Classic Mustang wheel and tire sizes, 1965 to 1970
Published
Wheel and tire sizes from Rick Ciemeny of Halibrand Engineering, via Mustang Barn's wheel and tire size chart (PDF)
These are the wheel and tire combinations Halibrand lists for stock-bodied 1965 to 1970 Mustangs, by wheel size and backspace. Every tire size links to the tire size calculator, which compares it with the tire on your car: the diameter change, the speedometer error and the ride height.
A ZR tire is the same size as an R tire; the Z is a speed rating. The P means a passenger car tire and doesn't change the size either.
What Backspacing Means
Backspace is how far the wheel's inner edge sits behind the face that bolts to the hub. More backspace tucks the wheel in toward the springs and suspension; less pushes it out toward the fender lip. A wider wheel adds width on both sides, so it usually needs more backspace to stay clear of the fender, which is why the backspace grows with wheel width in both charts.
1965-1966 Mustang Wheel and Tire Sizes
| Wheel | Backspace | Suggested tires | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14x6 | 4.0" | P215/70R14 | |
| 14x7 | 4.25" | P225/60R14 | |
| 14x8 | 4.5" | P225/60R14 to P235/60R14 | Rear only |
| 15x6 | 4.0" | P215/70R15 | |
| 15x7 | 4.25" | P225/60R15 | |
| 15x8 | 4.5" | P225/60R15 to P235/60R15 | Rear only |
| 16x7 | 4.25" | P205/55R16 to P225/60R16 | |
| 16x8 | 4.5" | P225/50R16 | Rear only |
| 17x7 | 4.25" | P205/50ZR17 | |
| 17x8 | 4.5" | P235/45ZR17 | |
| 18x7 | 4.25" | P225/40ZR18 | |
| 18x8 | 4.5" | P245/40ZR18 to P265/35ZR18 | Rear only |
1967-1970 Mustang Wheel and Tire Sizes
| Wheel | Backspace | Suggested tires | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14x6 | 4.0" | P215/70R14 | |
| 14x7 | 4.25" | P225/60R14 | |
| 14x8 | 4.5" | P225/60R14 to P245/60R14 | |
| 15x6 | 4.0" | P215/70R15 | |
| 15x7 | 4.25" | P225/60R15 | |
| 15x8 | 4.5" | P225/60R15 | |
| 15x9 | 5.5" | P235/60R15 | 1969-70 only |
| 16x7 | 4.25" | P205/55R16 to P225/60R16 | |
| 16x8 | 4.5" | P225/50R16 to P245/50R16 | |
| 17x7 | 4.25" | P205/50ZR17 | |
| 17x8 | 4.5" | P235/45ZR17 to P245/45ZR17 | |
| 17x9 | 5.5" | P245/40ZR17 to P275/40ZR17 | 1969-70 only |
| 18x7 | 4.25" | P225/40ZR18 | |
| 18x8 | 4.5" | P245/40ZR18 to P265/35ZR18 | |
| 18x9 | 5.5" | P245/40ZR18 to P265/35ZR18 | 1969-70 only |
What Owners Report (1965-66)
Vintage Mustang Forum members logged the wheels and tires on their own 1965-66 cars, with the suspension changes and whether they had to roll the fenders. A few patterns stand out:
- The most reported setup is a 15x7 wheel with 3.75" of backspace: 16 of the 21 cars on 15x7s, on 205/55R15 to 225/60R15 or 215/50R15 to 225/50R15 tires (one runs a 235/60R15 at the rear). Fewer than half of them (8 of 21) rolled a fender lip.
- On 17x8 wheels, 4.75" backspace is the most common (11 of 17 cars), with 225/45R17 to 245/45R17 up front and up to 265/45R17 at the rear. Most of these cars (12 of 17) rolled their fenders, six of them all four.
- Rubbing reports include a 225/60R15 touching the upper control arm, a 215/60R15 on a lowered car even with the front fender lips cut, a 225/50R16 with Wilwood brakes on a car without a panhard bar, and a car lowered more than recommended.
- A wider 1967-69 9" rear axle in a 1965-66 needs more rear backspace, and a narrowed rear needs less. Compare the Ford rear end widths before ordering rear wheels.
- Two owners run late-model wheels on spacers: 1" up front, and ½" or 1" at the rear.
Source: the Modified Tire and Wheel Chart 65-66 (PDF, 2005), compiled from owners' reports. Every car is different: check your own clearances before buying.
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