A 7" rim is measured inside bead to inside bead, and therefore is actually 8" wide to the outside of the wheel. Most wheels would have no offset and half of 8" is 4" for zero offset. I prefer just a little positive offset and I would be happy with a wheel with 4-1/4" backspacing on the front (the backspacing is measured with s straightedge across the back of the rim and a ruler dropped down to the mounting surface). Also if the wheel sticks farther out towards the outside this would be negative offset, and the wheel tucked further in would be positive offset. Your 215/70R15 tires shouldn't rub with either the 4" or the 4-1/4" backspacing so possibly your wheels do have some negative offset. I have run up to a 225/70R15 in front on my '67 so if you have the correct offset the 215's shouldn't be a problem. I prefer to stick with a 7" rim on the front.
The backs get harder to figure out but if your are sticking with 7" rims (again 8" total width) then the 4-1/4" backspacing would be a good fit.
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Mick Batson
1967 original owner Tyro Blue/black top 4-speed HO GTO with all the original parts stored safely away -- 1965 Catalina Safari Wagon.
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