Tires ???
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
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Tires ???
Was just wondering about tire size and handling for the front tire? I have 235/60/15 on front and rear ( came that way when I bought it) if I go yo a 235/70/15 on front would it handle better or worse.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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The width of the tire is the same 235mm but the sidewall will be taller so I would think the ride would be slightly softer and the handling slightly less but I also do not think it will even be a noticeable seat of the pants difference.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Adelaide South Australia
What are you considering for the rear?
The 235/60/15 tyres are not as tall as the 235/70/15.
If you only change the front tyres it will raise the front of the car slightly.
Might look a bit funny with smaller diameter tyres at rear.
The 235/60/15 tyres are not as tall as the 235/70/15.
If you only change the front tyres it will raise the front of the car slightly.
Might look a bit funny with smaller diameter tyres at rear.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
235/60, in reality are way too short, and 235/70s a little too tall. If the car is a daily driver type of car, I'd recommend the 225/70s all the way around. Your speedo will be accurate, and you'll be able to rotate the tires whenever necessary.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
60 aspect tires will tend to have better sidewall stability than 70's.
That said, IMCO any halfway serious discussion about better handling road tire fitments for 8" x 15" rims ought to include 245/60R15s or 255/60R15s. My $.02
That said, IMCO any halfway serious discussion about better handling road tire fitments for 8" x 15" rims ought to include 245/60R15s or 255/60R15s. My $.02
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
As a part-time business, back in the mid 70s-early 80s, I used to sell tires. At the time, I had a '77 Pontiac T/A, and had a number of different tires on it, alternating between 225/70/15, 245/60/15, and 255/60/15s. The 225/70s and 255/60s were on the car "back to back" on the same 8" rims, and while the 60s looked 10X better, the 70s handled more crisply.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
To clarify, I was refering to tires with the same P#. And, FWIW I'm one of the guys who most frequently points out that TRA wheel width standards for 15" tires shouldn't be mistaken as recommending narrow wheels for performance applications.
In any event, IMOE once you get smaller than a 245/60R15 radial on an 8x15 rim you start moving past the point of diminishing returns as to any further increase of sidewall stability verses overall handling characteristics (including available traction). As for the 255s, they're noticeably better on 8.5x15 rims. YMMV
In any event, IMOE once you get smaller than a 245/60R15 radial on an 8x15 rim you start moving past the point of diminishing returns as to any further increase of sidewall stability verses overall handling characteristics (including available traction). As for the 255s, they're noticeably better on 8.5x15 rims. YMMV
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
all i know is , i have 255-60-15 front and 275-60-15 rear cooper cobras . it handles well until, someone spits on the road then its donut city . i wonder if someone makes a 15" tire with better wet grip. i have 8.5 width rims.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: NYC NY
As a part-time business, back in the mid 70s-early 80s, I used to sell tires. At the time, I had a '77 Pontiac T/A, and had a number of different tires on it, alternating between 225/70/15, 245/60/15, and 255/60/15s. The 225/70s and 255/60s were on the car "back to back" on the same 8" rims, and while the 60s looked 10X better, the 70s handled more crisply.
Last edited by 3JsVette; Nov 23, 2013 at 11:07 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
Better yet, because the visual is easy, take a look at a current Formula 1 car's tire width compared to it's rim width. The sidewalls are stretched out to meet the rims, providing the maximum tread stability. I'm pretty sure that if a narrower rim, with the sidewalls "rolling in" to meet the rim provided greater cornering force, these "state of the art" race cars would be doing it.
FWIW, back in the 80s, when I was involved with an oval track car, we ran tires with a 13" tread width, mounted on a 15" wide rim. If a 10-11" wide rim would have worked better, we would have been running with them....