[wmurrell]

I am looking to replace the tires on my ’65 GTO. Wheels are the stock 14x6” steel rims. The car currently has 215/70R14 tires. What would be the recommended profile for a stock GTO, street driven on the weekends? Any specific recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks!

[chipster]

I would go with 225/70-R14 if keeping those wheels.

[elefantrider]

Cooper Trendsetter SE Blackwall in 215/70-14. Comes closest to the stock look but in a very affordable radial tire.

[geeteeohguy]

I've run 225/70/14's on 6 inch Rally 1's for decades on my '65 GTO. Stock height (so the speedometer stays on the money) but a bit better handling and a more aggressive look. I've run 215's in the past, and the ride quality is smoother than the 225's, with less road shock. But the look of the slightly bigger tires is hard to beat, IMO.

[The Champ]

Assuming... Stock appearing - but radial tire design.

My choice would be a 225/70/14 redline. Why? Because the original tires on a '65 GTO were 7.75x14's which were 27" tall. A 225/70/14 is 26.5" tall - the 215/70/14 is only 25.8" tall and too short IMHO.

And redline tires just look so darn good on an early vintage GTO!



The original tire was very skinny - only 4.5" of treand and had a section width of 7.65". The 225's will give you almost 3" wider tread (7.2") and will fill the wheelwells nicely.

[wmurrell]

Thanks for all the great input! Looks like I will go with the 225/70/14 profile.

[Option 382]

Since this thread seems to have answered the original poster's question I thought I would add something/ask something to it about the redline tires. From what I can remember the redline tire was first offered with the introduction of the GTO. I can't remember any other vehicle prior to the GTO that was equipped from the factory with a redline tire. Can anyone else recall one?

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Option 382

Since this thread seems to have answered the original poster's question I thought I would add something/ask something to it about the redline tires. From what I can remember the redline tire was first offered with the introduction of the GTO. I can't remember any other vehicle prior to the GTO that was equipped from the factory with a redline tire. Can anyone else recall one?

I believe the GTO was first.

At any rate, it was invented by Paul Deeson, a Pontiac studio designer and current POCI/Widetrackers Chapter member.

K

[geeteeohguy]

I did some research after reading 382's post, and I came to the same conclusion. Other cars got them too, but later on. Like a couple of years later, from what I could find.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by Option 382

Since this thread seems to have answered the original poster's question I thought I would add something/ask something to it about the redline tires. From what I can remember the redline tire was first offered with the introduction of the GTO. I can't remember any other vehicle prior to the GTO that was equipped from the factory with a redline tire. Can anyone else recall one?

Page 51 of Paul Zazzrine's book "GTO: 1964 - 1967:

"The tiger theme began to snowball thanks to US Royal, which supplied tire for many GM products, and had produced the redline tire for the 1964 GTO."

Which is why I believe that the GTO became known as the "Tiger".

[shamusj]

Hi Bill,
Long time no talk. Thanks for bringing up this topic. Please post some pics of your new tires.
I bought my car with 15" repro rims running 215/70/15 redlines. Personally I think the wheel/tire combo looks odd. I'm searching for 14" rims - want to return to the skinny stock look.

[elefantrider]

I've had a few wheel combos on my '65 but finally went back to the 14" Rally 1s and a tall G70 redline Firestone bias ply. Not an inexpensive tire but it really makes the car stand out.