Thoughts on Wheels/Tires for '79 Cordoba

[streetmachine]

Hello everyone. So, hopefully in the future I will be able to buy some wheels/tires for the Cordoba. I'm thinking of going 17s on the car as the car right now has the factory 15x6 steel wheels with 215/75/15s on it. My idea was go to see some wheels with the following specs:

Front- 17x7 -6 mm offset, 3.75 backspacing
Front Tire Size- 255/55/17s

Rear- 17x8 -25 mm offset, 3.5 backspacing or a wheel with 0 mm offset, 4.5 backspacing
Rear Tire Size- 275/55/17s

So, that leads to a couple of concerns. I'm hoping the 255 would fit without any rubbing issues in the front on sharp tires and I'm wondering about the rear as well. I'm just wondering if going to wider tire in the front will wear out components quicker?

This car is just a cruiser but, just wanted to kind of beef up the handling since I've got to replace the tires soon enough due to age. The rear tires should be fine but, just wondering on the offset for the rear? I was leaning toward the negative offset wheel with less backspacing. Just looking for some thoughts.

 

[rumblefish360]

Do you have a profile shot of the car?

 

[streetmachine]

Do you have a profile shot of the car?

Yes, this is when I used to have 15x7s on it with 235/60/15s all the way around from a few years ago. Now, the car has the turbine wheel covers and hubcaps on it currently.

 

[streetmachine]

Yes, this is when I used to have 15x7s on with 235/60/15s all the way around from a few years ago. Now, the car has the turbine wheel covers and hubcaps on it currently.

View attachment 563520 View attachment 563521

These pictures are several years old but, here is an idea of the current configuration.

 

[dodge1972]

Rears are 20x12, front were 20/10. both with spacers. Sold the set, installed 15/7 with 255/60 on rear and 245/60 on front. The wider rims were just too too wide form high speed driving

 

[WileERobby]

Handling ? On a 79 Cordoba, You're going to need alot more than tires.

 

[dodge1972]

Handling ? On a 79 Cordoba, You're going to need alot more than tires.

The topic is wheels and tires. Rims were on the Cordoba when I purchased it.

 

[WileERobby]

The topic is wheels and tires. Rims were on the Cordoba when I purchased it.

"..just wanted to beef up the handling" is what I read.

 

[rumblefish360]

"..just wanted to beef up the handling" is what I read.

While that thought was about included in the post, it wasn’t the main objective asked about.

However, I’m sure that’s coming shortly. LOL

 

[streetmachine]

Thank you all. My apologies for confusing people. What I mean about the handling comment is that the lower and wider profile tires should handle somewhat better than the 215/75/15s on there. If I wanted to build a Cordoba for autocrossing then it would for sure need much, much more. Anyways, that's why I also mentioned in the comment that this car was mainly a cruiser.

So, another idea I'm considering is maybe just going 15x7 front and 15x8 in the back. Thinking 245/60/15s front and 255/60/15s or 275/60/15s in back. I know staying with 15s would be a little cheaper and finding the right wheel to go with my color combo is a bit of a stretch unless I pony up some $$$.

 

[rumblefish360]

I run 245/60/15’s on all 4 corners right now. Cooper Cobras. Decent street driver tire. Handles well enough.

 

[dodge1972]

Just a closing comment, 275/60 will result in poor handling in sharp turns due the greater height, I agree the 245/60 is the best overall size unless you want more height in the rear. May Cordoba has a 3 inch X-pipe with side exhaust, thus I needed more rear height for exhaust clearance. 255/60 provided more ground clearance.

 

[streetmachine]

Thank everyone. I'm still deciding but, thinking of sticking with 15s in the future due that it would over $500 cheaper.

 

[WileERobby]

You can fit 215/70R15 on the car on the stock wheels

 

[streetmachine]

Thank you. I have 215/75/15s on the car now and just looking for a change for now.

 

[dodge1972]

You need to find a set of 7 inches wide rims, if so you can install 60 series with no issues Good luck

 

[DeltaV]

I have been running 255/60R-15 tires on all four corners of my '79 Cordoba 300 package car (SS22L9R) since the early 1980s with no issues of any sort. All four wheels are Enkei 15x8 (or 15x10).

The car is all buttoned up in storage right now. I can find the wheel size one weekend when it isn't raining.

Below is a picture from 2015 when I had it transported to my new home. The Enkei center caps were removed so that they didn't mysteriously disappear during the trip. The car is very dirty in this picture.

 

[streetmachine]

Thank you. I'll be going at least 7 inches in the front and 8 inches in the back is my thinking.

 

[WileERobby]

I gotta be honest with ya, your car looks great with those turbine wheels.

 

[monaco66coupe]

I bought my 77' with enkie 15x8's with 235/70-15,and thought the width and size degraded the ride and driveability. I re-installed the original 15x6.5 wheels with 225/70-15, which most closely matched the GR70-15's the car was sold new with. I then re-installed the wires the car came with. The stock look is Not for everyone, but it looks just like the commercials in 1977. The car is as smooth at 100 as it is at 70 mph. The car has a 400 four barrel, police suspension, and 9 1/4 suregrip 3:23 rear.
Lots of fun to drive! (For a while I had cragars, but they found their way to another car)