Wheel and tire size
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Quebec
Wheel and tire size
Hi,
my 71 project is almost done. Im still waiting on the body guys to paint my new L-88 hood and ill get a set of wheel.
First the car will be a serious street performance car. (406ci with over 580 hp at the crank)
Before i order the wheel i would like to know what size of wheel / tire should i buy.
Im looking for torq thrust wheel or the torq thrust D. (what is the difference between both beside color seem to be bit different?)
I want to put 15x4.5 or 15x5 at the front and 15" x 8" +0 or 15" x 8.5"-25 at the back.
What should i buy the 8 or 8.5. I will be running stock trailing arm and i dont want the tire to stick out of the fender.
For the tire i think 255/60/15 are pretty standard. Can i go bigger than that?
thanks!
my 71 project is almost done. Im still waiting on the body guys to paint my new L-88 hood and ill get a set of wheel.
First the car will be a serious street performance car. (406ci with over 580 hp at the crank)
Before i order the wheel i would like to know what size of wheel / tire should i buy.
Im looking for torq thrust wheel or the torq thrust D. (what is the difference between both beside color seem to be bit different?)
I want to put 15x4.5 or 15x5 at the front and 15" x 8" +0 or 15" x 8.5"-25 at the back.
What should i buy the 8 or 8.5. I will be running stock trailing arm and i dont want the tire to stick out of the fender.
For the tire i think 255/60/15 are pretty standard. Can i go bigger than that?
thanks!
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,742
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Why are you going with 15", most people go with 17". Why would you put such a narrow wheel on the front, handling will severly suffer?
In 15" the 255/60x15 is the biggest you can go without mods. I have American Racing 200s at 8.5", not sure about offset.
In 15" the 255/60x15 is the biggest you can go without mods. I have American Racing 200s at 8.5", not sure about offset.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Quebec
I know the narrow wheel will affect handling but its not autocross/roadracer.
I already instaled 90/10 shock up front , 50/50 at the back. Removed front sway bar...
I dont want 17 because i want a "sleeper" look. Beside the hood and wheel i want to keep the car look the more original possible.
Also i always prefered meaty rubber than big wheel and low profile tire.
I already instaled 90/10 shock up front , 50/50 at the back. Removed front sway bar...
I dont want 17 because i want a "sleeper" look. Beside the hood and wheel i want to keep the car look the more original possible.
Also i always prefered meaty rubber than big wheel and low profile tire.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
I don't think you will be able to put a 255/60R15 tire on a 4 1/2" wheel. They are designed to fit something much wider. Probably 8 to 10 inches.
Why would you want to remove the front sway bar? That car will be VERY unstable and SCARY to drive at any highway speed. If you want to reduce the friction in the suspension, mount the bar to the frame in poly, and shim the brackets so the bar has a tiny, tiny amount of play. That could work. But don't remove it.
The Torq thrust "D" is designed to clear a Disc brake caliper. That's the one you want.
Why would you want to remove the front sway bar? That car will be VERY unstable and SCARY to drive at any highway speed. If you want to reduce the friction in the suspension, mount the bar to the frame in poly, and shim the brackets so the bar has a tiny, tiny amount of play. That could work. But don't remove it.
The Torq thrust "D" is designed to clear a Disc brake caliper. That's the one you want.
Last edited by gcusmano74; Dec 8, 2011 at 08:41 AM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Quebec
I wont put the 255 at the front, ill put skinny tire in front and the 255 at the back.
For the sway bar, my friend/mechanic who work on the car is a specialist in performance vet he got many year of experience with them, that him that has recommend me to do that.
For the sway bar, my friend/mechanic who work on the car is a specialist in performance vet he got many year of experience with them, that him that has recommend me to do that.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 3
From: League City TX
Either of the wheels your thinking about should be fine.
Stock Vette wheels were 15x8 with 4" bs.
The 255/60R15 are the largest "guaranteed to fit with no mods" size, but a 275/60 will normally fit with no trouble.
If you run a good drag radial, then the 255's will be plenty big enough to hook the engine your using.
Stock Vette wheels were 15x8 with 4" bs.
The 255/60R15 are the largest "guaranteed to fit with no mods" size, but a 275/60 will normally fit with no trouble.
If you run a good drag radial, then the 255's will be plenty big enough to hook the engine your using.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
Think about this for a minute.
The front wheels do all of the steering, most of the braking, and carry half the weight of the car. Why would you put smaller tires there?
IMHO, unless you are putting the car on a trailer, driving it 1/4 mile down the track, and then trailering it home, it's a bad idea.
The front wheels do all of the steering, most of the braking, and carry half the weight of the car. Why would you put smaller tires there?
IMHO, unless you are putting the car on a trailer, driving it 1/4 mile down the track, and then trailering it home, it's a bad idea.
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