Tire sizes, Buying new tires Options

[pek771]

Hi all:: I am going to the tire store tomorrow to get my wheels back from having the beater tires removed. The 185/60R15 were good enough to transport the car here from Arizona. These are EMPI 8 spoke, 5.5 W x 15 diameter. Wheels are 4 X 130, I suppose. The car is a 70, no flares, just plain old 4 cylinder config. I am putting a Hyper9 motor in it, and I expect it to come out of corners like a rocket.

What size tires can I fit in the stock wheel wells? The selection is very limited in 195/60R15. But, I can get Hoosiers in 205/50R15. Do the 205 fit? I live in Florida, and will drive the car very infrequently, so I don't care if it has DOT-R tires on it.Nor do I care of speedometer inaccuracies.

Thanks!
Pat

[pek771]

I have both sets of wheels glass beaded and getting ready for paint. The "EMPI" wheels do not say EMPI on them anywhere. What they do say is "MAX WHEEL" The American Racing wheels say nothing of value on them. The EMPI wheels are 5.5, and the American Racing wheels are around 6" wide. The American Racing wheels are a skosh bigger. Backspace on the EMPI wheels is 3-7/8" and on the AR wheels it is 4". I'm thinking I can fit the AR wheels in the stock wells (the fenders have been rolled), and I should have a wider tire selection open to me.