[64Lemans]

Hello.

I have standard 14x5 Pontiac Rims. Pic attached. As you can see the width of those rims are 6in.
I purchased Coker tires. 7.50-14. I've included the link for the actual tires. The width of those are 4.5in.
https://www.cokertire.com/tires/750-...blackwall.html
Do these tires expand when mounted and inflated or did I purchase the wrong tire / size.
Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you.

[b-man]

Those are 5” wide wheels.

Wheel width is measured between the tire mounting beads not the outside edges.

You’re fine.

Even if they actually were 6” wheels (they’re not) the 7.50-14 tires would fit fine and look good too. The 7.50 measurement is the section width from sidewall to sidewall, being an early bias tire the tread width is somewhat narrow by today’s standards at 4.5”.

There is usually a range of rim widths that are recommended for a certain tire size and I’m sure 5 to 6 inches are both within that range.

[Kenth]

What is the perception of the old rims intended for drum brakes?
Some claim that they are not secure and that the tire can slip off the inner edge of the rim when cornering hard if the air pressure is too low.
I had a tire changer refuse to put my new tires on my 1966 GTO rims because that he did not want to take responsibility in the event of an accident.
I went to another tire shop who fitted the tires without comment.

[b-man]

I’ve been running radials on plenty of wheels that originally were made for bias tires with zero issues.

Some have safety beads and others don’t but again never any problems. Running tires underinflated is never safe no matter what rim they’re mounted on.

[64Lemans]

Hi - thanks for the replies.
Would these be considered 60's like the old - term?
The rubber just likes skinny to me.
Not sure what the next size up would be and if they would still work with the rims.

[b-man]

You purchased old style bias tires and that’s how they looked.

Fat sidewalls and skinny tread.

Honestly that’s the biggest bias tire you should run on those. Keep in mind that in 1964 only the GTO had 6” rims and were equipped with 7.50-14 tires, the next year the ‘65 GTO went up slightly in size to 7.75-14 on the same 6” rims.

A six cylinder car came standard with 6.50-14 tires and V8 Le Mans and Tempest moved up to 7.00-14 tires still on 5” rims.

I’d just run them or try to sell them locally which wouldn’t be easy. Old bias tires were equivalent to about an 82-series. That means the sidewall height is 82 percent of the section width.

Running 14x5” stock size wheels really kind of limits your tire choices. Nowadays 14” tire choices are slim. At the very least move up to a 14x6” wheel where you can use a fairly big 215/75-14 or a wider but about equally tall 225/70-14.

These are 215/75-14 Coker Classic radials on 14x6” Hurst wheels and they’re a nice fit, the tread width is 6”.

[64Lemans]

thanks again for the replies.

any recommendations on a tire website.

been looking around for the standard old school blackwall look.

thank you

[b-man]

Are you stuck on using 14x5” wheels ?

If so your choices are very limited. There really aren’t any tires with what most would consider wide tread that fit those if they’re even made anymore.

Bias or radial, which do you want ?

A good radial that’s a nice fit with a reasonable tread width would be a 205/75-14.

Anything in a 70 or 60-series just doesn’t look right and again 14” choices are extremely limited to nonexistent.

[64Lemans]

hi...with what i have currently invested in the rims and the sandblasting/paint, i think i'll just stick with the 14x5.

so 205/75/14's vs 205/70/14?

Yes...radials would be good.
I have the 14x5's painted in saddle bronze and have the Pontiac poverty caps as well.
Thank you.

[b-man]

https://www.prioritytire.com/by-bran...vehicle=179484

The Hankook Kinergy ST is a nice tire. A 75-series 205 tire (26.1” tall) is a better choice for the 5” rim size. A 70-series would bulge out on the sidewalls not to mention they’re simply too short at 25.3” in diameter.

Shop around the web for the best price. Quite often you can get yours ordered through your local Walmart and pick them up at the store to save on shipping.

[64Lemans]

THANK YOU

[DLNorth]

This might be a bit late and "out of the box" but my plan is to use
225/70-14 mounted on 14x7 wheels (later 60/70's Chev SS wheels)
and with either the standard or deluxe full wheel covers.
(don't have them painted or mounted yet so no pics)

"At the very least move up to a 14x6” wheel where you can use a fairly big 215/75-14 or a wider but about equally tall 225/70-14."