Tire Advice for 1968 Barracuda

[68 340]

I recently purchased Weld Rodlite wheels for my 1968 Barracuda. The car has 1973 design disk brakes and suspension up front and 4.5 bolt pattern rear end with drum brakes. Super Stock springs are in stock location. I am currently running 15 X 8.5 Centerline Autodrag wheels in the rear with 4.875 backspace and 15 255 60 Mickey Thompson drag radials. Decent amount of room on the driver side ---about an inch to the spring. Passenger side is a bit tighter with 0.5 inch of clearance with a 1/4 spacer. Car hooks well at the strip --- 1.57-1.58 60 foot times with the 15 255 60 drag radials, but I am considering going to a 15 275 60 drag radial if I can safely squeeze them in. The Weld Rodlite wheels are 15x7 with 4.5 backspace for the front and 15X8 with 4.5 backspace for the rear. I currently have a 15 195 60 radial tire on the Centerline wheels up front which I think is too small (24 inches tall). What is the tallest tire I can run up front without contacting/damaging the lower front portion of the fender using the new 15x7 with 4.5 backspace? Will I have enough room with the new rear wheel size to fit 15 275 60 drag radials?

 

[Mrfuryman]

I recently purchased Weld Rodlite wheels for my 1968 Barracuda. The car has 1973 design disk brakes and suspension up front and 4.5 bolt pattern rear end with drum brakes. Super Stock springs are in stock location. I am currently running 15 X 8.5 Centerline Autodrag wheels in the rear with 4.875 backspace and 15 255 60 Mickey Thompson drag radials. Decent amount of room on the driver side ---about an inch to the spring. Passenger side is a bit tighter with 0.5 inch of clearance with a 1/4 spacer. Car hooks well at the strip --- 1.57-1.58 60 foot times with the 15 255 60 drag radials, but I am considering going to a 15 275 60 drag radial if I can safely squeeze them in. The Weld Rodlite wheels are 15x7 with 4.5 backspace for the front and 15X8 with 4.5 backspace for the rear. I currently have a 15 195 60 radial tire on the Centerline wheels up front which I think is too small (24 inches tall). What is the tallest tire I can run up front without contacting/damaging the lower front portion of the fender using the new 15x7 with 4.5 backspace? Will I have enough room with the new rear wheel size to fit 15 275 60 drag radials?

Hello, did you figure out your tire combo? I also have a 68 that i am working on a tire situation. I am working on the exact same set up. Any info is appreciated. Thank you, Floyd

 

[68 340]

15 255 60 MT Drag Radials fit well on the rear with 15X8 4.5 wheels with 4.5 backspace. There is over an inch of space between the wheel and rear leaf spring on both sides. No rear quarter pannel to tire clearance issues as well (good clearance). I am thinking about 15 195 65 tires up front. It appears 15 275 60 MT will fit on both the rear driver and passenger side. My passenger side may need a 1/4 spacer.

 

[famous bob]

15 255 60 MT Drag Radials fit well on the rear with 15X8 4.5 wheels with 4.5 backspace. There is over an inch of space between the wheel and rear leaf spring on both sides. No rear quarter pannel to tire clearance issues as well (good clearance). I am thinking about 15 195 65 tires up front. It appears 15 275 60 MT will fit on both the rear driver and passenger side. My passenger side may need a 1/4 spacer.

295 60 d15 rear , 205 75 15 front
rear springs have settled now , top of the tire is up in the fender well ,68 barracuda fast back

 

[KosmicKuda]

I recently purchased Weld Rodlite wheels for my 1968 Barracuda. The Weld Rodlite wheels are 15x7 with 4.5 backspace for the front and 15X8 with 4.5 backspace for the rear.

Just this past week I've been seriously looking at new wheels for my 68 FB.
Ironically, I'm considering Rodlites in the same size and BS you have. (Another is Billet Specialties Street Lite) But the tires would be more all around street cruiser size and not drag oriented. I'm currently running 215/60 X 15 and 7" steelies on all 4 corners. I happen to think 255/60 X 15 look really good on the back of these cars.

Do you have any pictures of your car with the Rodlites?

 

[matthon]

67 Barracuda, for what it's worth.

Rear with 255/60-15.

Front are 15x6, backspace 3.75, offset +6 mm with 215/65-15.

Judging by the clearances, uca, front and rear lower fender sections, I would guess a bigger diameter wheel would fit, but the offset would have to be larger and the height of the tire would probably have to be about the same.
Just a guess, those Barracuda fenders leave little room for steering.

 

[68 340]

Just this past week I've been seriously looking at new wheels for my 68 FB.
Ironically, I'm considering Rodlites in the same size and BS you have. (Another is Billet Specialties Street Lite) But the tires would be more all around street cruiser size and not drag oriented. I'm currently running 215/60 X 15 on on 7" steelies on all 4 corners. I happen to think 255/60 X 15 look really good on the back of these cars.

Do you have any pictures of your car with the Rodlites?

Barracuda with Rodlites. I do not have any pictures of my Barracuda with Rodlites. Agree 255/60 on the rear look good. Currently have Centerline wheels on the car. I rotate wheels for a different look every now and then.

 

[33IMP]

The 275s are theoretically under an inch wider in section than the 255s, so maybe a half inch closer to the spring, and fender.