Finally getting the 67 GS outa the barn and on the road. The wheels are not gonna make it, so looking to get some pretty shoes for the girl. Currently has 14 x 6 with 4 1/2" backset. I can get remake 3 1/2" backset, but apparently the 4.5's are unobtainium...at least until Vintiques starts production again (told me possibly early summer). So my questions.... -how many are using the 3.5''s or running spacers with the 4 1/2" backset on their 67? -anybody got a nice set of 14x6 4.5's they'd part with? I'm headed WI to KY this weekend, so could do a pick up if on the way-ish. -What 245/60R14 raised white letter tire? I'm partial to the Kelly's... -And, lastly, anybody running a 245/70r14 to lower freeway rev's a bit? Guess I'm just looking for some "hey, don't do this" before I drop 2ish k on wheels and tires. (And, sorry in advance if this is covered below and I just missed it) KO
A P245/60R-14 is about 1" shorter than the stock tire. IMO, that will not look good, and it will increase your final drive numerically. I would switch to 15" wheels to get a better range of tire choices. If you want to stay with 14" wheels, a P225/70R-14 approximates a G70-14 which will be closer to the stock 26.4" tire height.
FWIW the 67 GS 340 & 400 used a F70-14 tire.. I imagine the same for the Skylark & Special... Wagons may be different..
Thanks guys. Yeah, still trying to figure the best route. I used a 3:55 gear, so the taller tire would help cruse a bit. Have the 14” wheels with the 245/60’s on now. Looks ok, but might just be my excitement getting it out of the shop and on the road.
Yes. As I've got to pony up for new wheels and rubber, I'm trying to do it only once. I'm sure the car would look great with 15x7's, and it looks like the 3.5 backset would work just fine (and a taller tire should help the cruse rev's Say a 255/60?). But....trying to get a little learnin from the Buick brain before I cough up the cash. We have a big swap meet here next month (Jefferson WI) so will probably wait and do some comparison shopping there. Should be a good event as it got bonged last year.
3 1/2" back spacing is not enough. The stock Buick factory 14 X 6" wheels from 65-67 were 4 1/2" back spacing. With a 7" wheel, you'll want 5" back spacing. There is back spacing and offset. Those are two different things. No such thing as backset. I think you mean back spacing, right?
Back spacing. Distance from the back of the rim to the hub mounting surface I believe. Thanks for the heads up. I thought that the 3.5 back spacing might bring the tire out a bit too far. Still having troubles finding the 4 1/2" backspace wheels in any diameter. I'd consider a 15" wheel. How's a 15x8 with a 255/60TR15 look/work on these cars....probably need a 6ish inch backspace to make it work? I have a drawer full of wheel spacers from the track car. I'll have to figure out a way to do some backspace experiments without having to replace the lugs with 3 1/2" ARP's....
If the stock 14 X 6 wheel for the 65-67 Buick A body had 4 1/2" back spacing, then a 7" wide wheel needs 5" back spacing. An 8" wide rim needs 5 1/2" back spacing. A 255 tire should fit just fine with that wheel. All you need to do is do some research here on V8. Plenty of guys already know what works. The rim diameter is irrelevant. Rim width and the required back spacing don't change with a 14, 15, 16, 17" or whatever. I found this thread without even searching. It was right here in this Forum. https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/1966-skylark-17”-rims-advise-needed.365820/
Thanks for the info. The more I think a bout it the 15's with the 255 should look great. We'll see if I can find a Rallye wheel in that configuration.
You will need to special order wheels. They will not stock them with enough back space. The stock 15 X 7 with 4 1/4" BS might work in the front. In the back, you will need more.
I'll confirm what Larry said, based on my 66's. 15 x 7 Buick rally has 4-3/8" backspace. You need about a half inch more, or 5" backspace to center the 255's in the rear wheelwell. If you get a 8" wide wheel, 5-1/2" backspace is ideal. A 255 on stock 15 x 7 rally's are a snug fit on the rear, it's close to the fender lip. It might be ok if rear is perfectly centered in the body. Sometimes it's ok on one side, worse on the other. An extra 1/2" of backspace is desired.
Interesting I test fitted a set of 245 60 15 with buick rallies 15 x 7 on my car... Those were scary snug.... Im thinking 235 60 15 would be the max.... But I got a 12bolt RE under mine
Hummmm. I have 245/60R14's on the stock 14 Rallye's and I was thinking I might put 1/2 spacers on if I kept these. My ride height is stock or perhaps even a tick higher (all new, and I have the heavier springs in back and air shocks to bring the ass end up a tick), so that might be why I'm thinking there's more room there than there is. Seems the 15x7 with 4.5 (or the 4.375 stock) might be the place to start with 245's?? The bummer of all this is I sold a rolling frame a couple years ago that had 14" Rallye's on it that I'm pretty sure were in better shape than the one's I kept, and might have buffed up just fine. Just too lazy to pull them once we got the frame loaded. Lessons learned. Again....
Just put some 255/60/15 BFG on my buddies 67 GS 400 ...used 15x7 rallyes widened at a local fab shop to 15x8.5 it's perfectly centered and looks full in there
Next time I'm over at his place I will get a pic for you...it's 1.5 inch more backspace than the stock rally
