P4000 Radial tires/mag wheels

[Pieter Kanitz]

Duke, (and/or others)
I've read a post in which you said:
For C2s I recommended the W-rated 215/70ZR-15 Pirelli P4000 Super Touring.

This was I believe for a person with 15x6 inch American racing Wheels(tubeless wheels seeing the photo)
I also have the 15x6 inch American racing wheels but they are from magnesium and as far as I can discover not designed for tubeless tires, the side wall of the wheel is reasonable high, don't know how to explain it right.
Could the P4000 with a tube also fit on the 1960 AR mag wheels??

Thanks in advance,
pieter

[Duke W.]

Re: P4000 Radial tires/mag wheels

The minimum recommended wheel width for the 215/70R-15 size is 5.5" and they will clear the wheel wells on the base steel 15 x 5.5 x 0.44" offset wheels used from '63-'66.

They will also clear the fenders (but it may be tight) with the '67 base 15 x 6 x.06" offset Rally wheels and all optional OE aluminum wheels from '63-'67 which have the same dimensions as the '67 Rally Wheels. (Offset for KO wheels INCLUDES the adaper, since the adapter inside face bears against the drum or disk wheel mounting face.

When dealing with other wheels of different width and/of offset you will have to do some measurements and math to determine if they fit within the envelope of the above benchmarks.

Most "mag" wheels are aluminum. True magnesium wheels exist and were made for racing back in the sixties, but they are a poor choice for a street wheel. They corrode very rapidly developing a "fuzzy" patina, and if you polish them they will quickly corrode and need virtually monthly polishing, even if the car isn't driven.

Back in the sixties I witnessed a Sprite spin out that had real magnesium wheels. He scrapped against a concrete curb and the wheel caught fire. I helped him throw dirt on the wheel, and we extiguishded the fire.

Wheel flange section geometries are different for tube type and tubeless tires and tubeless tires will sometimes not seal on wheels designed for tube type tires. Installing tubes in tubeless tires is not recommended as they make the tire more subject to blowout if it gets a bad cut.

You can mount the tire and see if it holds air. If not, the only choice is to use a tube, and make sure it is a radial tire tube of correct size for the tire, and such a tube may not be easy to find or non-existant since tube type radials have not been made for nearly 40 years.

Another option is to look for a suitably sized tube type tire - perhaps a vintage tire reproduction.

IMO you are swimming against the current on this issue. There are some serious design compatiblity issues here. A real vintage magnesium wheel is suitable for show and local use, but I would not recommend such a wheel with a modern tube type tire, with of without a tube, for normal freeway speed driving or venturing very far from home.

Duke

[Greg Janko]

Re: P4000 Radial tires/mag wheels *NM*