I have observed.
It is my belief that the depth of the spare tire well was unchanged from the first A-bodies that were introduced in the early 60's which were equipped with 6:50-6:95 ish tires.

 

[Cuda Al]

I'm not sure the 6.5x13 even fit flush.
I will say that absolutely not all the factory tires fit flush.


Alan

 

[Ddaddy]

I'm not sure the 6.5x13 even fit flush.
I will say that absolutely not all the factory tires fit flush.


Alan

If you put a straight edge across the tire well, you will find the depth is approximately 7” making it the correct size to accept all of the factory tire options in 1967 and have the fiberboard cover lay flat and flush.

It’s easy to measure and then determine what section width tire will fit flush.

 

[Wvbuzzmaster]

I don’t know who on here did it first, but I copied them. Ford Crown Victoria or Lincoln Town Car or whatever, is the biggest spare you can fit. It is 16” rim with 5x4.5 pattern and some versions are aluminum, and that is the one you want. The reason is that the Fords use a smaller center hole and aluminum is easy to enlarge the center hole. The original poster of this used a dremel, I used a large pipe reamer with excellent results.

 

[autoxcuda]

I don’t know who on here did it first, but I copied them. Ford Crown Victoria or Lincoln Town Car or whatever, is the biggest spare you can fit. It is 16” rim with 5x4.5 pattern and some versions are aluminum, and that is the one you want. The reason is that the Fords use a smaller center hole and aluminum is easy to enlarge the center hole. The original poster of this used a dremel, I used a large pipe reamer with excellent results.

I've had one of those aluminum ones for 20+ years. works great.

Lightweight spare tire!!

 

[Brian Mauro]

I put in a new Firestone F560 155/80/14 spare that would sit flush with the trunk pan like the factory original one did. It is the size used on VW Bugs. I got it from Coker.

View attachment 1716392135
View attachment 1716392137

I put in a new Firestone F560 155/80/14 spare that would sit flush with the trunk pan like the factory original one did. It is the size used on VW Bugs. I got it from Coker.

View attachment 1716392135
View attachment 1716392137

View attachment 1716392138

This is what I am going to use, the trunk looks great no huge bump compared to now with the tire in there now, thank you for the great information.

 

[Brian Mauro]

This is what I am going to use, the trunk looks great no huge bump compared to now with the tire in there now, thank you for the great information.

I also noticed that you have the center cap for the cardboard where did you find that at

 

[Ddaddy]

I also noticed that you have the center cap for the cardboard where did you find that at

Glad to help. The metal center ring for the fiberboard cover was still in the car when I bought it. I’m not sure where you can get one other than used.

I did replace the fiberboard cover, the old one was in pieces.

 

[Bennoel 10]

I believe your car came from the factory with 5 wheels and tires all the same size. Probably E70 14. Could have been red lines or white raised letters and possibly white walls. Nevertheless as far as the spare in the trunk fitment it didn't sit flush with the floor. It was sat taller in the wheel well. The fiber board had some kind of jute packing to compensate for the gap. Personally never seen any but my research has led me to believe that is what was originally in place.

 

[Brian Mauro]

Glad to help. The metal center ring for the fiberboard cover was still in the car when I bought it. I’m not sure where you can get one other than used.

I did replace the fiberboard cover, the old one was in pieces.

I put the F560 155/80/14 tire in the well of hope and dreams and it is now sitting flush with the trunk floor thank you for the information. I'm going to clean up the jack base and mechanism and put in the spot in the trunk, once again thank you for the great advice and tip.

 

[Ddaddy]

I put the F560 155/80/14 tire in the well of hope and dreams and it is now sitting flush with the trunk floor thank you for the information. I'm going to clean up the jack base and mechanism and put in the spot in the trunk, once again thank you for the great advice and tip.

That’s great, I’m happy that it worked out for you!

The spare tire was one of the thorns in my side while trying to get all the details worked out on my ‘69 GTS. I’m glad that what worked for me did for you too.

Just to share, here is my GTS…

 

[Brian Mauro]

That’s great, I’m happy that it worked out for you!

The spare tire was one of the thorns in my side while trying to get all the details worked out on my ‘69 GTS. I’m glad that what worked for me did for you too.

Just to share, here is my GTS…

View attachment 1716396540

Beautiful car you have the stripe in the back the fender tag on mine is code V88 stripe delete, I also see the molding on the rocker panel I have to put that on next, looks beautiful!!