will 15x7" chrome rally wheels fit under a 66 vette? how big of a tire could i go with?
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Re: 15x7" ralley wheels on a 66 vette
They'll fit, but might crack the fenders on the first big bump; '68 Corvette Rally wheels (-0.28" offset) with 225/70s definitely require the fender lips to be trimmed. I believe the Monte Carlo 7" Rally wheels may have a different offset.
About the best setup you can use on a Midyear without an excessively short tires, is the '67 6" Corvette Rally wheels (+0.60" offset) and 215/70R-15s. This setup can rub the fender lips with the wheel turned to more than half lock if the suspension goes into jounce, so you have to be careful entering driveways. Also, you can get some minor frame rub with the wheel at full lock on a U-turn.
Duke -
Re: 15x7" ralley wheels on a 66 vette
As near as I can tell, the stock (5.5 inch) wheels with the 205s is still the safest setup from the clearance standpoint. True, Duke?
btdfComment
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Re: 15x7" ralley wheels on a 66 vette
Bill - I would think the 6" DC ralley wheels from 67 would be completely safe too, the optional knock offs were 6" as I recall just like the bolt ons in 67 and 67 ralleys. I think Duke's comments on tire rub related to using larger than 205 rubber, not so much that the wheel was an issue in pre 67 midyears. I didn't think the fiberglass panels were molded any different in prior years for wheel clearance, but maybe someone else knows for certain on that. Certainly, the frame and suspension parts were basically the same...CraigComment
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Re: 15x7" ralley wheels on a 66 vette
205/75R-15s on the OEM 5.5" wheels should have plenty of clearance, but this size tire is only available in low or no speed rating with hard compounds, so they won't provide what I consider to be sports car performance potential. There are 205/70s with better performance potential, but they have more revs per mile than the OEM size, so speedometer and odometer ratings will be effected, and depending on your axle ratio and available speedo driven gears, the error may not be correctable by changing the speedo driven gear.
A 215/70R-15 on a 6" Rally, KO, or bolt-on (all have +0.60" offset) will fit with the clearance limitations I mentioned in my first post.
Drum brake C2s might take a 225/70R-15 on the above wheels since they have about 0.6" less track, which yields about 0.3" more outside clearance, but it might come down to the individual car as body dimensions do have some variation and some cars have a bit more or less room in the fenders than others due to tolerance stackup.
DukeComment
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