hi guys...can someone please make suggestions for wider wheels and tires for my '70 bb vert...i'm about to reinstall motor which after rebuild shud have apx 550hp (496 stroker w/roller cam) and i know i'm gonna peel the stock tires i have on it right off...sure would like some pix and brands and models of what works...nothing like a little help from your friends to avoid costly experiments...this will be a street car and would like it to still handle well...i am not a racer but do like to do the occasional light launch or 2nd gear warp 10 acceleration...figure i'll need more rubber on the road....thanks fred

 

i've got a 570hp 406ci engine, and it's already a month i'm testing these hoosiers (275/60/15 rear and 245/45/15 front)...



on 15' x 8 minilites, they work well IF on totally dry tarmac, IF the tarmac is nice and smooth and WHEN they reach some temperature...

 

thanks panic..i probably want something a little more streetable....good in rain, cornering ...backroads, etc...also if i'm buying wheels what offset shud i be looking for...for that matter what is the stock offset to begin with? all advice appreciated.. thanks, fred

 

4 inch bs F 5 bs rear

17 with 8, 8.5, or 9 width I have 9 inch and they fit 255/45/17 Kumhos

The rear needs 10, 11,12 inch width to use 285 - 345 tires I have 315s right now and my next set are going to be either 325 or 335

Once I'm moving over 45 - 50 mph they hook pretty good in a straight line

 

thanks gkull...does the p/s support meats that big? will it still turn them? also how do they corner?...what are you running for wheels?...did you need a spacer? got any pix?...thanks again fred

 

I use a small return line cooler for my Power steering. Normal driving probably doesn't require one.

right under my name are some pictures.

I have Centerline 11 rear and 9 fronts

They work pretty good for most everything, but not out at the lapping track or drag racing. I had already bought new rear tires. So I went to the 1/8th mile drag strip to see if I could do a 1/8th mile burnout with the rear tires going over 100 mph. They were Goodyear F1's

 

I am putting Toyo T1R's Ultra High Performance 285/40/18 and 255/45/17

No real world testing yet but I bet they handle better than the BFG Radial TA's on it right now


on these Coys C5's 18 x 9.5 and 17 x 8

 

I agree with Motorhead. those will be the tires I use when i make the change...they make a great street/strip tire.

 

Panic, are those DOT's??

 

 

thanks for suggestions guys...any others out there want to share their experience...suggestions...pix...sure appreciate info thanks fred

 

sofar some good ideas....has anyone done anything clever with 15" wheels and tires??? do they make 40's or 50's in 15"? and what wheels would you run with them??? fred

 

I Have Am. Racing TorqueThrust 2's -17 x 8" with 245/45/17" Kumho's

 

hey guys...has anyone heard of "wheels for less" out of texas?? i was on their site and they list the c3's as only 3 1/2" backspace...what gives? gkull says 4" bs front and 5" bs rear...is this so and can i get these 17'' x 8 or 9.5" rims to work with the beeeg tires? i know it's one thing to get them under car and another to listen to the rubbing i like the torque thrust wheels with the light centers and would like to put big tires on but whats the limit for comfortable fit that doesn't require suspension tweeks etc?? i know how pushing the limit forces other changes whatcha think....also you could get dizzy looking at all the tire ads who's got the best tires for traction and handling... cornering ability means more to me than launching traction...still willing to listen to anyone else that has had some experience...more info pls thanks fred p.s. are vettes 5"on 5" or 5" on 5 1/2" lug pattern?

 

hi guys...i'm looking at new wheels...are lug patterns 5x5 or 5x5 1/2 ? thanks fred

 

I'm running 18" x 8" fronts and 18" x 9.5" rears with Pirelli P Zero's (245's front and 275's rear), std trailing arms with relocated park brake cable. They make a huge difference to the overall handling.

Graeme

 

You can not use the word performance street tires and 15 inch wheels in the same sentence. Years ago I was able to buy V-rated 15 inch 50 series. Then as my speeds increased I had to go with Z-rated and was forced into 17 inchers. Real performance tires had already shifted to 16 or even the better 17's. Right now 18's or larger have the market.

If you are going for cornering ability. the minimal fronts would require 255/45/17 on 9 inch wheels. Somebody on this forum posted their 275 fronts and 345 rears once. I think that properly setup that they could really do some twisty roads.

I used 4.5 BS on all 4 corners from the 80's with 15 inch wheels. My original 17 were 9.5 fronts with 4.5 and with the taller 255/50/17's they rubbed the frame and sway bar on lock to lock. That is why I went down to 9 inch with 4 BS.

My rears are now actually 6.5 BS with a 2 inch adapter. so effectively 4.5 BS Lots of clearance so correct BS would be 5 inch without adapters.

Adapters have always been debated. I have lots of faith in them. I don't even give them a thought when I shift 4-5 at 140 mph and just blow by the C-5's and C-6's on the main straight. Or just a week ago doing 90+ mph 360's and off the track into the gravel traps. How much more TQ do you want something to withstand.

 

I've lowered my 79 approx. 1.6" with VB&P's dual-mount composite springs setup,front and rear,already,before I put the 245/45/17's on all fours.So,the handling is there.Although I dont plan on SCCA competition,the improvement in cornering ability is way up over stock,with tubular A-arms,poly bushings,spreader bar,HD Smart Struts,etc.I plan on offset trailing arms soon

 

5" of backspace will clear the suspension, but most wheels will still hit the damn brake calipers. My Cragar soft black 8s, which are 17x9 with a zero offset and 5" of backspace DID NOT clear my brakes without spacers. You need at least a 1/4" spacer to fit em. I've got them coupled with 275-40-17 and the car handles a hell of a lot better than it did on 255-60-15s. However it's also an inch lower so now I have to be even more careful going over speedbumps with my sidepipes.

Something to note on Cragar soft 8s, they're STEEL they weigh nearly 40 pounds each in 17x9. That's probably 2x the weight of the stock aluminum alloy 15x8s. However they're only $63 a piece with free shipping from Summit AND Discount tire can order them for you, if you want.

$63 per wheel + a set of small spacers + $107 per tire = <$1000 for new performance wheels and tires.

 

I dont have any clearance issues. I think I spent around $1300 for the 17 x 8" Torquethrusts plus the four Kumho's