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What is the ORIGINAL Tire Size of 69 and 70 Toronado?

Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 4:12 pm
by UV520
What is the ORIGINAL Tire Size of 69 and 70 Toronado?

Back in the day where was it printed? Could you find it in an Owner's manual?
IF SO - Does anyone have an Owner's Manual?

Thank you,
Tony

Re: What is the ORIGINAL Tire Size of 69 and 70 Toronado?

Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 7:41 am
by Otto Skorzeny
The original tire size is 885-15 TFD (Toronado Front Drive). This was a special tire developed by Firestone especially for the new Toronado.

It featured a thin white stripe - thinner than normal for the time - placed further out from the center than other tires. It really looks good on these cars.

Of course these tires are no longer made. The replacement size today is 235-75 R15.

You can find decent tires in this size with a 3/4" -1" whitewall which looks pretty good but won't be quite the same as the original. Hancook Optimo tires are available with a whitewall and actually are very good looking and handle well. I have a set on my mom's '64 Galaxie. Nexen also makles a 235-75 15 tire with a 1" whitewall. These tires are also good tires for just under $100 each.

If you want to get something as close to the original as possible, contact Diamondback Tires. He has the pattern to make exact duplicates of the original whitewall tires on modern radials for the Toronado. I have a set of 4" whitewalls from Diamondback on my 1956 Cadillac and they are the best tires I've ever had on that car. The are made on Yokohama R-700 tires.

https://dbtires.com/classic-car-tires/

I do have an owner's manual. I'll have to hunt for it, though, if you want me to look something up for you.

Re: What is the ORIGINAL Tire Size of 69 and 70 Toronado?

Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 7:57 am
by UV520
Otto,

Thanks for the info.. I need to decide just how small I'm willing to go in tire diameter and I had to be sure I was using the correct factory tire size to begin with.
If my calculations are correct I will end up about 300 to 400rpms higher at 70mph...

Thank you again.

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Re: What is the ORIGINAL Tire Size of 69 and 70 Toronado?

Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 6:59 pm
by Otto Skorzeny
Haha! I forgot you're the guy building the RV. You don't need no stinkin' whitewalls!

In that case, 235-75-15 is the standard size.

If I were you, I'd consider getting a wider tread and using 255-70-15 The wider tread will give that beast more stability.

These tires should work for you if the geometry isn't too much different from a Toronado in regard to clearances.
The 255 gives you 20 milimeters more tread width. The 70% aspect ratio, although relatively smaller than the 235-75s, results in a slightly larger diameter tire but still fits withing the suspension geometry of a Toro

Re: What is the ORIGINAL Tire Size of 69 and 70 Toronado?

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2020 8:11 am
by UV520
Otto,

Thank you.

There are two problems with tires for us Ultravan owners:

1. Diameter - If one wants to be able to rotate all 4 they need to stay under 27"

2. Load rating and side wall thickness. 1,900 -2,100lbs per tire and at least 6 ply if not 8 ply.

#2 is much harder to find now a days... So a way around it is to go to larger rims and shorter side walls.
But then again, one sacrifices ride quality. And they have to be concerned with potholes. Grin

Tony

Re: What is the ORIGINAL Tire Size of 69 and 70 Toronado?

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2020 3:47 pm
by Otto Skorzeny
Yes. And there are no substitutes for the Toronado wheels. Don't just bolt something on just because it fits.

The Toro wheels have very deep offsets and backspacing. Using other rims puts force in the wrong location and will break spindles and ruin wheel bearings.

Here are the specifications for Toronado rims

Bolt Pattern 5 on 5"
Width 6 inches
Offset +3.25 inches
Backspacing 6.75 inches
Load Rating 1600 pounds

Re: What is the ORIGINAL Tire Size of 69 and 70 Toronado?

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:22 pm
by Sonny Kennedy
Good tip, Otto. However, I looked it up online and I can confirm that there are aftermarket wheels that are very much compatible with the 70 Toronado. KMC wheels, for example, have a couple of sets that comfortably fit the Toronado. You just have to find the matching tires, and then you're all set to ride towards the sunset.

Re: What is the ORIGINAL Tire Size of 69 and 70 Toronado?

Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2021 5:59 am
by Otto Skorzeny
Lots of wheels will fit/bolt on to a Toronado but you have to make sure that the backspacing and offset measurements are correct.

Did you put the KMC wheels on your car? Do the measurements match the originals?

Re: What is the ORIGINAL Tire Size of 69 and 70 Toronado?

Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2021 5:45 pm
by Shawnto
The original tire size is 885-15 TFD (Toronado Front Drive)