Classic Mustang Wheel and Tire Combinations Part 2

By: Alan L. Colvin 

The 1969 Mustang used six different tire types, with the types based upon the original engine equipment that was ordered on each particular car. The base 6-cylinder and 302 cars used a C78x14” tire as standard equipment. An E78x14” tire could be ordered optionally on any of the 6-cylinder or 302 cars, while also being standard equipment on the 351 and 390 equipped cars. The 302, 351 and 390 equipped cars could also be ordered with an optional E70x14” Wide Oval. These E70x14” Wide Oval tires were also only available optionally on the 428 and GT Equipment Group cars. An optional F70x14” Wide Oval was again offered for 1969, this time as optional equipment on the 302, 351,390,428 and GT Equipment Group cars. The FR70x14” Wide Oval Radial ply tires made their second appearance in 1969 as optional equipment on the 302, 351,390,428 and GT Equipment Group cars. The 185-R14” Radial ply was now discontinued and a new F70x14” Fiberglas belted tire was now mandatory equipment on the 428 Cobra Jet cars. The last tire that was available on the 1969 Mustang was the F60x15” tire, which was the standard and only tire available on the Boss 302 and Boss 429 cars.

The standard wheels on the Boss 302 were argent painted 15x7 Magnum 500s with Goodyear F60x15 Polyglas tires. Chrome Magnum 500s were an option for the Boss 302 but were standard equipment for the Boss 429 cars. The Eckler’s part number for the Chrome Magnum 500 wheel is # 44-52914-1

The 1969 Mustang still only used two different types of wheels across three sizes of wheels. The standard wheel for all Mustangs was again the same stamped steel wheel that was ventilated and used an integral safety-type rim design. The 200 cubic inch 6-cylinder Mustang used the same 14x5.0” steel wheel from 1968 as standard equipment. This 6-cylinder 14x5.0” wheel used 4 wheel studs to attach it to the car. The 1969 250, 302, 351, and 390 equipped cars used the same 14x5.0” 5-stud steel wheel as used as standard equipment as used in 1968. This same steel wheel, manufactured in a 14x6 width, was used as standard equipment on the 428 cars. The 1969 V8 Mustang could again be purchased with an optional 14x6.0” Styled Steel wheel, the same wheel that was used for 1968. For 1969, this same wheel was supplied in both argent silver, chrome (GT only) and a new color-keyed option that was available on all exterior colors. Both the stamped steel wheel and the Styled Steel wheels again used 5 wheel studs to attach the wheel to the car. The standard wheels on the Boss 302 were argent painted 15x7 Magnum 500s with Goodyear F60x15 Polyglas tires. Chrome Magnum 500s were an option for the Boss 302 but were standard equipment for the Boss 429 cars.

The Mustang again used six different tire types for the 1970 model year. An E78x14” black sidewall tire was used as standard equipment on the 200 and 250 6-cylinder cars, as well as the 302 and 351 V8 cars. A white sidewall E78x14” tire could be ordered optionally on any of those same cars with those engine options. An E70x14” white sidewall tire was available optionally on the 428 Cobra Jet (except Mach I) and standard equipment on the 351 Mach I Mustang. A F70x14” white sidewall tire was standard equipment on the Mach I 428 Cobra cars and optional on the 250,302, 351,428,and 428 Cobra Jet cars that were not Mach I equipped. A F70x14” white letter tire was available optionally on the 250, 302, 351, 428, 428CJ cars F70x14” Fiberglas belted tire was now mandatory equipment on the 428 Cobra Jet cars that were not Mach I equipped cars, and all three (351,428 and 428CJ) Mach I cars. The final tire that was available on the 1970 Mustang was the F60x15” tire, which was still the standard and only tire available on the Boss 302 and Boss 429 cars.

The final tire that was available on the 1970 Mustang was the F60x15” tire, which was still the standard and only tire available on the Boss 302 and Boss 429 cars. This tire was also used for the 1969 model year. The Eckler’s part number for this tire is # 44-11760-1.

The 1970 Mustang now used two different types of wheels across four sizes of wheels for this model year. The standard wheel for all Mustangs was again the same stamped steel wheel that was ventilated and used an integral safety-type rim design. The 200 cubic inch 6-cylinder Mustang used the same 14x5.0” steel wheel from 1969 as standard equipment. This would be the last year that the 6-cylinder 14x5.0” wheel used 4 wheel studs to attach it to the car. The 1970 250, 302, and 351/2V equipped cars used the same 14x6.0” 5-stud steel wheel as used as standard equipment on the 1969 428 cars. The 351/4V and 428 cars used a new 14x7.0” wheel as standard equipment. The 1970 V8 Mustang could again be purchased with a newly designed Styled Steel wheel, with the wheel now using only 5 slots. For 1970, this wheel was supplied in only argent silver, and was available on all V8 cars excluding the Boss 302 and Boss 429 cars. The chrome plated 15” Magnum 500 wheels were now used as standard equipment on both the Boss 302 and Boss 429 cars. All 1970 wheels again used 5 wheel studs to attach the wheel to the car.

