Cascade Crew

Whiskeychick · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 8:39 am Post subject: What size tires are you running?

So been doing a bunch of research, because come spring the old girl needs some new tires.

Currently running 245/55 16 all the way around.
But im going to stick 225/60 16's up front get rid of the rub and a little weight.

But the backs im not sure. Think I want 275/50 16, but have seen people run 295/50 16s. Dont suppose anyone here has that kinda meat on their car?

I just want to know what I can fit on stock GTA rims without tubbing, or having the tire stick out past the QP. I know some people tucked that size tire but they dont say what offset their rim is. Wish the tire shop would just stick them on for free so I can look at them lol!

QwkTrip · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 8:55 am Post subject:

What is it that you don't like about your tires and what do you want? Fat tire look?

Schultzy89GTA · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 9:08 am Post subject:

I am running the factory size of 245/50-16 all the way around on mine. No rubbing up front.

I do have a few extra front rims that I plan on putting on the rear (once I get around to refinishing them) to push the the rears a little further toward the outside just for aesthetics. If you are just trying to balance out the look that might be an option for you.

-Schultzy

Whiskeychick · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 9:12 am Post subject:

I just need new tires, and since I drag race this car all the time and its only a toy I want bigger tires and better traction.

Basically I want to go as big as I can safely, and without it looking dumb.

I dont like the look of big tires if you can see them sticking out past the top of the quarter panel.
And Im just not sure with the stock GTA rims/offset what width of tire I can stuff under and still have it tuck

QwkTrip · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 1:33 pm Post subject:

Wheel width dictates how wide your tires can be. You can put a humongous tire on but if the wheel is too narrow then it will end up pinching the tires in side-to-side and cause it to grow in height. You will only get the advertised dimension of the tire on the design wheel width. A more narrow wheel will result in the tire being taller and not as wide. A wider wheel will end up making the tire shorter and wider.

The limitation to tire width is the width of your factory wheel. The original 245/50-16 tires are about ideal size for that wheel. You can go taller but not a lot wider. If you want a really meaty tire then you have to order up new wheels. By the way, I would hesitate going with smaller tires up front. You'll end up with tires that are too narrow for the wheel or too short for a decent ride.

I have 275/40-17 on my car with a 17x9 wide rim (C4 Corvette size). It's too small. It looks wide on a Corvette but looks normal on my car. I could have easily gone with 18x10 or 17x11 rims. It is more difficult to fit wider tires on cars with ground effects.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 2:01 pm Post subject:

Get some drag radials by Mickey Thompson on a spare set of wheels bim running stock size front and rear on all Front wheels. I used the rear wheels for the slicks and drag racing. They're a bit taller than stock and more than enough traction for my 330rwhp.

izcain · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 4:48 pm Post subject:

Ahh yes the larger tire is always better. I have run all sorts of sizes and can tell you several that have worked.

Current tires are

street: MT ET radials 295/65/15 15X8 3.5bs

Race: 28X11.50X15 15X10 4.5BS

A good ol BFH and they fit like a glove. They dont stick out past the fender well although they do stick out a bit on the lower sections.

Whiskeychick · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 6:59 pm Post subject:

izcain · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 7:56 pm Post subject:

This is with the et streets

And this is with the slicks (they stick out a bit more but I dont care as long as I can get the car to hook!)

It's either a love it or hate it look for people!

Whiskeychick · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 8:34 pm Post subject:

Alrighty, so 295 I think a little big for me. Those slicks look crazy though Smile

izcain · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 9:05 pm Post subject:

I know that I could tuck the 295's a bit more if I wanted to transfer to a 4.5 instead of a 3.5 backspace.

Whiskeychick · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 9:39 pm Post subject:

Well crap. lol, my GTA rims are roughly 4.6 backspace, but I want to pull them off and double check that

Actually, I dont suppose you could measure how wide excatly the mounted tire is?

blue89 · Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 10:50 am Post subject:

I think its worth mentioning that the actual tire width changes from brand to brand. I have some 235 bfgoodrich kdw's on my BMW that are as wide as the 255's that were on there before. There is no standard as to where you measure the width. The 245 fits very nice (to me) on the factory 16x8" rim but I've seen 235 and 255 on them.

If you go to a wider rim I've heard of 315 being stuffed in the rear without rubbing or poking out. Cheezx has some on his firebird if I recall.

91RSVert · Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 12:12 pm Post subject:

I daily drive 225/55/16 up front, with 235/55/16 h?? speed rated in the rear.

When I was doing autox I had 245/45/zr16 all the way around. They rubbed up front at full lock.

I should also mention mine is lowered somewhere 1.5-1.75.

At 2.1 drop and 245/45 I rubbed a hole in the plastic front fender liner Embarassed

chevymad · Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 3:00 pm Post subject:

With the stock 245/50/16s, rubbed full lock at stock height. But now with 1.75 drop, I don't rub at all. Shrug

91RSVert · Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 5:54 pm Post subject:

QwkTrip · Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 6:07 pm Post subject:

So what's the big deal with a little tire rub? I Don't Get It

I have two vehicles with tire rub at full turn. I just don't turn as tight. No big deal.

aaron_sK · Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 6:10 pm Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 7:16 pm Post subject:

Lowered definitely helps with any rubbing. My old 85 rubbed a tad at stock height. The caster was a little off. But I never noticed while operating the vehicle. Now my jeep with stock offset wheels rubbed the sway bar and with the knobby tires physically tried to drive up on itself.

Whiskeychick · Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 9:25 pm Post subject:

Im sorry what dont you get?
The front tires rub. I dont like it. So im going to run smaller fronts, because they are cheaper, wont rub, will handle better and I need new tires anyways. I decided on that end of it already.

Its the rears and rubbing im worried about because I want to keep my stock rims. That and I want to see pics of what it looks like, like izcain.