79VetteMike

Anyone running 275/60/15's on 10 inch wheels? I currently have Centerline 15X8's all the way around with the stock offset. I aso have the TRW spring and it is close to the tire. The Centerlines that I have go from an 8 inch wide to a 10 inch wide-nothing in between. I was just wondering if the wider rim would help keep the tire away from the spring.I don't want the tires sticking 3 inches past the wheelwell either. 1-2 inches might be ok though.

gkull

I had the BFG 275/60's on my car for about a week. The tall side walls gave me an uneasy feeling in the turns.

As to your question the section width doesn't really change with a rim width change. It will hold the tire better so it won't roll under in a turn though. At some point your going to have to move up to 17-18's to get the tires you really need.

gkull

I never measured how far mine stick out - probably an inch or two

Just a picture of my new 315's 79's rock!







[Modified by gkull, 12:31 PM 1/22/2004]

79VetteMike

Hey dude- What are your rim dimensions and offset? Thanks. Love your car-BTW.

turtlevette

next time you get tires you should look at the 275/50s

lower sidewall and better stability.

i had 295/50s on 10 inch rims and they just barely fit on back. The 275/50s would work great on 10". I still think the 275/60s are too tall.

turtlevette

Oh yes it does. I have 295/50s mounted on 8" and 10" rims side by side to prove it. Don't have a digital camera though. Trust me on this!


edit. measured my BFG 295/50/15s

8" rim width = 11.75"
10" rim width = 12.75"





[Modified by turtlevette, 4:08 PM 1/22/2004]

gkull

Turtlevette - I agree to dissagree. Let's say that you have a tire with 10 inches of tread width and 12 inches of section width (The side wall bulge) The correct wheel should be 10 inches to get the best tire contact patch.

If you install a narrower 8 inch rim with the same 10 tread width the section width would go slightly less because your pulling in the sidewalls and actually even rounding the tire for less tread width.

If you install a 12 in. rim the section width would go up and the tread would be at max 10.

This is my home page - I haven't worked on it in awhile

9X17 front with 4.5 bs 6.5 bs in back with two inch adapters.
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/gkull/

turtlevette

thats right we aren't talking tread width, were concerned about the overall width of the sidewall ie section width.

i can only tell you there is a 1" difference in section width on a BFG 295/50/15
between a 8" and 10" rim.

8" section width = 11.75"
10" section width = 12.75"

it may be less on the 275 but you still have to be carefull because its not insignificant.

gkull

Turtle - Just what I said. In my first post I didn't think about people trying to run monster tires on little rims. I'm surprized that the tire shop did it. The 8 inch was way to small for your tire with 9.8 inches of tread width. My BFG book recommends 9-11 inch rims with the 295/50 and 10 being the optimal

turtlevette

the info on tire rack says a 8" rim will work, but i don't recommend it on the rear. Way too spongy.

gkull

This how it looks out on the road when i drove 1300 miles to Mount Rushmore in south Dakota 2 years ago

Come on boy's it's time to go out and play! :)

Just click to super size - The 315's do stick out, but the 420 + inch pound rear spring make sure that it never hits the body.

:party:


[Modified by gkull, 11:19 PM 1/22/2004]

Tominator

I'm running 295/50/15, they are wider than the 275. Anyway I have 3.5 back-spacing (BS) so my tires stick out 1" further than if you had 4.5 BS :crazy:

What I'm saying is if you got the 295 with 4.5 BS the tire would 1" closer to the fender. And if you got the 275 it would be even closer to the fender.



The next couple of pictures shows the difference tire widths to give you a reference point.

235/60/15 - 295/50/15


295/50/15 - 245/60/15


If I haven't confused you enough let me know and I'll try some more. :lol:


[Modified by Tominator, 9:32 AM 1/23/2004]

MotorHead

295 50 15's on stock 8" rims will fit stock trailing arm, if you go to 10' rim I doubt it will fit with the same backspacing and without something (spacers) to hold the wheel out a little more, I think the tire would rub the trailing arm.

275 60 15 might fit with 10" rim with no mods :D


[Modified by MotorHead, 11:44 AM 1/23/2004]

gkull

Tominator - Do you have offset trailing arms? I was also wondering, what is the max back spacing allowed with offsets?

turtlevette

[QUOTE]I'm running 295/50/15, they are wider than the 275. Anyway I have 3.5 back-spacing (BS) so my tires stick out 1" further than if you had 4.5 BS :crazy:

QUOTE]

guys,

There's no need to have the tires sticking out so far, personally i hate that look. This is actually illegal in some states. With 10" rim with 5" backspacing they just barely stick out with 295s. Then if you dial in a bunch of negative camber they don't stick out at all. Be carefull that they don't hit the inside edge of the body though. You have to play with it to get everything to fit, but it can be done.

The 295s on 10" rims with 5" backspacing requires some massaging but it will work. The thing is, the BFGs are a crappy tire. They still roll over on the 10" rims and i run the same 2.0sec 60 ft times with my new 255/60s so i had to ask myself why run such a wide 15" tire.

As norval and I have both said before the offset trailing arms are a gimik and get you NOTHING. The tire is going to hit the frame if you try to go any wider thant the stock trailing arm will allow. This being said, i did kiss my trailing arm with a sledge ever so slightly to gain about an eighth of an inch clearance.





[Modified by turtlevette, 4:12 PM 1/23/2004]

gkull

Turtlevette - this is what I replied to an IM

Hey George- was wondering your thoughts on something. If I went to the offset trailing arms, do you think I'd be able to fit 295s inside the stock fenders? I was thinking of going with 295 in back and 255s in front. Diameter is still at question, as you know ride height is of some concern to me.

(1:00 PM 1/23/2004) gkull: IMO - Years ago i was going to install offset trailing arms. When we did all the measuring I saw that the rear wheel well frame is the ultimate limitation to how wide of tire I could get under the car.

I was already running 8.5 X 15 inch centerlines with 4.5 BS. and I couldn't see how I would really gain anything going to offsets. Maybe a half inch at most. But my tires were already about a finger width of clearance between the side wall and the frame.

turtle - I'm surprised that your 60 foot times didn't change. were you doing any kind of burn out to put heat in them? I also get just over 2.00 60's on street tires so it a waste of time even going to the track without slicks.

turtlevette

actually its funny trying to heat up these 255 firestone 500 treadwear rating tires. I can't get them to smoke. They just make a whole lot of screeching noise. :lol: But will run a 2.0 60 ft after i spin them vs 2.2 when cold.

with the old 295 BFGs i tried heating them and it doesn't help. never could run much less than 1.995 60 ft.

i guess wider is not always better.




[Modified by turtlevette, 4:22 PM 1/23/2004]

Tominator

I'm running stock trailing arms, and don't know what the max backspacing allowed for trailing arms.

13rooster

Will I have to change or move anything ( emergency brake cable ) if I run 275/60/15 BF Goodrich on just the rear and mounted on stock factory rims.

gdh

I'm running the 275's with Cragars and did not have to move anything.