What's a reasonable tire size for a 1965 Special wagon on 15"x7" wheels?

[GS66]

Mine might actually be 65's, not 70's I'll have to check. Or you can go crazy and change to 17's!😀😀

[GS66]

Here's the 15's. Not sure if pictures will help since yours is a wagon but here it is.

[elagache]

Dear Ken, Dan, Jim, and mid-60s tow vehicle fans, . . .

Well, there seems to be a consensus on 215/65/15s, so I'll check what those well fellers at Orinda Motors think.  If they say okay, I'll order a set of 4 from Diamondback tires.  Thanks for the photos!    Honestly, I can't imagine that the rears can be much different on a wagon.  My main concern was rubbing for the front tires.

my wife wants a vintage trailer so she can come to more events, so I am on the hunt for something that's cool  and old ( like me I guess hahaha )

Hmm, bummer dude, if you have a case of SWMBO, then you'd better darn obey!

If you are looking for a little inspiration, you might try subscribing to this magazine - Vintage Camper Trailers:

http://www.vintagecampertrailers.com/

I've been keeping an eye on the vintage trailer market, but this magazine was a real eye-opener.  I'm not sure if it was inspiration  or terror!

I had no idea how hard-core this vintage trailer movement had become!

  I may have to go big block if I pick some thing to large but that's no problem I have several ready to go in the sporty including my old stage 1 that pushed my 4800lb 69 sporty to high 12's hahaha

Well, according to the Airforum.com forums this is a situation where "there is no replacement for displacement."  Even so, perhaps you shouldn't go quite so extreme as I did.  I did want an "assertive wagon", but . . .  she's so assertive that she now wants to race into the garage - a bit faster than I can steer her!

Thanks everybody for your thoughts!

Cheers, Edouard 

[WkillGS]

Well, there seems to be a consensus on 215/65/15s,

You might want to consider load rating too.
Looking at BFG radials, the 215/65-15  (1510#),  the 205/70-14 you have now (1433#).   EDITED (thanks Ken)

The 215/65-15 was used on the 80's GN's and Monte SS's, should be good for your average mid size car. But with your towing needs, maybe you should go up in load rating?

Size...
Do you like the height of your present tires, or do you want something taller?
The 215/65-15 is 0.2" shorter than your present tires.

A 225/60-15 would be 0.2" taller than your present 70's and give you a higher load rating too.

[WkillGS]

Here's the 15's. Not sure if pictures will help since yours is a wagon but here it is.

The 1966 GS.....one off mankinds most beautiful creations!
Very nice Jim!

[sportwagon400]

Well, there seems to be a consensus on 215/65/15s,

this info is incorrect

You might want to consider load rating too.
Looking at BFG radials, the 215/65-15 has less of a rating (1411#), than the 205/70-14 you have now (1433#).
 
 the actual load rating on the bfg on the 215/65/15 95 (1521lbs)  the 205/70/14  93 (1433lbs)   so the 15's have a higher rating 

as well the 70 series tire has more sidewall flex for a poorer handling car

[WkillGS]

Thanks for the correction Ken.... I woke up this AM wondering if I messed up the 65 vs 60 series specs...... and (drats) you found it before I could fix it!

Agree on the sidewall flex. More sidewall might give a nicer ride tho.

If Eduard likes the look of the 14's on his car now, the 215/65's are a very slight upgrade. IMO short tires look odd on a large car.

.....Maybe we can convince him to trade the 15's for 17" wheels with tall, wide, short sidewall tires!

[elagache]

Dear Walt, Ken, and mid-60s Buick fans,

The actual load rating on the bfg on the 215/65/15 95 (1521lbs)  the 205/70/14  93 (1433lbs)   so the 15's have a higher rating 

If Eduard likes the look of the 14's on his car now, the 215/65's are a very slight upgrade. IMO short tires look odd on a large car.

I am trying to keep the car looking roughly as she did from the factory, still I have to make some compromises so that I have any chance to tow at all.  So it looks like the 215/65/15s are the best compromise to be had.

Thanks again! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[WkillGS]

I am trying to keep the car looking roughly as she did from the factory,

But the original tires were taller, about 27".
The Diamondback 215/70-15 is 26.9" tall and has a wider tread width (7.0" vs 6.8") than the 65 series.
Based on your criteria, this is a better match.

