Is anyone running 295/50R15 on the rear of their 70 to 72 GS inside the fenders without air lift? If you are what is the wheel width and back spacing? Also, if you have a picture that would be cool. I have 15x8 with 4.5 BS with 245/60's and am thinking of going wider. The measurements look like this would work but be close. I am just looking for a little confirmation that it will work before I drop the cash. Thanks, Jeff
I ran 275/60R15's on my car with a 15x8 wheel and same backspacing. No problems at all. The tires you are looking at are 2" wider, but the same diameter. Section width is 12.2", and there should be no problem with room for that. My 325/50R15's are 12.9" wide. But putting those tires on an 8" rim is pushing the limit. They will look rather "bulgy" on that rim. I know the 275's fit and look great. You may want to consider getting 15x10's with 5-1/2" or 5-5/8" backspacing to put that big a tire on. I did a lot of experimenting with this. There are a couple of threads here on this subject. I'll see if I can locate and post the link. Here's the link: http://v8buick.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15046&highlight=my+wheels+are Phil
I have 275/40/17's on 9.5" width rims and with 5 3/4" backspacing it's perfectly centered in the rear wheelwell.
Thanks for the info Phil and Rob, I am looking at the 295/50's because the tire height is about the same as my 245/60's. I just changed my 2 speedo gears in the trans and don't want to do any of that again. Anyway, I will probably go with 15x10 w/ 5.5 BS wheels if I change them. I just want to make sure that it will fit completely inside the fender well. I have no lift on back and really like the low look. I think it would look really cool to have those wide steam rollers on the back inside the wheel wells. I have read on some, um well chevelle site that a lot of the guys over there run them. I just want to see them on a Buick. JP
The 15 x 10 rims will make it a tight fit. I have 295-50-15s on 8.5" rims (if I remember correctly) and they fit OK. Can't remember the backspacing though.
Another option is M&H's Muscle Car Drag tire. It's sold at Jegs. Just go to their website under Tires: Street......... They have a N50 tire that I'm going to be trying next time I need a set.
On my old 69 GS I used to run 295-50-15's on a stock buick 15" wheel. The tires were McCreary dirt track tires(very sticky and cheap street tire with ok wear). They fit fine in my 69 wheel well. The hard part was getting them on in the first place. Had to jack the whole rear of the car and loosen my bolt on ladder bars to get a enough clearance to sneak the tire past the brake drum and skirt. Once on no problems at all. Cory
Cory, You must have had the wheel lip trimmed some, I put 275's up on stock rims and they only cleared by maybe 1/4". I hear ya on jacking the car way the heck up there to get the tire in, even with my 275's its a challenge.
Len, The lips had some rust damage, but nothing crazy. Never had any rubbing or anything like that. Speaking of the old McCreary's, spent some time tring to find the company. Came up with Speciality tires of America(no dirt tires anymore) and McCreary makes farm and aircraft tires. In 95' I bought the set from Holcom motor sports(mustang stuff) for 80 something bucks a piece. On my mostly stock 69 GS with a 455 and headers and 3.73's, I would get 1.86-89 60'. I gave them to a buddy in 97'. On his mustang he cut some 62's on them. In he still has the tires, but they have been reduced to roller duty(rolls the car in and out of the garage) for the last few years while he is doing a new set-up. Well thanks for letting me live in the past for a moment Cory
295/50's Jeff, I currently have 295/50's on stock 15x7 rallys, and they fit fine. They fill up the fenderwell and look great. I can even get the tires on and off without any trouble. It will be very close and may not fit with 8's. Do you still want to see a pic?
I would love to see a picture Do they recommend using a 7" rim with that tire size? I thought it needed to be an 8" rim? Just questions as I too would love to do something with tires. Pictures would be great when possible. Troy
not 'posed to I think 245 or 255 is the limit for 7"... A 295 'should be' on 8"-10"... and if this is a Hoosier QT Pro 295/50D/15, in the Summit Racing catalog Hoosier recommends 8-10" wheel also. anything else is just dangerous.:eek2: Jeff, you're going to have to do some more measuring! Sounds like it should fit. I used to run some of the old McCreary Dirt Bozz DOT 295/50 (or 60's?) 15's on "regular" 8" rims, centerlined (NO backspacing). I had to do some work to the chrome trim and some hammer work.ou: Nothing you could tell from more than 5' away though!:grin: Sure wouldn't hurt to have the 'old tried and true' 15x8.5 with 4 7/8" backspacing though. Best fitting rim on a 70 GS I've had yet!:TU: This tire for sure fits on this rim!
GS's have the greatest rear fender wells. I got my 295/50 tires to go. However, no room for error and nothing wider will work with my wheels. But, 15x8 Cragar Forged with 4.5 backspacing and BF Goodrich 295's will work. I have what looks like an 1/8 of clearance on the outside. No cutting or bending needed. No rubbing so far either.
Yeah, you guy's with 70-72's have alot more room to work with than us 68-69 guys do, the straight cut rear fenderwell line on our cars is alot more restrictive. Looks Great:TU:
I would really appreciate a side view of your car with these wheels. I am considering them for my car and would be curious as to how they look on a GS. Thanks,Todd
Howdy Jeff! LOve the look of the 295's on your car. I plan to run them on my 72 once it is back on the road. Should help solve the no traction problem with the new 455! It gives me someting to look at they are even the same color! Mark Sheppard 1969 GS Calif 2-1972 Skylarks 82 Olds Wagon 82 Malibu wagon to 455 or not that is the question
Thanks Len, when I was reading to see if they fit, I think I read where they would go on 68-69 with monster backspacing. Here you go with the side shot Todd. I think they look good. Read where people like the 10" rims with them, I like them with the 8's. I don't think they would fit with 10" and 5.5 on mine. Well Mark, I took it off to a side road yesterday and there are still traction problems. Once they break loose it is smoke time.
As Jeff said if you are using Hoosier's tire that size the rim size they recommend is 8-10". I had that size of tire on 8" welds with 4.5 backspacing. They fit fine looked awesome, I trimmed the fender just to be safe. If I were to use that size again I wouldn't go with a 8" rim I would go larger. Rick
