235/60 x 15 tires
Will a 235/60 x 15 tire fit on the rear of a 1960 Corvette without rubbing?
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Re: 235/60 x 15 tires
Not sure how 235/60 x 15 tire size relates to old nomenclature 7.10/7.60 x 15 but your question brings to mind an interesting story relaid to me about the use of this larger size tire on '56 Sebring Corvette #1 (6901).
In an attempt to use 7.10/7.60 x 15 tires it was discovered the tire was bottoming out (rubbing) on the inner wheel well. To solve the problem the fiberglass wheel enclosure was cut open enough to maintain clearance and using an inner tube as a cavity mold the cut out opening was glassed closed. This was only done on #1. The alleged car today probably does not have this modification since the original body (cut up long ago) is not mounted on this chassis.
Additionally: As option #12 on the short run '56 SR Corvette (7.10/7.60 x 15 tire & tube with relieved wheel housing) was perhaps one of the shortest available options in Corvette history. It was dropped shortly after the '56 March race. -
Re: 235/60 x 15 tires
A 235/60R15 tire is smaller OD than the OE 6.70-15, but considerably wider. In addition to tire dimensions, wheel dimensions such as width and offset have to be accounted for. Unless someone else has the same size tire and knows the requisite wheel dimensions and can state that there is no interference, you should get the dimensions for the tire (any tire or manufacturer's Web site) and recommended wheel width, which will probably be at least 7" for that size. Then shop wheels for offset or backspacing, and maybe make cardboard templates to check clearances.
DukeComment
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Re: 235/60 x 15 tires
As Duke states offset plays a big part in this, too much and tire will rub on springs, not enough and it will hit the fender, been there done that. Might want to post this question on another Corvette Forum.Comment
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Re: 235/60 x 15 tires
David,
John Baldwin and I spoke yesterday about your claim after he read this post embedded in David Hurds request for information about larger tires. Please understand that I am not trying to create confusion here, but John is my friend and asked me to do this as a favor for him as he is not really that computer savvy and doesn't know how to post or download photos. I would normally sit at his computer to help him with this, but cannot at this time due to our present health risk situation.
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John asked me to tell you that you are mistaken and asked me to help clarify this publicly, since to him it was clear that your assumption was made publicly but without accurate information.
He said the '56 Sebring #1(6901), that he restored does in fact include the modifications you claim were "probably" missing on the "alleged" car. There are many of John's restoration photos in hi-resolution, and there is one which shows the area of the rear wheel well that was changed by the race project group to accommodate the larger rear tires. (below)
John also asked me to mention that if you have any future assumptions about his restoration of the '56 Sebring #1 "Real McCoy", to please remain unbiased regarding your opinions without having direct knowledge of his restoration accuracies and abilities and the details of the #1 car. He also mentioned if you would like to know any other details in the future about the #1 car to please contact him directly for proper accuracy and to verify probable claims before posting.
Regards,
Rich
P.S. Yes option #12 on the SR factory produced racecars was historical. John told me about that too. He sent me a excerpt from the Sebring Race program documentation describing this and many pother unique "features" of those and the intentions to make a run of 25(IIRC) factory produced SR1 "Racecars" to satisfy the racing requirements. Fascinating reading.
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Normally a bump-out area on production cars, due to the use of larger tires in the Sebring Program this area was modified to prevent the tires from rubbing the area during aggressive maneuvers.
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