Widest rear tire for C3?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Widest rear tire for C3?
At the risk of getting flamed for asking a question that has probably been asked 1m times before....what IS the widest rear tire that will fit in a C3 wheelwell, without mods and without rubbing? And, what rim did you use (width, backspacing, etc.)?
Edit: Doesn't have to be a 15" rim.
Edit: Doesn't have to be a 15" rim.
Last edited by kcmk; Feb 7, 2005 at 11:23 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
325/50R15 should fit with offset trailing arms, 15 x 10 rims with 5 inch backspacing and a shortened spring.. I'm going to run ET Street 28 x 13.5 - 15's which are about the size of the 325/50's..
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,665
Likes: 194
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Without mods, with stock wheels a 275 60 or 50 might fit. Any bigger and you have to move the ebrake. Now different size wheels might give you a slighlty different offset/backspacing and move the tire out so you don't need to move the ebrake but now the tire will sit outside the wheel well a little. With some work ( offset trailing arms etc ) you might be able to get 295's to fit inside wheel well 
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Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,581
Likes: 28
From: Spring, Texas
My first Vette was a 76 coupe with BFG Radial T/A size 295/50/15 on stock rallye wheels (15 X 8). I experienced an extremely light degree of rub from the p-brake bracket on the trailing arm that was easily resolved.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 602
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta GA
Originally Posted by Ken Lally
No offset trailing arms needed - but need to tie up the parking brake cable..
And gives the car a hot-rod look. VERY COOL.
KL
And gives the car a hot-rod look. VERY COOL.
KL
and that sentence i just wrote was very grammatically incorrect.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
275-60-15 and a 1" spacer/adapter, photo below.
You'll have to relocate the brake cable bracket if you don't want the spacer. without the spacer it's a very tight fit, almost rubs on the trailing arm.
You'll have to relocate the brake cable bracket if you don't want the spacer. without the spacer it's a very tight fit, almost rubs on the trailing arm.
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
wide tires
Hi:
I have different opinions regarding wide tires on stock trailing arms.
I have relocated the parking brake cable, and the american racing 275/40/17 reccomend offset triling arms. thos wheels are 5 1/4 off set and the stock traing arms have 5 3/4
Do you install 295 with no modifications?
Thanks
alex
I have different opinions regarding wide tires on stock trailing arms.
I have relocated the parking brake cable, and the american racing 275/40/17 reccomend offset triling arms. thos wheels are 5 1/4 off set and the stock traing arms have 5 3/4
Do you install 295 with no modifications?
Thanks
alex
Racer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 269
Likes: 52
From: Springfield, TN
275/40R18 on an 18x9 1/2" wheel with 0 offset.
I've run this size with two different types of offset arms and with two different wheel/tire combos without any issues, and I did a fair amount of autocross last year too.
The only problem that I had was when I broke my rear spring and the suspension was allowed to collapse all the way down on the shock. When it did that, there was a slight amount of rubbing up inside the wheel well, but not enough to damage anything.
BTW - I run 275 on the front too and it fits fine, unless the steering stop on the a-arm is worn down. If it's worn down too much, it will let the tire turn far enough that it rubs.
-Chris
I've run this size with two different types of offset arms and with two different wheel/tire combos without any issues, and I did a fair amount of autocross last year too.
The only problem that I had was when I broke my rear spring and the suspension was allowed to collapse all the way down on the shock. When it did that, there was a slight amount of rubbing up inside the wheel well, but not enough to damage anything.
BTW - I run 275 on the front too and it fits fine, unless the steering stop on the a-arm is worn down. If it's worn down too much, it will let the tire turn far enough that it rubs.
-Chris
