1987 442 rear tire fit

[jociha]

Hi everyone, i am new here and have a question i can't seem to find the answer to. I looked at a few 85-87 442's and found a nice 87 i am buying. When i studied the rear wheelwell i noticed it is not very big. When i was looking at others i did see a 86 with 275/60/15 tires on the rear of what looked to be the original 15x7 wheels. It looked nice and i want to do that. Is the 87 rear wheelwell the same as the 86. Also has anyone tried the 15x8 wheel that coker sells that is a copy of the original with this larger tire. I want to use 225/70/15 on the front with the original rims and the 275's on the back if they fit.
Thanks, John

 

[SilverShadow87]

all the exact same car.... had to be either the width or the height of the tire that was fooling you. nothing should be different.

 

[dogsht]

I used a 275/60/15 on a 15x8 widened stock 442 ralley. It should be the same backspacing as the rim you are looking at. It will be very snug and sometime depending on rear centering, steel or aluminum drums etc you may need to use a thin spacer or roll your inner fender lip to make sure you have no rub under cornering with people in the back seat.

I also used an airbag inside the passenger coil set at about 12 psi. This was primarily for the purpose of pre loading the suspension for maximum traction out of both rear tires but also served to lift the rear just a little for when I might have a trunk full of tools or back seat full of people.

Last I used it with a 235/60/15 up front. 225/70/15 will work also but if a very tall tire. The 60 upfront gave the car modest rake and also helps the cornering a bit being both slightly wider and lower profile.

 

[Bweavy]

here is a link to some OLDS wheels with 7" & 8" combo. Then a 7" & 10" combo.
http://www.gbodyparts.com/product_info. ... 7608067249
This will give you an idea of the look.

These wheels are re-worked from the original GM units & new barrels added. These are not new after market. Hence the price differences. But if you need a specail width or off set this is the way to go.

 

[69hurstolds]

Check backspacing as well for proper fitment. It may make a difference.

Factory 15 x 7 backspacing is 4.0". Don't let anyone try to tell you different. Many wheel reproducers try, but they lie. It may have something to do with how the barrels are made. Such as Coker/Wheel Vintiques have 15 x 7 with 4.25" BS and non-continuous weld beads and try to convince you that GM wheels were like that as well. Which they're not. Of course, this MAY be a good thing with oversize tires as it may move the tire inward a bit where fatter tires may fit in the wheel well better. But I don't use anything but factory size tires, so I cannot answer to that.

But if you're using the 15x8, I think they do BS those at 4.0". The wider wheel may look a tad better overall since you have essentially a 1" deeper wheel from the front.

Don't have to believe me. Check them yourself and you'll see.

 

[KmK442]

i had raised white BF Goodrich T/A 275/75/15's on my 87 i liked those fat bastards