The 1971 Mustang used five different tire types for the 1971 model year. An E78x14” black sidewall tire was used as standard equipment on the 250 6-cylinder cars, as well as the 302, 351, 429CJ and 429CJ-R (non-Mach I equipped) cars. If you wanted a F70x14” white sidewall tire on the 429 cars, you had to pay extra. An E70x14” white sidewall tire was available optionally on the 250 6-cylinder, 302 and 351 V8 cars and was standard equipment on the 302 and 351 Mach I cars. A F70x14” white sidewall tire was standard equipment on the Mach I 429CJ cars, optional on the 302 and 351 Mach I cars and also optional on the 250,302, 351,429CJ,and 429CJ-R cars that were not Mach I equipped. An F70x14” white letter tire was available optionally on all Mach I and non-Mach I equipped cars except for the 351 Boss. The 351 Boss carried the F60x15” tire as standard equipment, with the tire available optionally on all models except the 250 6-cylinder.

An F70x14” white letter tire was available optionally on all 1971 Mach I and non-Mach I equipped cars except for the 351 Boss. These tires can be sourced at Coker Tire.

The 1971 Mustang now used two different types of wheels across three sizes of wheels for this model year. The standard wheel for all Mustangs was again the same stamped steel wheel that was ventilated and used an integral safety-type rim design. The 14x6.0” 5-stud steel wheel as used as standard equipment on the 1971 Mustang. The 4-stud 6-cylinder wheel was now gone, with all wheels now having a 5-stud design. The 14x7.0” wheel was used as standard equipment when a E70x14” or F70x14” tire was ordered. The 1970-Styled Steel wheel was now gone, leaving the chrome plated 15” Magnum 500 wheels as the optional wheel for this model year. This wheel was only available when ordered with the Competition Suspension and the F60x15” tires. The space saver tire was also mandatory.

The 1972 Mustang used five different tire types for the 1972 model year. An E78x14” black sidewall tire was used as standard equipment on the 250 6-cylinder cars, as well as the 302 and 351 (non-Mach I equipped) cars. An E70x14” white sidewall tire was available optionally on the 250 6-cylinder, 302 and 351 V8 cars and was standard equipment on the 302 and 351 Mach I cars. A F70x14” white sidewall tire was optional on the 302 and 351 Mach I cars and also optional on the 250,302, and 351cars that were not Mach I equipped. A F70x14” white letter tire was available optionally on the 302 and 351 Mach I cars (excluding the 351 HO) and all non-Mach I equipped cars except for the 351 HO. The 351 Boss and the 351 HO carried the F60x15” tire as standard equipment, with the tire available optionally on all models except the 250 6-cylinder.

For 1972, a E70x14” white sidewall tire was available optionally on the 250 6-cylinder, 302 and 351 V8 cars and was standard equipment on the 302 and 351 Mach I cars. These tires can be sourced at Coker Tire.

The 1972 Mustang again used two different types of wheels across three sizes of wheels for this model year. The standard wheel for all Mustangs was again the same stamped steel wheel that was ventilated and used an integral safety-type rim design. The 14x6.0” 5-stud steel wheel as used as standard equipment on the 1972 Mustang,. The 14x7.0” wheel was used as standard equipment when an E70x14” tire was ordered on a Sportsroof or Hardtop model. The chrome plated 15” Magnum 500 wheels were again used as the optional wheel for this model year. This wheel was only available when ordered with F60x15” tires. The space saver tire was still mandatory.

The 1973 Mustang was the last year for the classic Mustang. The car now used seven different tire types for the 1973 model year, the most offered since 1965. An E78x14” black sidewall tire was used as standard equipment on the 250 6-cylinder cars, as well as the 302 and 351 (non-Mach I equipped) cars. An E70x14” white sidewall tire was available optionally on the 250 6-cylinder, 302 and 351 V8 cars and was standard equipment on the 302 and 351 Mach I cars. An F70x14” white sidewall tire was optional on the 302 and 351 Mach I cars and also optional on the 250,302, and 351 cars that were not Mach I equipped. An F70x14” white letter tire was also available optionally on those same cars as well. A GR78x14” tire was offered in both black and white sidewall designs and was available as separate options for all models including the Mach I cars. This was the first time a “G” sized tire was offered on a Mustang. The famous F60x15” white letter tire that had been in production from 1970 and last used in 1972 was now gone. The E70 and F70 tires used in 1973 were of a Wide Oval design.

An F70x14” white sidewall tire was optional on the 302 and 351 Mach I cars and also optional on the 250,302, and 351 cars that were not Mach I equipped. An F70x14” white letter tire was also available optionally on those same cars as well. The E70 and F70 tires used in 1973 were of a Wide Oval design. The Eckler’s part number for this tire is # 44-11626-1.

The 1973 Mustang again used two different types of wheels across three sizes of wheels for this model year. The standard wheel for all Mustangs was again the same stamped steel wheel that was ventilated and used an integral safety-type rim design. The 14x5.5” 5-stud steel wheel as used as standard equipment on the 1973 Mustang. The 14x7.0” wheel was used as standard equipment when an optional E70x14” tire was ordered. The chrome plated 15” Magnum 500 wheels, previously optional, were superseded by optional forged aluminum 5-hole wheels. The space saver tire was still mandatory.

Hopefully, this article has given you a little insight as to what tires and wheels are correct for your early Mustang.