1969 spare tire storage & rim

[James W.]

My late 1969 convertible has P255 60 R15's - I currently do not have a spare, will this size fit in the spare tire tub? I want to have a spare and would prefer to have one that matches the ones on the car.

Also, I don't have a spare rim - did the '69's have a Rallye Rim for the spare or a black standard type Chevy rim?

I just got the replacement bolt and lock to reinstall the tub and when I checked my AIM and the Stingray Guidebook for information I didn't find anything.

Thanks!

[Tom M.]

Re: 1969 spare tire storage & rim

My late 1969 convertible has P225 60 R15's - I currently do not have a spare, will this size fit in the spare tire tub? I want to have a spare and would prefer to have one that matches the ones on the car.

Also, I don't have a spare rim - did the '69's have a Rallye Rim for the spare or a black standard type Chevy rim?

I just got the replacement bolt and lock to reinstall the tub and when I checked my AIM and the Stingray Guidebook for information I didn't find anything.

Thanks!

Jim, THe 225 should fit, all 5 of the rims were the same

tom

[James W.]

Re: 1969 spare tire storage & rim

Jim, THe 225 should fit, all 5 of the rims were the same

tom

P215 70 R15 is the size for the original tires according to the Guidebook - my concern is that the bigger size tire will not fit in the spare tire carrier and/or I will not be able to use the original hardware to mount the spare.

I bought the car with the bigger tires on it and don't know if the former owner performed any mods to get them on the car and he took the spare tire carrier off the car for some reason.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1969 spare tire storage & rim

P215 70 R15 is the size for the original tires according to the Guidebook - my concern is that the bigger size tire will not fit in the spare tire carrier and/or I will not be able to use the original hardware to mount the spare.

I bought the car with the bigger tires on it and don't know if the former owner performed any mods to get them on the car and he took the spare tire carrier off the car for some reason.

The original size tire for 1969 Corvettes is F70 x 15. The radial equivalent is 215 70 R15. There is a big difference there.

[James W.]

Re: 1969 spare tire storage & rim

The original size tire for 1969 Corvettes is F70 x 15. The radial equivalent is 215 70 R15. There is a big difference there.

I guess my next step will be to get the car on a lift, take one of the tires off and see if I can get it inside the carrier and mounted. If it doesn't, I'll have to go with an original size tire - I guess it couldn't hurt in a pinch.

Were the spare tire rims the same (Rallye) or did they use something different?

[Jim B.]

Re: 1969 spare tire storage & rim

I guess my next step will be to get the car on a lift, take one of the tires off and see if I can get it inside the carrier and mounted. If it doesn't, I'll have to go with an original size tire - I guess it couldn't hurt in a pinch.

Were the spare tire rims the same or did they use something different?

On my 68 I had to go with the 215 size. All rims are the same including the spare rim.

[James W.]

Re: 1969 spare tire storage & rim

On my 68 I had to go with the 215 size. All rims are the same including the spare rim.

Thanks to everyone for the replies!

I think Jim has the solution, I have to use the 215 for a spare and I need to find a Rallye rim for the spare.

I also realized that I messed up the size of the tires on the car now - they're P255 60 R15's not P225s.

Thanks Again!

[Kenneth L.]

Re: 1969 spare tire storage & rim

This helped answer my question too. I've got a '72 with the original rallye wheel but one giant, ugly, half bald tire mounted on it. I recently bought the car and found it in the spare carrier. So I need to find any 215/70R15 that will hold air.

[Robert R.]

Re: 1969 spare tire storage & rim

Depending on the brand, 225/70R15 would work as well as to fitting in the carrier. My 73 still has an old GR60x15 mounted on an 8" rallye wheel in it. Though it is a size wider than what it came with (GR70x15), it still fits, as does the street tires that are 225/70R15.

[James W.]

Re: 1969 spare tire storage & rim

Depending on the brand, 225/70R15 would work as well as to fitting in the carrier. My 73 still has an old GR60x15 mounted on an 8" rallye wheel in it. Though it is a size wider than what it came with (GR70x15), it still fits, as does the street tires that are 225/70R15.

I actually messed up on my original post - they're P255 60 R15's not P225s.

A friend of mine told me that the P255/60/R15 fits in his '79 C3 spare tire carrier, I am not sure if there were any changes from '69 to '79 as far as the spare storage dimensions.

[Mark F.]

Re: 1969 spare tire storage & rim

I've got a P245 60 mounted as the spare and it fits. P255 is just a little larger so there is a good chance it fits.

Mark

[James W.]

Re: 1969 spare tire storage & rim

I've got a P245 60 mounted as the spare and it fits. P255 is just a little larger so there is a good chance it fits

Mark

Thanks - I'm hoping it fits as I want the same size spare if possible.

[Jim M.]

Re: 1969 spare tire storage & rim

James, you can adjust the two long bolts that hold the back of the tub in place to fit the width of tire you have. The two long bolts, not really bolts but kinda look like that, can screw in or out.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 spare tire storage & rim

Thanks - I'm hoping it fits as I want the same size spare if possible.

Jim------


Keep this in mind:

1) All 1968-82 Corvettes used the same spare tire tub;

2) 1978-82 Corvettes used both P225-70-15 as well as P255-60-15 tires. While these model years also used a compact spare tire, the carrier had to be large enough to accommodate the road tire when the spare was installed on the car. Yes, I realize that the road tire would most likely be deflated (flat) when it was installed in the tub, but I doubt that GM counted on that for fitment of the road tires in the tub. I suppose it's possible, though.

One thing that may be required for different tires, though, is a different latch bolt. There were 3 different bolts used over the 68-82 period. The longest (and, therefore capable of accommodating the widest tire) was the 78-82 GM #471903. It's discontinued but I believe it's available in reproduction.

[James W.]

Re: 1969 spare tire storage & rim

Jim------


Keep this in mind:

1) All 1968-82 Corvettes used the same spare tire tub;

2) 1978-82 Corvettes used both P225-70-15 as well as P255-60-15 tires. While these model years also used a compact spare tire, the carrier had to be large enough to accommodate the road tire when the spare was installed on the car. Yes, I realize that the road tire would most likely be deflated (flat) when it was installed in the tub, but I doubt that GM counted on that for fitment of the road tires in the tub. I suppose it's possible, though.

One thing that may be required for different tires, though, is a different latch bolt. There were 3 different bolts used over the 68-82 period. The longest (and, therefore capable of accommodating the widest tire) was the 78-82 GM #471903. It's discontinued but I believe it's available in reproduction.

Joe,

Thanks for the information - your wealth of knowledge with Corvettes still amazes me! It's great to be able to get this kind of info from the members as I don't have a spare tire or wheel to see what was up there at some point.