Hello, my name is Kyle Hitz, I'm 16 and recently got a '72 EL Camino. I am in the process of ordering new tires and was looking for sum direction. Its currently sitting on the stock 15s w/ Douglas GT Quailfiers size 225/70/15. I am planning on ordering new wheels and tires. The wheels will be 17x8 Cragar SSs in the front and 18x9 Cragar SSs in the rear. My problem is whether a Low Profile tire is right. I am wanting the performance and traction of a Low Pro. tire but I am unsure of how it would look/ride. I am not sure if this is the right thread, if not I appologize. If anyone cna enlighten me on my delema please post. Thank You.

Hey Kyle and a big welcome!

Yep, stance is everything on how a car looks and rides. Of course ride height and back-spacing on the wheels is all very important so everything fits.

Check out this cool El Camino on the link below, he is running 7-17's up front and 8'17's in the rear with 215/45/17 and 255/45/17's. Of course his supension is trick but sure looks cool! I'm still running 15's on my 3rd gen. Maybe another member with 17's can be of more help!

Check out this link below for more info on this car.
http://www.superchevy-web.com/features/0405sc_70elcamino/

This is one cool shot of how a third gen elky looks with 17's!
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/70elco/1970%20El%20Camino%20502.jpg
Dave

I am wanting the performance and traction of a Low Pro. tire

Keep in mind traction can be two different things with tires. Straight line or cornering? 17's and 18's give you that stiffer sidewall for the curves but not as much of tire flex and hoop up as 15's or 16's.

Dave

70ELCO, thanks for your help. i liek the way that Elky looks in that pic. Looks pretty close to mine except for the cowl hood. My main question was pretyt much how it would look and that pic pretyt much solves it. So i think i will go with the low pro. tires. And for your second post, I want a little of both cornering and flat straight aways, I live in Kansas after all and theres a lot of both curvy and straight roads. Thanks for your help.

I run 17X9.5 in front and 17X11 in the rear--you can fit up to a 275/40R17 in front and 315/35R17 in the rear. Anything bigger than 315 in any rim size is going to require major surgery. A 295/35R18 would look nice in the back and I'd run a 245/45R17 in the front. That combo will look real good and fit no problem as long as the backspacing is right.

Dennis, thank you for the response. Since I know I can fit my 17x8 Cragars in the front and my 18x9 Cragars in teh rear, im goin to run a 245/45/17 up front and a 275/40/18 in the rear. Those are the closest sizes as far as what I want (and can afford). I am going with Falken GR Beta FK-451 tires. These were the best tires I could find for under $600 for a set (I'm only in HS, $ is kind of a problem there). If any one has any suggestions of a better tire for around the price lemme know. I was looking at the Nitto 555s but those are a little expensive and I've heard some bad things about their tread life.

Thanks for your help, Kyle.