15" wheel package comparable to 14"

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intergalactica

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Hey everybody...

I have 14 inch wheels with 215/70/14 tires on my cuda. I'd like to switch to 15 inch wheels. What size tires should I order to have the same (or at least similar) diameter as my 14 inch tires?

Thanks!
Rob
 
intergalactica said:
Hey everybody...

I have 14 inch wheels with 215/70/14 tires on my cuda. I'd like to switch to 15 inch wheels. What size tires should I order to have the same (or at least similar) diameter as my 14 inch tires?

Thanks!
Rob
Click to expand...

If your looking to maintain the same tire dimensions and simply change wheels than your looking for a set of 215/70/r15's

the only thing that will change is the inside diameter of the tire (where the rim goes) there will be no differance in ground clearance or wheel well clearance or anything
 
DusterDude72,

Did you mean 205/70/15 or 215/70/15?

I was looking online and I found an online tire calculator:

http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp?action=submit

From what it states, the overall diameter of a 215/70/15 tire will be 1 inch larger when compared to my current tire which is 215/70/14.

According to the above website, a 205/70/15 will only be 0.44 inches larger in overall diameter when compared to my 215/70/14.

205/70/15 overall diameter: 26.29 inches
215/70/14 overall diameter: 25.85 inches

The only difference is the 205/70/15 will have a narrower sidewall height of 0.28 inches when compared to a 215/70/14 tire.

205/70/15 sidewall height: 5.64 inches
215/70/14 sidewall height: 5.92 inches

Are they correct...am I correct? :scratch:

I want to order the tires and rims through Summit and have them mount and balance them. They don't allow returns on mounted tires/wheels and I would hate to get stuck with these. :banghead:

Any suggestions and comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
 
OK guys, the first number on the tire size is the tread width... 205 is 205mm wide, 215 is 215mm wide.... the 2nd # is the ratio between tread width and sidewall height. a 215/70/14 means 215 wide, sidewall is 70% of that, and it fits on a 14" wheel. in order to keep the same width and overall height, you need to keep the 215 and change the sidewall ratio (70). 215/60/15 is the same width but the sidewall will be shorter.... Adding the larger rim makes the overall tire/wheel combo a bit taller again but it would still be a bit shorter than what you have now.

225/60/15 would be 10mm wider than what you have now but probably be the closest overall dimensions to your current tire/wheel combo.

Go to a tire store and tell them what you want to do, they can help you out... they will get all excited and give you a quote with different options that will fit your car.
 
Here's a handy calculator I whipped up some time ago for various automotive crap (if I can get the attachment to work properly). I think this one even had a conversion for cubic inches to bushels. I don't know of an online calculator with that handy feature. 8)
View attachment 81396
 
Contacted Summit racing and this is what they suggested:

P215/65/15 BF Goodrich Radial T/A (Summit Part #BFG-78624)

Tire Diameter: 26.00 in.
Section Width: 8.70 in.
Tread Width: 7.00 in.
Load Range: 95
Minimum Recommended Rim Width: 6.00 in.
Maximum Recommended Rim Width: 7.50 in.
Max Load Single: 1,510 lbs.


This is what I have on my car right now:

P215/70/14 BF Goodrich Radial T/A

Tire Diameter: 25.90 in.
Section Width: 8.70 in.
Tread Width: 6.40 in.
Load Range: 96
Minimum Recommended Rim Width: 5.50 in.
Maximum Recommended Rim Width: 7.00 in.
Max Load Single: 1,554 lbs.

I'll be putting them on Cragar S/S 15x6 wheels (small bolt pattern)

So what do you all think?
 
Don't forget the first number is section width, or the widest part of the tire, not tread width. A shorter aspect ratio tire with the same section width has a wider tread than a taller aspect ratio tire since it bulges out less. This makes some people think 60 series tires are wider than 70 series tires. I guess that statement has some validity.
 
That's about as close to the same rolling diameter as you're going to get with 0.6" more treadwidth per tire. Good call from Summit. As you can see from their recommendation that the first number is the section width of the tire, not the tread width.

By going with a nearly identical tire height, ride height of the car will be nearly the same. If your speedometer has been reading "fast", this should "slow it down" a little. i.e. If your speedometer reads 60 and your car is actually going 55, the change should bring your car speed closer to 60.
 
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