Swapping tires for towing home

[topekapete]

I'm picking up my 64 Airflyte next Friday, my question is.....Tire Size and clearance. Currently she is wearing 6.70X15, don't trust them to make it home. Bolt pattern is 5 on 4.5. I have a set of 225/75/15 on rims that would fit. Is there enough clearance both heightwise and widthwise in the wheel wells? The overall height of the 6.7's is between 26.5 and 27.11 according to web calculators I've found. The 225's have an overall height of around 28.25. These are would just be to get it home, about 1 1/2 hr away. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Really hate to go and pickup a set of rims and get some tires mounted, then end up with a pair of rims I don't need once I get her home.

thanks

Pete

[vikx]

My experience has been that often the tires/wheels are difficult to mount. There is not enough clearance between the hub and body without flattening the tire. Sometimes, all goes well, but be prepared with a compressor or air tank. Once mounted, the tires should work.

[distant75]

Very true in what Vikx said, I had a very hard it getting the tire to fit between the axle and body. I had to deflat the tire and beat it in and I ended up cutting the outside of the tire because the wheel well was junk and coming apart.
I'm in the process of redoing my 60 Airflyte and decided to go with 195/70-15 because they are a little thinner and about a 1" or so smaller.

[topekapete]

thanks for the advice, Friday can't get here soon enough to get her home!!

[61shastacompact]

I found it helpful to pull the grease cap on the end of the hub for added clearance as well. Remember that the caps on the old hubs unscrew.....do not try to pry them off.

Jim