Upgrading rear tyres and wheels

[Tenrocca]

Only by about 1.3% Gav - shouldnt really matter. I had a set of 285 40 on the rear - now have 275 40, difference will be about the same as what you are looking for Baz, and I really cant tell the difference. Neither really fill the wheel well enough for mine. If your going to change get the 15's all round and some baggy tyres. Billboards look great Dave, but might be an issue with the insurance company if he ever had an accident.

Glad you arent going 15's rear and 17's front - I just dont think that would look right. Not sure if it would have some strange affect on steering and handling.

[nicho]

Originally Posted by Donunder

Baz have you considered these instead of the BFGs?
Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels

I have a set of Mickey Thompson ST sportsmans for sale with 500km on them nearly new . 2 x 255/60R15
2 x 275/60R15


Nick

[Mando]

Baz, I reckon Tenrocca 's right, using 15's and 17's wouldn't look good. I've used 17" tyres that have the highest wall available and I'm really happy with the results. Hope you get the look your after.

Regards.

[boxhead]

The car has no doubt been engineered with 17's though (as per tyre placard) so insurance would probably baulk at 15's, they may even chuck a wobbly if the new tyre size is not specified on placard?

[leroy17]

I have Goodyear GSD3, 285 40 17 on 10 3/4 rims and I feel that it is a good fit. I confirm that the GSD3's do measure larger than other 285 40's.
There are also a number of topics on the mustang and Corvette forums about Sumitomos measuring smaller and GSD3's measuring larger. These forums have side by side photos and also fitment photos which clearly show the GSD3 is a larger tyre in width and diameter whilst still being the same 'size'.
I have some links and photos which I can post up later.... hope that this helps.

I went for the 285 40 17 for the increased side wall height to 'fill' the guards a little better. This is purly a visual aspect which was noticable as I then had a clearance issue with my exhaust which runs down the side then in the rear wheel arch.

[Donunder]

Ahh what the heck Baz!

When it all gets too hard just chuck on a set of 20X10s on the back and 18X8s on the front. From memory the rears were 315s and the fronts 265s.
Of course they had to be returned to Craig's Chevelle when all the messin' about was finished, but it's amazing what the Arntz wheel wells will swallow.

[

[Donunder]

Found a couple more. Lots of daylight in there with the Jag rear end.



And plenty of room on the inside too. The tyre wasn't touching anywhere.



But yes, we thought it looked a bit like a cartoon car too. Just trying 'em on for size.

[Rob. Smith]

What breed are those rims...I'm curious for another type of vehicle. My Cobra has 15" Trigo rims. That's the way they should be ! ha ha !

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Shelby400

Hey Baz
Any new pics of your car? Haven't seen any since you finished it.

Here you go:


url=http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/78367][/url]








url=http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/78369][/url]

[Beejay]

Originally Posted by Donunder

Ahh what the heck Baz!

When it all gets too hard just chuck on a set of 20X10s on the back and 18X8s on the front. From memory the rears were 315s and the fronts 265s.
Of course they had to be returned to Craig's Chevelle when all the messin' about was finished, but it's amazing what the Arntz wheel wells will swallow.

[

Don,

It is pretty well known that I like the modern look for my Cobra.

I think those rims look trick!

Ben

P.S. I have not been to Craig's shop for a month or two - interested in seeing the Chevelle!

[leroy17]

Firstly both Don and Baz, love your cars. I like the big wheels look, but then the classic 17's are great too.

Anyway, here is a few links with regards to 'not all same size tyres are the same size'. Open to critisim here... after all... its the internet. I have focused on the Sumitomo and Goodyear GSD3 as this is what I was looking at comparing.

Then also a pic of mine with 285 40 17 on 10 3/4 rim.

Sumitomo VS. Goodyear GSD3 [pics] - Corvette Forum

Google Image Result for http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/JasonWW/99%20black%20TA/315sumitomos.jpg

[Aussie Mike]

looking good Baz, I dont know why you would want to change.

Are the side pipes live? Whats it sound like now?


Don, your arntz lioks great. Amazingly clean and tidy for a car that age.

Cheers

[750hp]

Originally Posted by Beejay

P.S. I have not been to Craig's shop for a month or two - interested in seeing the Chevelle!

Ben, you're thinking of two different Craigs. I don't have anywhere near the toys that Craig White is putting together. Dad's Arntz swallowed the 20x10 and 315/35/20 combination, but it might struggle with the 20x14 and 455/25/20 wheels that I also have for the Chevelle.



The 20x10 "Boss 338" wheels stay on it for the street, as they are MUCH more legal...

[Tenrocca]

I think the wheels on dons arntz are show wheels "streeter" maybe?

[750hp]

Tenrocca - Boss 338 Wheels American Eagle They're actually quite a nice wheel, especially considering how cheap and common they are in the States.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Aussie Mike

looking good Baz, I dont know why you would want to change.

Are the side pipes live? Whats it sound like now?


Don, your arntz lioks great. Amazingly clean and tidy for a car that age.

Cheers

Hi Mike,

PM on the way.


Baz

[boxhead]

Looks great Baz, sure hope to see it at Winton ShelbyFest

[400TT]

17" tyre diameters are a bit on the small side for a Cobra.

For our new Cobra kit we have spent a fair bit of time trying to work out a solution for better filling the guards with 17" tyres. Or at least the illusion of filling the guards.

The best solution we have found is as Mike pointed out, lower the car so that the tyres sit up in the guards further. So we have concentrated on getting underbody ground clearance to allow the body to sit lower over the tyres. We have employed some new techniques to enable this.

From my notes:

As Leigh suggested you can get about 10mm larger diameter on rear by going with the 285/40/17 GS-D3. That seems to be the tallest of the 285/40 tyres.

In 15" with 295/50/15 you are 15mm larger diameter than 285/40/17 GS-D3. And if you wanted to run 275/60/15 you are 48mm larger in diameter.

And basically the same problem on the front, all 15" tyres are available in larger diameters.


Boxhead, I'm with you, can't beat the Billboards for looks.

I think Craig(750HP) is onto something, by the time you get to 20" tyres, you get back into the larger diameters again. Problem solved.

[Donunder]

Originally Posted by Aussie Mike

Don, your arntz looks great. Amazingly clean and tidy for a car that age.

Thanks Mike.
Yes, it was a good find by Craig. It's a credit to its previous two owners.
I think it's had a fairly pampered life.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by leroy17

Firstly both Don and Baz, love your cars. I like the big wheels look, but then the classic 17's are great too.

Anyway, here is a few links with regards to 'not all same size tyres are the same size'. Open to critisim here... after all... its the internet. I have focused on the Sumitomo and Goodyear GSD3 as this is what I was looking at comparing.

Then also a pic of mine with 285 40 17 on 10 3/4 rim.

Sumitomo VS. Goodyear GSD3 [pics] - Corvette Forum

Google Image Result for http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/JasonWW/99%20black%20TA/315sumitomos.jpg

Thanks Leroy,

The proof is in the pudding.

Could you post a pic of the back wheel and tyre taken side on which also shows the top of the tyre and the bottom of the guard please?

I'm interested in the gap between the top of the tyre and the bottom edge of the guard.

Baz