17" wheels and tires on Kirkham/Shelby 427

cobra_dude · #1 (**permalink**) 12-04-2003, 12:58 PM

Is any one running 17`s on a Kirkham or Shelby?
What the biggest tire and rim size that will fit?

Does anyone manufacture 17" BRM GT40 pattern wheels with pin drive?
thanks
Adrian

Hal Copple · #2 (**permalink**) 12-04-2003, 01:10 PM

i can't offer an answer to your question, but i do know that lots of SPF's run the 17's. But i have two sets of 15inch Trigos, one with street Goodyears, and one with Hoosier slicks for the track.

I know that the 17 in guys talk about the much better traction, cornering, things like that, but in my reasoning, and listening to what i have heard, i will stay with my 15's. First, i don't go sustained 120 mph out on the highway, and just don't push my car thru interstate ramps where i approach my Goodyear's limits anyway. Plus, the 17 in "ride" is really stiff, the tires are a lot more expensive (important to me, i am about to put on my fourth set of rear's), and you need a different rear diff ratio, more cost, due to the lower circ. of the 17's. Plus, the "slip" of the 15's reduces drivetrain wear and tear on the dragstrip.

Plus, i personally like the more authentic looks of the 15's.

Sorta like BB vs. SB, i guess.

To each his own. .

Excaliber · #3 (**permalink**) 12-04-2003, 01:38 PM

I like 16's, whats that a middle of the road approach?

Ernie

REAL 1 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-04-2003, 01:47 PM

A friend of mine was running 17" wheels on his CSX. The car was sold to him through HRE.

Call HRE Motorsports in N.Y. (Shelby Dealer) Billy Andrews should be able to help.

1 516 378 5461

Snak Iyz · #5 (**permalink**) 12-04-2003, 03:25 PM

Is that 16's on the pics of your Excal in your gallery....?

I am having a hell of a time deciding between 15's and 16's.

Any additional insight or thoughts are appreciated?

- Snak Iyz

thorconstr · #6 (**permalink**) 12-04-2003, 05:01 PM

Adrian, I have a Kirkham 427 with PS Engineering 17" X 9" fronts 3" backset w/ Michelin Pilot Sport 275/35/17 and 17" X 11" rears 5" backset w/ Michelin Pilot Sport 335/35/17. Hope this helps, Al

408cobra · #7 (**permalink**) 12-05-2003, 02:41 AM

I went with 17s for one simple reason there are way more choices to choose from. Seems the 15 inchers are pretty limited as far as hi performance tires go. Most use BF goodrich.

David Kirkham · #8 (**permalink**) 12-11-2003, 10:00 PM

Fellow Extreme Car Nuts:

We have had so many requests for 17 inch rims lately I looked into making them from a billet.

The price of the billet about made me pass out.

About $650 for the fronts and $850 for the rears. (That is the price of the bare block of aluminum BTW!!!)

Nevertheless, seems like we already have some takers and some who are thinking about it. I figure it will take at least 24 hours to machine a rim or about $1000/rim in machine time alone.

Man those would be some really expensive rims--but they sure would be light and nice. I bet we can reduce the weight of each rim by at least 30%

David
(Don't worry about me, I'm just sitting here thinking about all of the crazy things we could machine out of a billet.)

Lew Ledyard · #9 (**permalink**) 12-12-2003, 09:04 AM

David:

Any chance of approaching the traction issue from the other end? Did you guys make any good contacts at SEMA with any tire manufacturers that might like to build a performance 15" tire? Your car could be a helluva way to showcase their product.

clayfoushee · #10 (**permalink**) 12-12-2003, 10:09 AM

Lew,

I think you're on to something I would love to see and pay for. Surely, there are enough people who would pay for a limited run of 15" performance tires. I have a set of 15s with BFG TAs and and set of same style Compomotives in 17 with Kumho Ecsta MX. There is NO comparison in traction and the ride is not any harsher on the 17s.

Looks are a matter of taste. Cobrafiles prefer the 15s by a wide margin, while the average person prefers the 17s by a similar margin (pics of both on my car in the gallery--somewhere between pp. 6-7 under my user name).

I prefer the 15s thus, I'd really like to find some real performance tires in 15.

clayfoushee · #11 (**permalink**) 12-12-2003, 02:19 PM

It's also occurred to me with so many "heavyweights" watching this forum like Mr. Kirkham above, that maybe they could exercise some their clout with a tire manufacturer. With their history and interest in racing and high-perf cars, seems like Goodyear would be a good bet in bringing back a DOT-legal wide high-perf. 15" tire.

Bart Carter · #12 (**permalink**) 12-13-2003, 11:23 AM

After a lot of searching, I went with Jongbloed Wheels. My 17 by 11s are less than 16 lbs each. They are 3 piece so can be made in any offset. The centers are custom so can clear even the wider Wilwood 6-piston calipers. They come in all different centers -- Trans Am, BRM, Cobra, etc. Take a look.

David Kirkham · #13 (**permalink**) 12-13-2003, 03:40 PM

Fellow Car Nuts:

Stand by...

I have not been sitting idle while dreams of making 800 lb piles of chips float through my head.

I found a new technology called ring forging. Should have more information in a week. Seems like our friends in Eastern Europe have been doing this for a long time. We may be able to forge the wheels at a dramatic cost savings for both the blank and the machining.

Will update as soon as possible.

David

SCOBRAC · #14 (**permalink**) 12-13-2003, 05:13 PM

17's will fit on any cobra. It's the the original over all dimesion you need to think about. You will still be limited to (I hope) a correct overall diameter to keep within the scale intended. 26" or so across, 9-10" wide in front 11-12" in back. Generally that means 275/40 and 315/35's. That also happens to be the size the C-5 vette is using (think avaliabilty) I suggest www.tirerack.com

David Kirkham · #15 (**permalink**) 12-14-2003, 03:49 PM

I appreciate the vote of confidence by you gentlemen...but I doubt Goodyear would give me the time of day.

BUT,

You never know--I will give it a try.

David

clayfoushee · #16 (**permalink**) 12-14-2003, 04:10 PM

Thanks David....I can't afford a Kirkham, but enjoy my Unique. I am, however, a great admirer of the car you've created and don't doubt that it's worth the price. I'm inclined to agree that yours is the best "modern" Cobra on the market, including you know whats.

I'm also impressed that you take the time to participate here.

Okiesnake · #17 (**permalink**) 12-14-2003, 09:16 PM

Michael,
I was looking at your wheels in your gallery (car looks great BTW!). Are those 17" Trigos?

Trent

Turk · #18 (**permalink**) 12-14-2003, 09:49 PM

I contacted Goodyear for a limited run on 15" tires that were speed rated. I ran it by them and suggested I could buy 800-1000.
There was no interest. I know someone else from ClubCobra also contacted them and got either similar or no response.

TURK

Okiesnake · #19 (**permalink**) 12-15-2003, 07:32 AM

Maybe some other manufacturer besides Goodyear? There is a Goodyear factory here in my home town and they have just spent millions re-tooling to make only larger sized tires. Goodyear's market is OEM auto manufacturer's tires. They do not go after the replacement tire market. Some of the smaller tire manufacturers that make tires primarily to the replacement market might be more receptive to small production runs. Kumo, Cooper or ever Goodrich? Goodrich already knows the potential market for our tire sizes on the TA line. If would be great if Goodrich would make a sticker - high performance - speed rated TA alternative.