Topic: How wide on stock rims?
in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling
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Lifetime MemberAsh Fork, AZ - USA
Joined: 4/18/2007
Posts: 1058
Vette(s): 1981 Red Interior White exterior
Looking to get a little more meat on the rear of my 81 and want to keep the stock rims. How wide can I get without causing a problem? I've tried tracking similar posts to no evail.
Thanks again,
Dave
Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!! Long and short term leases available.
In the words of Zora Arkus-Duntov "Is your seat belt fastened? Alright, Let's go"
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Lifetime Member #192
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I don't have a direct answer for you but while you're waiting for one go to the Tire Rack's website (http://www.tirerack.com/) and go through the steps to find the tires they recommend for your car. Then pick one and look at the specs tab. That page lists all the available sizes for the tire and two of the columns are related to rim width. That should get you started.
Be careful not to go with too wide a tire, especially on the front as you'll be rubbing paint off of the fenders. You also don't want tires that look like bloated sausages on the rims because that will degrade the handling capabilities of the car.
Be careful not to go with too wide a tire, especially on the front as you'll be rubbing paint off of the fenders. You also don't want tires that look like bloated sausages on the rims because that will degrade the handling capabilities of the car.
Jim Olson 
"The Toys"...!!! Save the Wave! 
Lifetime MemberAsh Fork, AZ - USA
Joined: 4/18/2007
Posts: 1058
Vette(s): 1981 Red Interior White exterior
Thanks for the advice. I am going to keep the stock size up front, I was given poor advice on the '67 Camaro we restored and had a rubbing issue on the front. I don't want to take that chance with this car. I'm just looking for a little visual and performance difference.
Dave
Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!! Long and short term leases available.
In the words of Zora Arkus-Duntov "Is your seat belt fastened? Alright, Let's go"
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Lifetime Member #192
Something to think about - when we got "BIGBRRD" it had the original narrow snowflake wheels (7x15) with P225-70-15 tires on them. As we got into the overhaul I tracked down a set of the wider snowflakes (8x15) - from the WS6 suspension option - to get a wider footprint. The fellow who refurbished the wheels suggested going with P235-60-15 tires on the front and P255-60-15 tires on the rear to give the car a bit more of an aggressive stance. I took his advice and really like the look of the car. Compare the look of "BIGBRRD" in my signature photo with these (click on each one to see a large image):
Going with a slightly smaller, but wider, tire on the front may solve the fender rubbing issue.
Jim Olson "The Toys"...!!! Save the Wave!
Lifetime MemberAsh Fork, AZ - USA
Joined: 4/18/2007
Posts: 1058
Vette(s): 1981 Red Interior White exterior
Thanks KDADDY79. I sent a pm out.
Norsky, got rid of that camaro a couple of yrs ago so it's not my problem anymore. The wider tires do make a nice difference.
Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!! Long and short term leases available.
In the words of Zora Arkus-Duntov "Is your seat belt fastened? Alright, Let's go"
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Lifetime Member #192
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Mounds View, MN - USA
Joined: 5/24/2007
Posts: 1031
Vette(s): 70 LT1 coupe, 69 350 HP coupe, 69 390HP 427 coupe, 71 LS5 convert, 85 coupe, 93 coupe
I have P255/60 tires on stock Ralley wheels on the back of my '71. They look right, and are about a quarter inch away from the brake bracket. If the bracket was relocated, there would be room for more.
Larry
Larry
255R60/15 tires were optional on the 82 model using the same 8" wide wheels as the standard 225R70/15 tires. The difference is minimal in both looks and handling IMO. They are both around 27" tall and the width difference is about an inch.
Here is a link to a real handy page when changing tire or wheel sizes.
http://www.buicks.net/shop/reference/tires.html
Lifetime MemberAsh Fork, AZ - USA
Joined: 4/18/2007
Posts: 1058
Vette(s): 1981 Red Interior White exterior
Great info phillip! Thanks very much. Makes it easy.
Dave
Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!! Long and short term leases available.
In the words of Zora Arkus-Duntov "Is your seat belt fastened? Alright, Let's go"
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.
Lifetime Member #192
The 245-60-15's will fit your wheel with no problem at all. I think the largest I would go on the front is a 235-60-15. Some of you rubber bumper guys may wanna jump in and correct me on this because I have heard of rubber bumper era cars having some fitment issues.
I run stock Rally wheels with 275-50-15 on the rear and 235-60-15 on the front..Looks like a steam roller from the back. Never had an issue with the parking brake bracket either. When I bought the car it had the 275's on th rear and 265-50-15's on the front. never rubbed and looked like a slot car...Unfortunately, both sizes have no been discontinued, so next time I need tires my choice for the rear will be limited to drag radials from BFG if I want to keep that same size on the rear..SHAZBOT! Ever seen 295-50-15's on a 10" Ralley wheel on a C3? Bad Ass!!! Hmmm...
By the way...Lots of nice C3's out on Van Nuys Blvd last night...
Reid '72 T-top
in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling
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