[geezer.nelson]

I have a chance to buy a set of 225/70R15 Nexen tires for my 1987 SS. I was complaining about my old tires losing a chunk of tread while I was on the freeway and one of my coworkers said he had pulled these tires off his car after only a couple of hundred miles because his wife did not like the white letter tires on her "family car" (a 1989 Caprice Classic). I can buy them for $50 each. I am currently running 235/60/R15 tires on 15" rally rims. I don't know the width.
I need tires in a bad way, and I'm so near broke that I just parked the cruck when I lost the tread. It would be great if these would fit, but it would be $200 wasted if they did not. Have any of you ever run 225/70/R15 tires on your El Camino? Will these fit mine?
Thanks guys.
Rick

 

[steelybill]

The 225/70R15 should work fine. They are about an inch bigger in diameter than the 235/60s, and may affect speedometer readings a bit.

 

[PRAMM]

ok, stock size was a 205-75r14 Height 26.1 width 8.0, next your current size 235-60-15 H- 26.1 W- 9.2 now 225-70-15 H- 27.4 W-8.8 I would bet they Rub on the frame when you do a full turn. I would highly see if you could test fit one like on the right front and turn the wheel complete turn and check for rubbage. Hope this helps out. Maybe meet the seller at a tire store. Good luck. and your speedo will read slow. I currently run 215-65r15 H-26.0 W-8.4 and they rub just slightly on full turns like on the inner fender plastic.

 

[geezer.nelson]

Thanks for the fast responses. Since the tires I now have are almost touching when I turn, I think I'll wait and get some that have more clearance. The forum just saved me $200!

 

[jarhead]

I run 225 70/ 15 on the front and 235 70/15 on the rear. I don't have any issues with rubbing.

 

[jarhead]

I forgot to add pics. The front wheels are 7" wide and the rears are 8". I also show you a pic with 1000 lbs of sod in the truck with no rubbing at all. 80 lbs of air in the shocks worked out great.

 

[ccc]

the 225/70 would rub on the front edge of the fender when you turn. look on tirebuyer.com they have good prices and ship to your house

 

[Jack_K]

I have 225/75-15 on the back, but 215/75-15 on the front.

225/70-15 diameter is 27.40". 215/75-15 diameter is 27.70".

So, if my 215/75 works, the 225/70 should also work.

Jack

 

[jarhead]

the 225/70 would rub on the front edge of the fender when you turn. look on tirebuyer.com they have good prices and ship to your house

I use Koni shocks up front and I did install new springs. I get zero rub. I was rumming 235/60's and the rubbed the frame on a tight turn. 215/70 look too short to me.

 

[geezer.nelson]

Got em.

I finally decided to get 235\60R15 tires, just like what was already on the Ekly. This is how it turned out. My front cap looks like it is a different color in this photo, but it matches the rest of the car. Chalk it up to cell phone photos in poor lighting.
Not having flat spots made a huge difference in handling. The guy at the tire shop who snagged my old tires is in for an unpleasant surprise when he runs them. They look good and have plenty of tread, but the old tires were 10 years old and the tread was delaminating.
This is the new tires. I stuck with white letter sidewalls, but won't spend the extra money next time.