Other: what size tires are best

[kpcoupe]

ok i have a stock 53 commander that i am looking at putting radial tires on, stock tires were 7.10 x 15 should i go with a 205/75 or a 215/75? from what i have heard the 215 might be to wide/dangerous for stock rims??

[paintim613]

I have Coker 195's which seem to be just fine.

[warrlaw1]

I'm running 205s but 195s would have been better if they were in stock and available. Worth searching for.

[9echo]

I put 195-65/15 on my 48 Champion. I kind of wish I had put 205s on it. The speedometer reads 12 percent fast. Of course, the original tires were 550X15s. These tires are a bit undersize, but not that much. The PO had G78X15s on it when I bought it. I think I need to find a new speedometer drive gear.

[RadioRoy]

P215/75R15 has the same outside diameter as a 7.10 x 15 bias ply tire. The wheels on the 51-55 Studebakers are 5 inches wide and 215's work fine on them. I have them on several of my cars and they work great. The later wheels, from 59 and newer are only 4 1/2" wide and so those wheels must have smaller tires.

keeping the outer diameter the same as stock will make the speedometer and the final gearing happiest.

[rockne10]

I put Diamond Back II 215/75R15 on my '53 Commander Starlight; closest radial profile to the original 7.10x15. I am very pleased and speedometer seems accurate.