Do 295/50R15's work?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
Do 295/50R15's work?
Putting 15x8 with 4.5" backspacing Torque Thrust II's on the back. will 295/50R15's fit under the fender without rubbing, or should I stick with the 255/60R15's I got. Was looking for a little more tread width but don't want anything as tall as the 275/60R15's
Before anyone suggests a larger rim and lower profile tires for more tread width...I like old school white raised letters, so I'm sticking with the 15's.
Before anyone suggests a larger rim and lower profile tires for more tread width...I like old school white raised letters, so I'm sticking with the 15's.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,046
Likes: 675
From: FL
Yes and no.
They will work in terms of height but will probably rub on the parking brake bracket. Also, an 8" wide rim is honestly too narrow for the 295/50. Recommended wheel width is 8 to 10" but the recommended width is 9.5". Section width is 12.2" for the Indy 500 in that size. That means that the tire is going to bulge out 2" from the edge of the wheel on both the inner and outer sides. You are going to have a lot of sidewall flex and probably lose any increased handling capability from the increased width due to the sidewall flex.
If you want to run the 295/50R15, I would trade the wheels for a 15x10 with 5.5" BS and get offset trailing arms. Or, like you said, stick with the rims you have and stick with the 255/60R15.
They will work in terms of height but will probably rub on the parking brake bracket. Also, an 8" wide rim is honestly too narrow for the 295/50. Recommended wheel width is 8 to 10" but the recommended width is 9.5". Section width is 12.2" for the Indy 500 in that size. That means that the tire is going to bulge out 2" from the edge of the wheel on both the inner and outer sides. You are going to have a lot of sidewall flex and probably lose any increased handling capability from the increased width due to the sidewall flex.
If you want to run the 295/50R15, I would trade the wheels for a 15x10 with 5.5" BS and get offset trailing arms. Or, like you said, stick with the rims you have and stick with the 255/60R15.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,000
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis, Mn USA
I've seen some ARE Torque Thrust Ds that were 15 x 8.5 with 4.5BS. These would give you slightly more rim width to work with to make the 295s fit the rim better, while keep the same spacing at the outer rim edge if your trying to keep the tire inside the fender. I'd say your only obstacle would be the E-brake bracket on the trailing arm.
I have seen 295-50s mounted on the OEM 15x8 with the 4.0BS back years ago from the UK guy with a red 80-81, and possibly Motorhead had this set-up before he went with 17s or 18s. The tire looked pretty bulbous though from what I saw.
That's all I can remember. The 295-50s look fantastic in person for the old school wide tire
I have seen 295-50s mounted on the OEM 15x8 with the 4.0BS back years ago from the UK guy with a red 80-81, and possibly Motorhead had this set-up before he went with 17s or 18s. The tire looked pretty bulbous though from what I saw.
That's all I can remember. The 295-50s look fantastic in person for the old school wide tire
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
Yes and no.
They will work in terms of height but will probably rub on the parking brake bracket. Also, an 8" wide rim is honestly too narrow for the 295/50. Recommended wheel width is 8 to 10" but the recommended width is 9.5". Section width is 12.2" for the Indy 500 in that size. That means that the tire is going to bulge out 2" from the edge of the wheel on both the inner and outer sides. You are going to have a lot of sidewall flex and probably lose any increased handling capability from the increased width due to the sidewall flex.
If you want to run the 295/50R15, I would trade the wheels for a 15x10 with 5.5" BS and get offset trailing arms. Or, like you said, stick with the rims you have and stick with the 255/60R15.
They will work in terms of height but will probably rub on the parking brake bracket. Also, an 8" wide rim is honestly too narrow for the 295/50. Recommended wheel width is 8 to 10" but the recommended width is 9.5". Section width is 12.2" for the Indy 500 in that size. That means that the tire is going to bulge out 2" from the edge of the wheel on both the inner and outer sides. You are going to have a lot of sidewall flex and probably lose any increased handling capability from the increased width due to the sidewall flex.
If you want to run the 295/50R15, I would trade the wheels for a 15x10 with 5.5" BS and get offset trailing arms. Or, like you said, stick with the rims you have and stick with the 255/60R15.
Too bad nobody makes a 275/55R15.
I'm canabalizing the TT II's off my wife's old third gen Camaro, so I'm not looking to get crazy with the offset trailing arms.
I guess I'll stick with the 255/60R15's.
Thanks for the input.
Last edited by 79MakoL82; Nov 5, 2009 at 06:27 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 398
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From: Sacramento California
Here is a calculator I have found to be handy in the past, it allows you to compare 2 different tire sizes at once from the front and side.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
Kelly
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
Kelly
