Tire Rubbing Fender 68 Barracuda

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perfweld

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On my new 68 notchback the front tire rubs the front of the fender, especially when backing up and turning. Tires are 225 / 70 / 14, I know a bit big but came on car. The front strut rod bushing seem OK so the front wheel isnt moving much from bad bushings. Is it the tire size being to big? I want to buy new tires, 205 / 75 / 14 Red Lines , but want to remedy the problem as well. anyone have the same problem on the Barracudas? Oh its only on the pass side .

Thanks
Mark
 
perfweld said:
On my new 68 notchback the front tire rubs the front of the fender, especially when backing up and turning. Tires are 225 / 70 / 14, I know a bit big but came on car. The front strut rod bushing seem OK so the front wheel isnt moving much from bad bushings. Is it the tire size being to big? I want to buy new tires, 205 / 75 / 14 Red Lines , but want to remedy the problem as well. anyone have the same problem on the Barracudas? Oh its only on the pass side .

Thanks
Mark
Click to expand...

Yes your tires are to big.

225-70-14 = about 26.4"
205-75-14 = about 26.11"

E70-14 (stock 68 Formula S) = about 25.7"

You are going to want something like this...

http://store.coker.com/p205-70r14-b.f.goodrich-redline-radial.html

or

http://store.coker.com/p215-70r14-b.f.goodrich-redline-radial.html

205-70-14 = about 25.3"
215-70-14 = about 25.85"


Best fit would probably be a

http://store.coker.com/p195-75r14-coker-classic-3-8-redline.html

195-75-14 = about 25.52"

Here is a clear pic of a E70-14 on a 68 Barracuda and how it fills the opening.

IMG_0077.jpg
 
215/14 fits and rides great. I dont know if tire size is the sole reason since it rubs on left only. Ride heigth and worn front end parts both can cause rub.
Park it on level ground and measure from ground to fender lip, or have alignment shop check it out. Good luck
 
Have the alignment and condition of the front end checked. I've run 215-70-14s (25.9" tall) on my GTS since the mid-80s and we have 215-60-15s (25.1" tall) on the front of my son's Dart. I don't remember what size tires were on my Barracuda whne I got it.
 
I still think being well over 26" on the front is the problem but its never a bad idea to have the front checked.

For what its worth... I think 215-70-14s are what I will get if I change tires.
 
I had 235/60-14's on 14x6 rims on the fron of my 68 Barracuda and had plenty of clearance at the front of edge of the fender.

When I decided to go 15x7 rims I purchased 225/60-15 tires (they are only .4" taller than the 235/60-14's) and had the same issue as you. Straight ahead plenty of clearance but turning the outer edge of the tread came very close to the fender and touched on the drivers side. Backing up and turning the tire tended to catch the fender making it worse. When I caught the fender and folded it under I decided I needed a smaller tire. The issue was more due to the wider rim than the diameter of the tire.

I am now running 215/60-15's on the front and there is plenty of clearance.

The 15x7 rims have 4.25" of back spacing. If they had more like 4.5" or 4.75" the 225/60 tires would have worked fine. The other thing that contributes this issue on my car is I have the disk brakes off a 73+ A-body. This pushes the wheel out about 1".

Here is my car with 225/60-15's on the front an 255/60-15's on the back;

IMG_0816.jpg
 
It might sound kinda dumb but when i bought my cuda it has the same size tires as yours and it also scrubbed. Come to find out whoever put the tires on or rotated them put 14x8 on front and 14x7 on the rear.....just a thought tho :)
 
Is anyone running 225/60/14 on the front of their car w/o any contact issues with the fender? I'm currently running 205/70/14 but need new tires.
 
I'm running 15x7 BBP Ralleys all around on a 68. Fronts are 225/70/15 and rears are 275/60/15, Small-block and headers with no rubbing fender or headers. 73 and up spindles/disc.

My big-block car is also a 68 still with 15x7 Ralleys but I'm running 255/60/16 on the rear and 205/60/15 on the front. I tried a 215/70/15 and it was too big. Older spindels with KH 4 piston for brakes.

IMGA0894.jpg

340car_side.jpg

340car_rear.jpg
 
H22A4 said:
Is anyone running 225/60/14 on the front of their car w/o any contact issues with the fender? I'm currently running 205/70/14 but need new tires.
Click to expand...

This is my car with 235/60-14 on 14x6 rims all around. No rubbing issues at all.

DSCN0163.jpg
 
Thanks guys so much, sorry for the delay in getting back here, im always so damn busy with work. I think part of it is the front end being worn, and the tire being too big. I want to stick with a tall tire is the thing, they look better in my opinion. These tires measure about 26 3/8" tall. I think if I go to the 205 / 70 /14 they will be in the high 25" to low 26" and this might cure the problem. I appreciate the help as now I know that this size tire is a problem for some on here. I bought the car a few months back and its been sitting since 1992 outside in the forest. Lots of elbow grease, and time and it runs well. Now ive got to get the brake issues worked out, but thats another story. Its a unaltered, unmolested 6 cyl car.


Thanks
Mark
 
We had the same problem on a 67 with tires rubbing..........they hit the very lower lip of the front well.........

I have modified them before by cutting a small kerf from the bottom up appx. 4" high, from 3/4" to flush with the fold.......then tack, waterproof, and re-attach the fender trim. It's a relatively painless procedure (except for a true purest), but when finished, it cannot be noticed unless you have the eyes of Superman, or you've been tipped off and are actually looking for it.

After the procedure, no more tire problems, even with many modern sizes.
 
I had to do that to the rear of my Barracuda Fastback Stock Elim Car, I thought of doing that, then id never have any problems again, tough decision though, its such a perfect little car.

Thanks
Mark
 
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