big rims and tires

Gary, the new M/T drag radials that are supposed to be the best so far comes in a 275/40/17.

 

Thanks Rob. I might check into those. But then I either have to swap tire/wheel or get another pair of 17s.. yikes.

Rich,

What size tire you running up front? What speed rating? What brand?

I might run at Bonneville Salt Flats for the 130mph club during Speed Week in September. Would take a good thorough wash afterwards but would be awful cool to have a 130MPH Club decal on the car, then run 12s down at the airport the same weekend. Randy usually has the drags same weekend as Speed Week. And there's an SCCA type deal at the Wendover airport that might be cool to try sometime.

Also, in September here in Elko is the open road race. I'd probably enter the 95mph slot being a beginner. That's AVERAGE 95mph for 60 miles and back. Need a navigator, GPS, and a full-face helmet. Now THAT sounds like fun!

Can you fat tire boys post a few pictures from front, rear, side, and maybe something close to show sidewall (or lack of)? I don't care to see any combo that requires mods to the body.

For you Cali guys.... Show up in Vegas in October!

Thanks again.

 

Hey Gary,

I'm running a 245-40-ZR17 Kumo.

It's been a very good (soft) tire for the money so far.......

Everything else you mentioned sounds like a lot of fun! But Iwas thinking 150MPH club and low 11's in the same weekend :beer . Naw just kidding.......... Would be a blast especally the road race thing :Brow:

 

Any Goodyear or other "American" tire that is comparable? Call me a bigot or PC incorrect but I sure like US products on my US car.

150mph is available at Bonneville but requires a LOT more tech than 130.

Road races between Wendover and Loggies (sp) Junction (toward Ely) in May I think. Elko - Wildhorse Resevoir in Sept. Another one Battle Mountain - Austin (NV) during the summer. Hey, I'll navigate for you in the 95mph and next year we'll switch (if we live!). It's spendy. $400+ and you need to take a driving course the week of the race.

Guy name of John Grimes here who pretty much runs the Elko race. He wins his class a lot in a newer modified TA. I saw the remains of a Vette that wrecked at over 200mph a couple years ago on the Ely run in John's shop.. could not even tell what kind of car it was. Guy died instantly. The brother of my co-worker was on the ambulance on site.. not pretty. Legend has it the guy did have a smile on his face; they say he had terminal cancer. Missed a corner at 200... pretty tough to survive that no matter how well the car is built. It's easy to get involved in this by being a road monitor. They have to block ALL access roads during the race and have folks stationed at all dirt roads, etc. John Kirkland did that last year or year before and I think he witnessed the Vette incident. He might be interesed in joining us.

 

I'm sure there are some american tires out there that rank with the Kumo's I have.... I just went with the most bang for the buck........ chances are you will pay almost twice as much for a good year that's compairable to my kumo's (sad isn't it).

 

Point taken Rich. Guess I'll see how devout I am.

Gary

 

Would 17x8 and 4.5" backspacing work ok on the front? Cragars don't seem to come in 4.75" BS.

Thanks.

 

17x8 on 4.5 backspace is what I run on my car, all they way around... It works beautifully.

 

any of you guys kno if the cragar or torq thrust 17x8 will fit under my 55 roadmaster???or what offsets i need?? or am i gonna have to go sweet talk the guy at the wheel outlet???

 

GSXNUT: 5 1/2 BS, is that for the front or the rear? Im getting ready to step up and put 17's all the way around. 255/40/17 KDW's up front and atleast 285/40/17 in the rear. But the whole back space deal has me frustrated... My rear is stock except for global West's 1/2 drop springs. I currently have BFG T/A 295/50/15 on stock wheels in the rear. The rub alittle in a turn.

Any sudgestions would be appreciated.

Michael

 

For the rear tires, if you use an 8" wide rim, you'll need 4.5" to center the wheel. A 10" wide rim needs 5.5" to be center. A 9" rim would need 5" backspacing.

All of this if for a 70-72 Skylark/GS.

 

Thank you very much!!! This info should be on a sticky!!!


Michael

 

ttt

 

Guys, I would love to see some pictures of these combos...they sound fantastic....

later
Tim

 

1970 GSX with 17X8

Here is a picture of my GSX with 17" x 8" Torque Thrust II's on it. The back spacing is 4 -3/4" all the way around. I can tell that the back spacing for the back wheels could have been a little less to get the wheels out closer to the outside of the wheel well.

 

This car has the following wheel setup:

Front: 255/35/19
Rear: 255/40/19

 

pics of wheel/tire combos

here is a pic of my 69

 

sorry, screwed that up. Here it is.

Combo is 17x8 on 4.5" b.s. front and rear. Kuhmo 245/45 R17 front and 255/45 R17 rear. No mods, no problems

 

And my 68. Same sizes, different wheels

 

Geez, all of a sudden those 15" rally wheels look kinda silly.... :beer

Nice work, guys!

later
Tim