305/50-15 Tire

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Apr 15, 2002 | 02:06 PM

KATMAN

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From: San Pedro, Ca. USA

305/50-15 Tire

I was at the Long Beach Grand Prix this weekend and saw a Pantera in the parking lot with some pretty hefty size tires on the rear. Turns out they were 305s on a 15 inch rim. They were BFGoodrich Euro T/As. According to the BFG website, the Euro T/As are good to 130 mph. Anyhow, in the past I've seen many posts regarding the limited tire selection for 15 in. wheels (especially larger sizes). I've never seen anything larger than a 295. I wonder if this 305 is new to the BFG lineup. It's a real nice looking tire too.

Apr 15, 2002 | 02:26 PM

norvalwilhelm

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From: Waterloo ontario Canada

Re: 305/50-15 Tire (KATMAN)

I bought a pair of Euro 305 tires this past fall for $85 CDN each. Like you all I could find before was 295 then our local tire dealer got a truckload of tires and these where in the shipment. They are about 27 inches tall and a section width of 305 or 12 inches. With work they can be made to fit under a stock wheel well. They require offset trailing arms and 5 inch backspacing but they do fit.

Apr 15, 2002 | 03:16 PM

Red73

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From: Fairport NY

Re: 305/50-15 Tire (norvalwilhelm)

Will the tire fit with a rear sway bar? Rod

Apr 15, 2002 | 03:50 PM

KATMAN

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From: San Pedro, Ca. USA

Re: 305/50-15 Tire (norvalwilhelm)

Norval, what else did you do to get the 305 to fit? I would love to have the "formula" to make those tires fit! I'm assuming you must also use a shortened spring to allow clearance between the end of the spring and the side wall of the tire. If I put a tire like that on my car I would like to be able to still use the long spring bolts to keep the rear of the car low.
Also, I know I've seen some pics of your car from the rear, but can you post some again so I can get a look at those 305s on your car?

Thanks,
KATMAN

Apr 15, 2002 | 04:21 PM

PatsLs1vette

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From: absecon nj

Re: 305/50-15 Tire (KATMAN)

you mean tires like this?

Apr 15, 2002 | 04:37 PM

norvalwilhelm

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From: Waterloo ontario Canada

Re: 305/50-15 Tire (KATMAN)

I ran 12.50 x 28 x 15 ET streets for years under the fender well. To make them fit I knotched my stock trailing arms, removed the emergency brake cable braket, ground 1/2 the fender lip off and shortened the rear spring. To shorten the spring I cut one end off with a hacksaw, drilled a new 3/4 inch hole on the cut off end and drilled a new 3/8th bolt hole in the new center to assemble the spring. Springs are not overly hard, around 40-45RC. They can be drilled with a slow speed, sharp drill and lots of cutting fluid. I do not run a sway bar and the stock long spring bolts work.
I do not have pictures yet of the new 305 tires. I will have to borrow a camera

Apr 15, 2002 | 05:22 PM

MotorHead

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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.

Re: 305/50-15 Tire (norvalwilhelm)

If they have the 305's do they have the 295's in the Euro TA's ?

Apr 15, 2002 | 05:59 PM

Darkness

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From: Boston

Re: 305/50-15 Tire (MotorHead)

I have a set of Good Years 295's in the rear and all I did was to relocate the parking brake cable bracket, then I bought a set of offset trailing arms from corvette america ($200 ea) (they're "2 offset) and then the body shop made me the rear fender flares. And now I can run a tire as large as 30x14-15.
Paul :cool: