Got a set of 15*7's should/can I go with 285/70/15 / 275/60/15 ?

[EEE]

I bought a set of new futura 255/60/15 tires and put them on my Centurion over a year ago. I wanted to lower the car a bit and that was all fine, except for some squating in the sidewalls due to the increased width. The problem is that the 3.42 gears and those little tires makes it feel like you're not moving and the engine is just spinning. 3500 prm cruising on the highway etc.. I then put a set of junk yard tires back on 235/75/15 to increase the tire size a bit to lower the rpm's.. and my new tires have just been sitting in a pile :puzzled: . I've now come across some 15*7 rims and they're sitting outside freshly painted :) I want to keep the larger tire size but have a set of raised white letter tires back on again. The futura tire is offered in 275/60/15 and would fit in between the junker 235/75/15 and my futuras 255/60/15 by approx 3% each way in circumference. It would get me half way to where I want to be and it would give me a little "rake" (body angle, right?)..... .. All good so far, BUT. I found out that bf goodrich makes a 285/70/15 radial t/a tire that seems like an even nicer option. It would give me an increase by almost 10% in circumference to the 275/60/15 tire and it would increse the rake even more. I have air shocks and plan to lock a coil on the rear springs at some point so the lean is adjustable. The problem is that we're then having different kinds of tires on the front and back: 255/60/15 futuras in the front, and a set of bf goodrich 285/70/15 in the back... What do the style gods say about that? I could always change the front tires at a later stage when more $ becomes available.. What do you think??? Here's a site for checking tire sizes and comparing tires next to each other: http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

I'm going to wait through the weekend before I make a decision on it: here are the 285/70/15 bf goodrich tires
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/285-70-15-BF-Goodrich-Radial-TA-tires-86-99-ea-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ66473QQihZ009QQitem Z190006971100QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V
total for 2=209$ the futuras at pepboys are about 143$ for two.

A fresh picture from "the blair witch paint booth :Brow: "

[LukeSportsman]

Hate to mention this, but I think 255/70's are actually what you want. They will fit the 7's great and are several inches taller than the 60's that are being replaced. I personally think the 275/60's are aesthetically pleasing, but are too wide to perform properly on a 7. They will mount but will wear poorly and hurt handling especially in a panic situation.

I would NOT run a 285 on a 7 inch rim on the street. I don't think it would help even on a drag strip due to foot print of the tire pulled in on the rim.

7 inch rim is like 175mm wide! 285 is really over doing the design.

OK, why do I hate to say the above? Well when you look at a 255/60 on the front and a 255/70, the front will visually look wider and in almost all tire lines have a wider tread. It will solve some of your problems, but likely not make you completely happy. I think a 225/70 would look better in this combo or such.

[EEE]

Not that I like to admit it, but you're right, and I knew that there would likely be an issue with having such wide tires on those rims. well well.. I'm glad you informed me on the 255/70/15's I had never heard of that size before and I will do some research on where to obtain a set for the rear. tirerack.com had em in several white letter versions, but then there's the shipping.. The 255/70/15 are .6% extra in circumference to the 235/75/15 which I have on now, and that is a good thing. I'll post a picture when mounted..

Many thanks for your help.

[EEE]

So we're back from the tire changing in "little Armenia" and it all looks good. The car is a little bit higher at all corners, and the next step would be to obtain a set of spare front springs to cut one coil and to lock one coil on the rear. Otherwise all good. The 15*7 helps with the squating of the tires and an even wider rim would be ideal, but with non available I'm happy as it is.