I just bought 4 new tires (175/70/15 86H Vredestein Sprint Classic) for my 1969 Amazon. In the process of mounting them we discovered that the car has been driving with two different sizes of rims.....4" in the front and 4.5" in the back!

Which is the correct original size rim?

Thanks for your help.

Jerry
1969 123 GT

I'm a newbie here, but this site claims 4.5 for steel.

http://www.volvoadventures.com/123GTspec.html

I'd get other opinions from people who actually know what the heck they are doing...

I think the following applies, but I'm not positive of too much on these old Swedes:
Four inch for 4 doors and 130s.
Four and a half for 220s. (Wagons)
I wouldn't doubt at all that the 123 GT's ran 4.5's.

I stand corrected, when I can stand at all...

Hi, Jerry. I have admired your pristine 123 for years. The rims on my 1968, made-for-export 123 are stamped "Volvo", "Export", and "670429". They are also date stamped 10/67 which gives me some confidence that they are original to my very early 1968 123GT. I have measured these rims across the outer edge to outer edge of the rim, and this dimension is 4.5". I have been told this means they are 4-inch rims, presumably because the actual rim size is determined by the distance in between the 1/4" thick rim edges? I am running 165/R15 Vredensteins. Hope this helps.
Bill in PHX

For years I've been telling people that the GT came with 4 1/2" rims but after a recent exchange of posts elswhere I checked the parts book. This showed that the GT had the same 4" rims as all of the saloons. 4 1/2" on the estates, usually with the extra bead on the rim to keep the tyre more secure if punctured. I've got a set of these on my '65 2 door. They are quite a bit heavier than the 4". Best to find some 4 1/2" from an 1800, no extra bead and lighter. These would reduce the "unsprung weight" and the shocks wouldn't have to work so hard.
Are you sure that your new Vredesteins are 175/65/15? I thought their size was 185. I know they now do a 185/70/15 which suits the ES but that really needs a 5 1/2" rim.
Vented wheels
670429 = 4"
670451 = 4 1/2" estate heavier duty with safety bead.
668280 = 4 1/2" 1800 lighter, no safety bead

Malloy just beat me to the numbers there (grin)

670429 are 4" rims, and 670451 are the 4.5" rims. I'm sure 4" rims were used only on the P120/P130s and the 4.5" rims were used only on the P220s.

Paul