See this thread here where we discussed original sizes
(and where I recommended the 215/65's to him, LOL!)
http://65gs.com/board/index.php?topic=2316.msg14075#msg14075

[sportwagon400]

the specs for the 65 Special wagon 

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/tire/1965/80495/buick_special_station_wagon_300-4_v-8_super_turbine.html


The original tire size for the 65 Special wagon 7.35 14   25.3" tall
7.35-14       = 185R14   = P195/75R14   =   205/70R14    = 225/60R14   

                   25.3 tall
215/65/15    26" tall

a little taller is actually better 

[WkillGS]

That's a neat site!
Sportwagon uses 7.75's, flatroof uses 7.35's. Larger tires were likely spec'd for the extra weight of the glass. I'll guess the flatroof with a tow package (if there was one) used the larger tires too.

Their tire diameters don't match other sources. They say 26.4" for the 7.75's.
Coker tire shows 27.02" diameter for their repo 7.75-14's, 26.8" for the repo 7.35-14's
https://www.cokertire.com/tires/styles/classic-50s-60s/bf-goodrich-bias-ply-blackwall.html

There is certainly a good argument for the 215/65's. The 215/70's are taller and a bit wider. IMO I'd go with the tire that looks better.

[elagache]

Dear Walt, Ken, and mid-60s Buick tire experts!

Golly, thanks some more! 

the specs for the 65 Special wagon 

Thanks for digging up that info from automotive-catalog.com.  I was aware of the site, but I never found the info on tire sizes and clearances.

There is certainly a good argument for the 215/65's. The 215/70's are taller and a bit wider. IMO I'd go with the tire that looks better.

I thought the reason to go with the 215/65's was that they were less likely to have any rubbing issues.  Is anybody running the 215/70's on the front?  If so, do they fit fine?

I was about to run over to Greg at Orinda Motors and report what I had learned from you-guys.  If I wanted to go with a slightly larger tires on the rears - how big could I go given my limit of 4" backspacing?  If I wanted to do this, how much bigger could I go without being really noticeable?

Thanks again for all the good advice!

Cheers, Edouard 

[WkillGS]

215/70's on all four corners would allow you to rotate tires and one spare would work at any location.

215/70 front and 255/60 rear are 26.9" and 26.8" are close enough to use one spare in either front or rear. 255's might be snug in the rear, you have to check.

215/65 front and 235/60 rear are 26.0" and 26.1" tall.
......or you can increase the rears to 245/60 (or 255/60 if they fit) if you want to carry two spare tires on your road trips!

Tire diameter effects revs/mile. Are you happy with the rear axle ratio?

[elagache]

Dear Walt and mid-60s Buick fans of the phrase: "where the rubber meets the road. . . . "

I cornered Greg at Orinda Motors, and it is difficult to overestimate his disappointment.  He definitely is like Ken - "da' more rubber da' better!!" . . .

215/70's on all four corners would allow you to rotate tires and one spare would work at any location.

215/70 front and 255/60 rear are 26.9" and 26.8" are close enough to use one spare in either front or rear. 255's might be snug in the rear, you have to check.

215/65 front and 235/60 rear are 26.0" and 26.1" tall.
......or you can increase the rears to 245/60 (or 255/60 if they fit) if you want to carry two spare tires on your road trips!

Hmm, not the simplest arrangement to have different sized tires front and rear, . . . I"m beginning to see your point of view! 

Tire diameter effects revs/mile. Are you happy with the rear axle ratio?

Actually thus far I am happy with the current driving experience with my wagon's 2.78:1 rear end ratio.  So indeed larger tires would require a new differential at least.  However, it seemed prudent to upgrade to a positraction differential.  My wagon still has her original rear end from her 300 cid days.  Seemed a bit weak for the new engine and tranny!  Of course Greg is trying to talk me into a hardened rear end as well!

Stay tuned, this story is far from over!!

Cheers, Edouard 

[SBRMD]

Edouard,

I run 215/70/15 on 15x7 Buick Ralleys on my '65 Sportwagon; you can see pics in "Other Buicks".  They work very well; just a little rubbing in tight parking lot turns.