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1966 Replacement Tires

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2019 2:06 pm
by dap8
Just bought a '66 and want to replace the tires. Recommendations please and prices if known. Any cautions?

Re: 1966 Replacement Tires

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 8:55 am
by Otto Skorzeny
235/75 R15 radials are the correct size. If you want a 1" whitewall, you'll have a little searching to do. If you want a blackwall, your choices are endless. Originally I think the whitewall width was 3/4".

Or contact Diamondback tires and they will vulcanize any width whitewall you want on any brand tire you choose.

https://dbtires.com/

My car has Firestone radials on it.

Re: 1966 Replacement Tires

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 10:06 am
by dap8
My car has Sears P225/75R-15 with a white wall. I've seen a red stripe that looks interesting. (Gold car) Now that my axles have been replaced the steering wheel has a little wiggle. Could it be tires, alignment or normal wear.

Re: 1966 Replacement Tires

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 5:19 pm
by Otto Skorzeny
Replace the steering damper (shock absorber thing). Cheap and easy. I listed all the part numbers in a post in the Parts Sources section of this forum.

225 is a little narrow and short but it will work. If the tread is good use it till it runs out. If not, buy the 235s.

Re: 1966 Replacement Tires

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 5:22 pm
by Otto Skorzeny

Re: 1966 Replacement Tires

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 6:12 pm
by dap8
I am having a little trouble finding my way around this Forum. Part of the problem is that I am not mechanically inclined. Is steering dampener the name of a part? Where can I get it? My car will look like this when I polish it. Well, close...

Re: 1966 Replacement Tires

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 7:14 am
by Otto Skorzeny
Yes. It's called a steering damper. It's connected to the steering down by the center link. It was designed to eliminate torque steer from the fwd. You can get one from http://www.rockauto.com and probably other parts stores as well. The link in the previous post lists all the part numbers and the prices.

How old are the tires on the car? There is a date code embossed in an oval on the side.

Of course old worn out or imbalanced tires can cause vibrations so just work your way through the system to isolate the cause of the vibration.

Was your car parked for a long time or was the previous owner using it? If it sat for a long time, check the tires for dry rot, flat spots, etc. Check the wheel bearings, too. Jack up the front end, grasp the tire at the top and bottom and see if you can rock it in and out. If you can, you might need ball joints.

Re: 1966 Replacement Tires

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2020 3:49 am
by Sonny Kennedy
"If it sat for a long time, check the tires for dry rot, flat spots, etc. Check the wheel bearings, too. Jack up the front end, grasp the tire at the top and bottom and see if you can rock it in and out. If you can, you might need ball joints."

THIS! I was about to advise the same thing.

Re: 1966 Replacement Tires

Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:52 pm
by romcoby
I'm currently running 225/75/15 Kumho tires from 4wheelonline. I chose this size because the 235's rub sometimes at full turn based on my experience.

Re: 1966 Replacement Tires

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2020 6:02 am
by Otto Skorzeny
Interesting. I've never had that happen with the Firestones on my car.
I wonder if some 235s have a wider section width than others. Those on my car don't exhibit a large bulge, characteristic of many radial tires.

Where were they rubbing? Leading edge or trailing edge? Both?