Original Tire/Wheel Sizes?

[Danonline]

I imagine this has been asked before, but does anyone know what the original wheel/tire sizes were on the 427 cars? Seems like 295 x 50 tires on 15" inch rims is the choice of a lot of builders, but I wonder how it compares to how the original cars were equipped.

[mattr762]

According to Road&Track (1966)
Wheels: 15 x 7.5"
Tires: Firestone Wide Oval G70-15

According to another article
Wheels: same as above
Tires: 8.15 x 15 Goodyear blue Dot

[Danonline]

Originally Posted by mattr762

According to Road&Track (1966)
Wheels: 15 x 7.5"
Tires: Firestone Wide Oval G70-15

According to another article
Wheels: same as above
Tires: 8.15 x 15 Goodyear blue Dot

Any idea how that translates into the modern measurement scale, i.e. Sidewall width and profile, e.g. 295X50?

[Naumoff]

295/50x15 are 26.5" tall or there about depending on the manufactor.
235/60x15 are the same height.

245/60x15 are 28" tall and 295/60x15 are 28" tall or there about.

I am running the 26.5" tall tires. Which is the same height as the Goodyear vintage Billboards. Some guys like the fatter tires.

wheels 15x9.5 rear and 15x7.5 front for SC

Hope this helps.

[mickmate]

Divide the number of MM by 25.4. That will give you inches width of the tire. 295/25.4 = 11.6". Trouble is that used to be a tread width and these days it's more like a section width or the widest part of the tire. There's a good article 2 issues back in Hot Rod on fitting wheels and tires. They explain alot of the misnomers used with tires. Tire Rack also does a good job on their site explaining some of that stuff.

[Rick Parker]

Go to Roger Krauses tire website, there is a chart there that will give sizing for the older tires.

http://rogerkrausracing.com/oldtire.html

[Kramer]

Hey Guys....based on this thread, I have a question....when looking at shelby comp cars I have seen the following description..(note the comment on larger wheels)...does anyone know what that means?

"The 427 Competition Cobra is regarded as one of the ultimate expressions of brute power. Though similar in appearance to street 427 Cobras, the competition cars were equipped with roll bars, oil coolers, “quick jack” bumpers, riveted hood scoops, side pipes, vinyl seats (instead of leather), 42-gallon gas tanks, and larger wheels and brakes. Approximately 22 Cobra 427 Competition roadsters were constructed before the more tractable 427 S/C “Street Competition” version was introduced. "

[rms427]

My car came with the 8.15 x 15 Goodyear blue Dot tires. I am still using one as a spare tire. The wheels were 7.5 x 15 sunburst. Most of the SC cars ran racing tires. I replaced the Blue Dot's with racing tires as did most of the other folks I knew. There was no DOT back then so racing tires were not illegal.

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by Kramer

Hey Guys....based on this thread, I have a question....when looking at shelby comp cars I have seen the following description..(note the comment on larger wheels)...does anyone know what that means?

rms427 is correct.

The original Blue-Dots were the spookiest tires I ever drove on in the rain.

From the original brochures and spec sheets on the 427

427 Street -
Tires 8.15 x 15 Goodyear Blue-Dot
Wheels 7.5 x 15 cast alloy, pin drive Sunburst

427 Comp
Tires
Front 9.9 x 15 Goodyear Speedway Specials
Rear 11.9 x 15 Goodyear Speedway Specials
Wheels
Early Comp cars -
Front 6.5 x 15 FIA style
Rear 8.5 x 15 FIA style
Later cars
Front 7.5 x 15 Alloy Cobra II
Rear 9.5 x 15 Alloy Cobra II

427 S/C
Tires
Front 8.15 x 15 Goodyear Blue dot
Rear 11.4 x 15 Goodyear Speedway Specials or Firestone Indy Specials
Wheels
Front 7.5 x 15 Alloy Cobra II
Rear 9.5 x 15 Alloy Cobra II