Tire fitment 68 Dart

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Kendog 170

Kendog 170

Let the boy go !
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Will a 235/60/15 fit on the front of my 68 Dart with a 15" x 7" with 3.5 back spacing or am I at the max with a

215/65R15. Getting ready to buy tires.​

 
I don't know, not a dart owner. But, unless you are building a handling first car, I tend to be conservative on front tires.
215/65 might be too tall, 235/60 too wide (for the car, not the rims.)
Why not split the difference? 225/60x15?
And to tell the truth, I'd rather see a 3 3/4 or 4" bs
 
Was running a 205/70/14 up front but finally found 15" rims. Backs already have 15" rims.
205/70/14- 25.3"
215/65/15- 26"
235/60/15- 26.1"
All 26" height.
Pic with the 205/70/14 up front

Dart Pic 2 (2).jpeg
 
I've run 225/60s on the front of a Dart with no issues, but they're close (I don't recall what the backspace was offhand, it's been a few years). I know some people say they can run 235s on the front, but it seems to be hit and miss- each car being a bit different. Some can, some can't; they're right on the ragged edge. I'd personally err on the side of caution and not go over a 225.
 
With a 15x7 and only a 3.5” backspace you’re going to have a hard time.

I ran 225/60/15’s on a 15x7 with a 4.25” backspace and that was the limit on my Duster. If you have SBP brakes a 225/60/15 might work, but a 235/60/15 isn’t just a width problem, it’s also pretty tall for the front. And I don’t think a 3.5” backspace will cut it.

If you’re BBP up front then 215’s are probably beyond the limit already.
 
225/60/15 is 24.6 Dia. I'm running 25.3 now. I think I'll look for a junk tire to test fit 1st.
Thanks guys
 
Are you BBP? If so the wheel will require more offset. I run a 17x7 with a -19mm (0.75") offset, (4.75" back space). The problem with 14-15" rims is finding something with more offset is nearly impossible to find unless custom.
 
With big bolt pattern spindles I run a 15x6 with 205 70 tire 4.5 back space (didn’t like that widened track width) and a rear 255 60 15 tire, when I got the car it had 15x7 with 4 in bs 225 60 15. I installed 235 60 15s it will fit but it’s tight.

To be honest I wouldn’t run a 60 series tire up front they ride like ****, less rubber height feel bumps harder. You would always have the compensation front end height. My opinion though
 
Not enough backspace (are your new wheels original centerline autodrags?). 215/65x15 same height as a 225/60, almost an inch narrower.
(There were, at one time,15x5 or 5.5 auto drags. I haven't seen a pair, other than mine, in years)
 
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SBP Old centerlines. I'm leaning toward 215/65/15. I'll try the rear on just to check the height fitment. Thinking 65 instead of 70 with the 7" wide rim.

15 centerline 4.jpg
 
Kendog 170 said:
Will a 235/60/15 fit on the front of my 68 Dart with a 15" x 7" with 3.5 back spacing or am I at the max with a

215/65R15. Getting ready to buy tires.​

Click to expand...

No.
235/60/15 will not fit with 15x7 and 3.5" backspacing.

I don't think the 215/65/15 with 3.5" bksp will fit either. Maybe a 205/60/15 with 3.5" bksp. What are the rim specs on the 205/70/14 combination you have now?

225/60/15 with 15x7 and 4.25" backspacing may work.

I fit 245/60/15 with 15x7 and 4.25 backspacing, but I have to work the front lower inner fender. I push it out a couple inches with relocating the lower brace and drilling a new hole on the bottom fender lip more forward. It tweaks the fender outward.
 
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Kendog 170 said:
I'm quite sure my 14" rims are 3.5 BS I'll do some measuring this weekend.
Click to expand...
I hate that everyone talks about and looks at backspace. offset is what is really important, it's measured from the center plane of the wheel.

rim width is bead seat to bead seat, not outside edge to outside edge. generally, the outside edge to outside edge measurement is 1" wider than the wheel width (bead seat to bead seat measurement)

If your 14's are 5.5" rims, the overall width is 6.5", so 0 offset would be 3.25" backspace, and 3.5" backspace would be .25" positive (towards the outside of the wheel) offset.

a 15x7 rim is 8" wide overall. 0 offset would be 4" backspace, so 3.5" backspace is 1/2" negative offset, (towards the inside of the wheel).

Comparing these two wheels, the center of the 15x7 wheel is 3/4" more inboard on the wheel, pushing the outside edge of the tire 3/4" outboard compared to the above 14x5.5" rim for a same width tire.

for a 15x7 wheel to sit in the same place side-to-side as the original 14x5.5" wheel example, you'd need a 15x7 with 1/4" positive offset, which would be 4.25" backspace. that way the center of the wheel is at the same position, so theoretically, a 215/70/14 tire on the 14x5.5" 3.5" backspace rim will be in the same place in the wheelwell as a 215/60/15 on a 15x7" 4.25" backspace wheel (ignoring potential width difference from being mounted on the wider rim)
 
Thought I'd get a chance to work on it this weekend but the wife made plans for us all weekend. :BangHead: I will admit I had a great weekend though.
 
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