Pulling the 14's off my 71 GS. 15 x 7 or 15 x 8???

[Jeff T]

I probably won't go any wider than a 70 series tire, what benefits are there going to an 8" wheel over the 7"???

Thanks!!!

[LARRY70GS]

I probably won't go any wider than a 70 series tire, what benefits are there going to an 8" wheel over the 7"???

Thanks!!!

The wider wheel gives the tire sidewalls more support and will give better traction and handling all other things being equal. There are no downsides with the wider wheel. Alot of guys put a 275/60-15 on a 7" wheel, and it will work, but that tire should really be on an 8" rim. The 7" rim will pull the tread up a bit on the edges.

[carmantx]

Are you sure you will never go bigger than a 70 series? I'd go 8" because you can put the current tire on there, but gives you the option to go bigger later. If you buy 7", you can't go bigger without another wheel purchase.

Just my .02

[Jeff T]

Yes, I must admit, mine is a cruiser not a racer. 70's will probably more than fine for all the driving I really do.

[Jeff T]

The wider wheel gives the tire sidewalls more support and will give better traction and handling all other things being equal. There are no downsides with the wider wheel. Alot of guys put a 275/60-15 on a 7" wheel, and it will work, but that tire should really be on an 8" rim. The 7" rim will pull the tread up a bit on the edges.

Thanks for the heads-up Larry!

[Eric]

Don't listen to Larry...:Brow:
He only knows about how to get your car to run cooler.

Eric / Oregon :3gears:

[LARRY70GS]

Don't listen to Larry...:Brow:
He only knows about how to get your car to run cooler.

Eric / Oregon :3gears:

Eric needs to stop listening to Chevy guys and their opinions about carburetors:laugh: :laugh: For the last time, 750 CFM is too big for a Chevy 350, and barely adequate for a Buick 350. Now write that a thousand times Eric:bla:

[Eric]

Thanks Larry and have a good weekend ...
and nice talking to you Jeff.

Eric / Oregon :3gears:

[copperheadgs1]

I did some research on the original tires and they were 26.5 inches tall and they were 60 series on the stock 15 X 7 inch wheel. Why would you go skinnier than stock? I use 245/60 15's and they work fine on 7 inch tires and are close to stock at 26.6 inches tall. I have used these sizer tires for 13 years with no bad tread wear.

[Jeff T]

I did some research on the original tires and they were 26.5 inches tall and they were 60 series on the stock 15 X 7 inch wheel. Why would you go skinnier than stock? I use 245/60 15's and they work fine on 7 inch tires and are close to stock at 26.6 inches tall. I have used these sizer tires for 13 years with no bad tread wear.

Good point... I never even looked in the owners manual to what else was used. 245/60... Sounds good!

Thanks!