Phil, Here are the pictures. I hope the angles are what you are hoping to see. The approximate measurements I took were with a tape measure and one eye open like this uzzled: : 275-50-15 = 24.5" tall, 10.75" overall width, 9.0" contact width (rubber on road). 295-50-15 = 25.5" tall, 11.5" overall width, 9.25" contact width. Again, these are mounted on stock 15x7 rally wheels, even though most people say that the wheels "should be" at least 8" wide. As you can see, they fit fine, do not bulge too bad, do not rub, and best of all they fill up the wheel wells. These pics are on a 71 ragtop with a 350 and no a/c. I also run the exact same combo on a 72 hardtop with a big block and a/c, and still have no clearance problems. Let me know what you think.
We have covered this topic over and over since the Board started. 2.55 on the front is the size where many reports of tire rub during cornering begins.
Gotcha. I was thinking it would cause some sort of mechanical failure (like a steering box or PS pump problem). And since my car is lowered and will stay lowered... I guess I might have some problems o No: That convert looks GREAT with that tire combo, though. Love it.
255/WHAT?? Are you speaking of a 60 series tire? A 60 series tire is going to be taller than a 50 series tire. See'n is believ'n. Althought you take two different brands of tires with same tire width, series, rim size..... and you may have one that clears and one that does not. The same thing with indvidual cars that are "identical". Build tolurances are so loose on cars of this era, it ain't funny. Also depends on usage. are you a hard driver? are you a cruiser? How fresh are your body mounts. There is a geometry to contend with also. There is an imaginary line that can drawn through the center of the ball in the lower and upper ball joints (as you look from the front of the car) this line extentend to the ground (with car on ground unsuported), should meet the ground in the center of the tire(Theoretically). This is why the "g rides" with enormous amounts of rim offset, drive so funky. The tire offset is so great, that the whole tire is to the out side of where this imaginary line (the tire swings when you steer). a taller/shorter tire can help bring that line closer to center(or further away). I have had various thoughts on this subject(sorry for the long post) and have not looked at these qualities in my own a-body yet. The spindles and the difference in the length difference between the uppper and lower control arms, have an even greater effect. The Imaginary point at the ground will change through out the travel of the suspenion (especially on our A body's)The greater the differance, the greater the change in the range of travel.
I had 245/60R15's on my car on the stock factory 15" rim. My front end was lowered about 1.5", to the point where the top of the fender just covered the top of the tire. I did not have any rubbing issues except for on the passenger side where the tire would just rub the 1.25" sway bar on a full lock left hand turn. Other than that it was OK.
so I guess 255/50/17's would be out of the question 245/50/17's are the same as 245/60/15's (OD, that is) What about MAKING them fit? Would it take much mor ethan rolling the lip?
That 255/50R17 shows 10.4" on an 8" rim and is 27.1" diameter. That's only .6" wider and .4" bigger than a 245/60R15. That should fit.
Like I say every situation is different. What you will need to do is make a fixture to bolt to your drum/ disc (like a piece of angle iron or strap steel) to mimic the Radius/ width of your tire. Then a piece at the end/middle that can mimic the width. Bolt them on with slots. This way you can adjust them. Then when you find the the max dimentions that will clear. Do this with the car supported by a floor jack at the outside of the control arm to let the car sit at correct hieght and load (same distance from the ground as the other side). Don't forget to try the fixture on the other side to make certain it clears too. Take measurements from your fixture in relation to the center and mating surface of your drum/or wheel. then take.... Width in mm, X twice the section profile, / by 25.4, + rim width, this = total hieghth. for example: a 215/75 R14 tire 215 x 2 x .75 = 322.5 mm / 25.4 = 12.7" +14" = 26.7" Do this with the tire sizes you are looking at, and compare to the measurements from the fixture :TU:
They told me 205/40 R16's wouldn't fit my 16 Valve. they fit great. had to do some checking first. I'll be in the same boat when i go plus size on my gs. I think it has 275/60 rear and 215/60 front(came with them when I bought the car).
I apologize for hijacking this thread, but I think some very useful information came out of it for all... Thanks for all the help! :TU:
It WAS a good thread. I'm going with the big tires. I'll corroborate/attest/report as soon they are rollin! Frank :bglasses: :beer :TU:
