Is this too wide a tire?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville/Wooster TN/OH
Is this too wide a tire?
I need to get new tires for my 79. I was thinking about the BFGoodrich Comp T/A drag radials but the thinnest they come in is 275/50P15. I need 15 inch wheel size but I was just trying to get people's idea of whether or not these tires would fit and not scrape against any suspension (stock save for the poly bushings) once mounted on my car. I think I would probably need a spacer if I wanted to get them...
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 839
Likes: 0
From: Lewiston, Maine
Re: Is this too wide a tire?
Now I may not be exactly the best person to chime in now, I've got 295/50-15 size rubber on all four corners. When I say that people go, :eek: "How did you fit that much rubber under the car?!" I've got fender flares in the rear and up front the fenders aren't '68-'69 style. I've got the '70-'72 style "egg crate" gills. These fenders have more of a flared lip than the '68-'69 style. Nothing rubs in back, though the fronts rub inside on the sway bar and outside on the fiberglass when turned hard.
I've heard, at least from other early C3s, that people are comfortable with a width of 265. I don't know if 275s will give you problems or not :confused: I'm not a '79 kinda guy :lol: :cheers: :chevy
[Modified by 1969Vette350, 12:39 PM 7/16/2003]
I've heard, at least from other early C3s, that people are comfortable with a width of 265. I don't know if 275s will give you problems or not :confused: I'm not a '79 kinda guy :lol: :cheers: :chevy
[Modified by 1969Vette350, 12:39 PM 7/16/2003]
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,809
Likes: 0
Re: Is this too wide a tire? (dudeskie)
I don't think those drag radials make a good street tire for daily use, but maybe someone will chime in that has them.
Here are my 295/50/15, but I have 3.5 backspacing
Also here are some pictures of tire widths 295-245-235
[Modified by Tominator, 2:47 PM 7/16/2003]
Here are my 295/50/15, but I have 3.5 backspacing
Also here are some pictures of tire widths 295-245-235
[Modified by Tominator, 2:47 PM 7/16/2003]
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville/Wooster TN/OH
Re: Is this too wide a tire? (dudeskie)
Another tire I am looking at is the Mickey Thompson Sportsman I at L-60 15. Bence has told me about the M/T before but I am still not sure if they will fit me...
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 29,745
Likes: 3
From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Is this too wide a tire? (dudeskie)
Don't use drag radials on the street.
They will wear out quickly and are very easily punctured.
Also, you hit one puddle and you will be in the ditch.
They will wear out quickly and are very easily punctured.
Also, you hit one puddle and you will be in the ditch.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville/Wooster TN/OH
Re: Is this too wide a tire? (BSeery)
Would any one have a tire that they would recommend. I need something that has a little bit more stick than the traditional BFG Radial T/A. Wear isn't really an issue with me, I have a hook up that can get me cheap tires. He works for a tire manufacturing company that does business with companies such as Mickey Thompson.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Youngstown OH
Re: Is this too wide a tire? (dudeskie)
I've run the MT ET Street and the BFG drag rads. Definately not good street tires: they wear quickly, are easily punctured and don't grip worth a damn on moist pavement. If you want more grip than the T/A Radial, check out Yokahoma and also a new tire from Pirelli called the P Zero Corsa. Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,357
From: Santa Ana CA
Re: Is this too wide a tire? (dudeskie)
You could try a "sticky" autocross tire and, while it would wear out fairly quickly, would also be great on the street also. (Again, stay out of the puddles.) I've had much better launches with Yokahama 008Rs than the Goodyear gatorbacks (both 225/60/15) on my '64.
BTW, you can get the Goodrich drag radial in 235/60/15 and that would easily fit and they're even $4/tire cheaper than the 275/50s and $12/tire cheaper than the 275/60s at Summit.
BTW, you can get the Goodrich drag radial in 235/60/15 and that would easily fit and they're even $4/tire cheaper than the 275/50s and $12/tire cheaper than the 275/60s at Summit.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 0
From: Germantown Maryland
Re: Is this too wide a tire? (dudeskie)
I am running exactly that size Drag Nittos on mine all the time... Fit barely but don't rub... Worst case is you will have to move the Ebrake bracket....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
Re: Is this too wide a tire? (Clink69)
I ran P295 50's on the stock alloy rims for a few years without clearance issues,but thaught they pinched on the rim a bit. I would have liked to widen the rim but had no luck finding a reputable shop that could do the work.
I now run Weld Draglites with the same size tires and I think the fit is next to perfect.I've run huge rear tires for years and for all the traction you gain on dry roads,you WILL lose on wet roads.Drag Radials are out of the question for me due to wet traction and short tread life.
[Modified by The Money Pit, 9:10 PM 7/16/2003]
I now run Weld Draglites with the same size tires and I think the fit is next to perfect.I've run huge rear tires for years and for all the traction you gain on dry roads,you WILL lose on wet roads.Drag Radials are out of the question for me due to wet traction and short tread life.
[Modified by The Money Pit, 9:10 PM 7/16/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,826
Likes: 0
From: Why Drive When you can ride
Re: Is this too wide a tire? (dudeskie)
The only problem with a wide tire is the rocks that are they're going to throw at the back fenders, at least thats a problem I have with my 275's
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Winston-Salem NC
Re: Is this too wide a tire? (dudeskie)
I've heard that the Nitto drag radials handle much better in the rain than the BFG's. They're supposedly very sticky, and still manage to wear decent. I've got the BFG's on my turbo Buick, and they are definitely an adventure if you get caught out in the rain. :eek:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,826
Likes: 0
From: Why Drive When you can ride
Re: Is this too wide a tire? (jbroughton)
I've heard that the Nitto drag radials handle much better in the rain than the BFG's. They're supposedly very sticky, and still manage to wear decent. I've got the BFG's on my turbo Buick, and they are definitely an adventure if you get caught out in the rain. :eek:
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 0
From: Germantown Maryland
Re: Is this too wide a tire? (Dwayne 76)
It is an adventure to drive my car in the rain. I avoid this as much as possible...I used to have BFGs and I would say they are similar to the Nittos, both suck in Rain.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 1
Re: Is this too wide a tire? (dudeskie)
Toyo T1-S..... AWESOME TIRE!!!!!!! about the 255 is what I have in the back, it's a sticky tire and rocks!! The T1-s you can do over 100 in the rain (don't kill yourself) but I have done it and had very confident control.
I'm gonna try the nitto xtreme drags next on the back, but only because i had them on my lightning and they hook incredible off the line and the cornering is great too. The nitto i wouln't go over 65 in the rain prolly
:party:
[Modified by munday, 3:51 AM 7/17/2003]
I'm gonna try the nitto xtreme drags next on the back, but only because i had them on my lightning and they hook incredible off the line and the cornering is great too. The nitto i wouln't go over 65 in the rain prolly
:party:
[Modified by munday, 3:51 AM 7/17/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Re: Is this too wide a tire? (munday)
I run 275 60 15 BFG's and had to relow the E-bracket. They are very soft and one quick burst of the throttle will coat the rear of the car with black sut. 
[Modified by Budman78, 9:57 PM 7/16/2003]
[Modified by Budman78, 9:57 PM 7/16/2003]
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Is this too wide a tire? (dudeskie)
Took a little work but these are 305 radials under the fender. With Mickey Thompsons are they radial or bias ply?. I ran MT Sportsman Pro's for a few years and really liked them but they have short life on the street. They are a wrinkle walled tire. I them went to ET streets, had great traction but swayed when passing.
Rain? I never drive in the rain.
Rain? I never drive in the rain.
