What Tires for a 65 with a 200cid and 14" Rims

MichaelB · 09-07-2000, 02:25 PM

I am restoring my 1965 Coupe with a 200 CID and 14" Rims. The tires that came with it are 205/70R14. TireRack.com says that the appropriate replacement tire is 185/75R14.
What tire size and type should I get?

Stefan · 09-07-2000, 06:20 PM

Hey MichaelB,
2 years ago I got a set of Firestone Firehawk's for my 66 and I went with a 215/60R14. This size looks a tad bit meatier (not oversized by any means) and still keeps the ratio close enough to stock so as not to screw up the speedo.
You didn't say how you are restoring your car so I don't know what look you are going for. My 66 has some old American Racing chrome rims and the white lettered tires look pretty good on 'em. Anyway, the 60 series feel great since the contact patch to the ground is a little wider and it is no harder to steer (no power steering).

- one last note, if you car is a daily driver, the 185/7514's are going to look and feel really skinny. A friend of mine has a 66 with that stock size and it looks like it's on tiptoes. If you are restoring the car to concours specs you'll need to stick with them unfortunately.
Hope this helps.
Sorry for the rambling
Stefan

------------------
66 Standard coupe
200 inline 6 - Pertronix ignition, Flamethrower Coil, K&N, Clifford Perf. 6 into 2 headers, Holley carb, three row radiator

96 GT Convertible
Bosch Platinum +4 plugs, B&M Ripper
K&N, removed air silencer, Tokico non-adjustable struts/ shocks (more to come)
Next up: 3:73's and side exhaust
www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?258

[This message has been edited by Stefan (edited 09-07-2000).]

Rev · 09-07-2000, 08:32 PM

Stefan's right. On my '66 restomod, I used Firestone Firehawk 215/70/SR14's with stock 14" steel rims with the car lowered 2" all the way around. No clearance problems at all. Since then, I've gone to wider 15" rims and bigger tires 215/60/SR15's Radial TA's front and 235/60/SR15's Radial TA's rear. Car handles great with suspension set up like road racer. 14" 215/70/SR's worked great though.

Rev

------------------
'66 Coupe, 306, windage
tray, TRW flat tops, 351W
heads,pocket ported, 268
CC hydraulic cam, R tip
R's, Edelbrock Performer,
600 CFM Holley vac. secs.,
Mallory Unilite, coil, fuel
pump, Tri-Y headers, 2 1/2 "
custom pipes, 3 chamber
Flows, stock C-4, 3.25
Currie built 8" rear,
March under drive pulleys,
13.97 e.t., 100.1 mph
1/4 mi.

09-07-2000, 02:25 PM	#1
MichaelB Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: High Point, NC USA Posts: 1	What Tires for a 65 with a 200cid and 14" Rims I am restoring my 1965 Coupe with a 200 CID and 14" Rims. The tires that came with it are 205/70R14. TireRack.com says that the appropriate replacement tire is 185/75R14. What tire size and type should I get?

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09-07-2000, 06:20 PM	#2
Stefan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1998 Location: Manhattan, KS 66502 Posts: 599	Hey MichaelB, 2 years ago I got a set of Firestone Firehawk's for my 66 and I went with a 215/60R14. This size looks a tad bit meatier (not oversized by any means) and still keeps the ratio close enough to stock so as not to screw up the speedo. You didn't say how you are restoring your car so I don't know what look you are going for. My 66 has some old American Racing chrome rims and the white lettered tires look pretty good on 'em. Anyway, the 60 series feel great since the contact patch to the ground is a little wider and it is no harder to steer (no power steering). - one last note, if you car is a daily driver, the 185/7514's are going to look and feel really skinny. A friend of mine has a 66 with that stock size and it looks like it's on tiptoes. If you are restoring the car to concours specs you'll need to stick with them unfortunately. Hope this helps. Sorry for the rambling Stefan ------------------ 66 Standard coupe 200 inline 6 - Pertronix ignition, Flamethrower Coil, K&N, Clifford Perf. 6 into 2 headers, Holley carb, three row radiator 96 GT Convertible Bosch Platinum +4 plugs, B&M Ripper K&N, removed air silencer, Tokico non-adjustable struts/ shocks (more to come) Next up: 3:73's and side exhaust www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?258 [This message has been edited by Stefan (edited 09-07-2000).]

09-07-2000, 08:32 PM	#3
Rev Registered Member Join Date: Nov 1998 Location: Houston, Tx. Posts: 3,887	Stefan's right. On my '66 restomod, I used Firestone Firehawk 215/70/SR14's with stock 14" steel rims with the car lowered 2" all the way around. No clearance problems at all. Since then, I've gone to wider 15" rims and bigger tires 215/60/SR15's Radial TA's front and 235/60/SR15's Radial TA's rear. Car handles great with suspension set up like road racer. 14" 215/70/SR's worked great though. Rev ------------------ '66 Coupe, 306, windage tray, TRW flat tops, 351W heads,pocket ported, 268 CC hydraulic cam, R tip R's, Edelbrock Performer, 600 CFM Holley vac. secs., Mallory Unilite, coil, fuel pump, Tri-Y headers, 2 1/2 " custom pipes, 3 chamber Flows, stock C-4, 3.25 Currie built 8" rear, March under drive pulleys, 13.97 e.t., 100.1 mph 1/4 mi.