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08-10-2005, 06:18 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Gilbert,
AZ
Cobra Make, Engine: Backdraft #90, 351w,Tremec 3550, SB100 SOLD
Posts: 577
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Not Ranked
15" vs. 17" wheel package
My car has the 15" wheel package. I have an opportunity to buy some 17" wheels from another Backdraft. But, the only time I drove a Backdraft with the 17" package it rode much harder, and the steering wheel jerked/vibrated all over the place at any speed over about 35mph. I suppose it could have been a balance problem, but the owner just said that is the way the 17'wheels feel. He had been driving it that way since new. I think he had the big drag tires on the back, but I forget which brand
Is this true? Please weigh in on this and help me decide what to do.
Skip B.
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08-10-2005, 07:48 PM
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Backdraft Racing Dealer
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: North Haven,
CT
Cobra Make, Engine: Backdraft Racing
Posts: 5,121
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Not Ranked
Something was terribly wrong with his alignment or balancing of the tires. That is definetly not the case. 17" are worth the money. If you can pull off a nice deal then by all means get 'em. Or ask him to take 'em around the block for a test before outright buying them.
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08-10-2005, 09:37 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Hawthorne CA (So Cal),
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: Back Draft # 64 427w 402RWHP Hand Built with ATTITUDE
Posts: 85
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Not Ranked
Skip B. You have a P.M.
Pete
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08-11-2005, 05:23 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Vienna,
VA
Cobra Make, Engine: Backdraft #101, 342 stroker
Posts: 190
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Not Ranked
Skip, is it possible that the BDR you drove had the M suspension? The M suspension is much stiffer than the standard E36.
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tfarhood
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08-11-2005, 07:34 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jupiter/Tequesta,
FL
Cobra Make, Engine: BDR#078,408 Dart Block, TKO 600,Indigo Blue, White Stripe
Posts: 315
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Not Ranked
Get the 17 inch wheels, you will love them. The tire availablity of quality tires is great. Your car will ride and handle much better than that with 15 inch wheels and tires.
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JayB
Jupiter, FL
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08-11-2005, 08:18 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Bradenton Florida,
FL
Cobra Make, Engine: BDR 930, 427 Windsor T56
Posts: 658
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Not Ranked
If they are shimmying, do not buy them. They may not be repairable. They may shimmy forever. Your steering wheel may shake so bad that you think it's going to come apart.
It is possible that the wheel is not round. it is possible that EVEN WITH TIRES THAT ARE KNOWN TO BE FINE ON ANOTHER CAR, they will not be balancable. Is that even a word?
Now I'm sure that if they are not supposed to shimmy, someone will chime in here that thiers doesn't.
There rear 315 drag radials are awsome.
__________________
Jim Pomroy
Have Fun!
BDR #930
08 Corvette Coupe
92 Sunburst Yellow Miata
#81 Saturn V Miata Crapcan racer
Panoz GTRA #42
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08-11-2005, 10:54 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Eagle,
Ne.
Cobra Make, Engine: 1966 Lone Star 427SC.
Posts: 4,307
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Not Ranked
I know I'm in for it, for what I'm about to say. Sorry ahead of time!
First- if you want a musscle car affect, go with the 15" and fill up the wheel well with tire, not wheels. Second- if you want a "Hot Rod look" or.... if your going to race it (autocross) ect, go with the 17" (a lot better traction). I have yet to see a cobra with the 17"s that I really like. I'm really into Hot Rods & the bigger wheels, 17"-20".....look great but, not on a cobra. With such a small car & heavy body lines, they look way to big for the car. I have seen many of the 60's factory cars like, Camaro's, Firebird's, ect... that have been Hot Rodded, very low stance & large wheels that look awesome until they get too large, like over 20". The Cuda build on the Discovery channel (I believe) was truly a fantastic bad ass, car when finished but the rear wheels were OVER KILL !!! Anyway, "to each it's own" I say. I'm NOT...knocking you guys that have 17". I just prefer the larger tires on a cobra. If I ever wanted to build a Hot Rod cobra, everything, but the body lines, would be changed. Tires & wheels, interior, chassis, radio & maybe even a HEMI, for a engine ! So, it's all in what you want. Either way, is not wrong. I will say, that if I were road racing, I would have 17" but, I drag race mine & will stay with 15" If Good Year ever comes out with the old LARGE....raised white lettered Good Year tires in a radial......I would buy them in a heart beat !
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Regards,
Kevin
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08-12-2005, 11:03 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Gilbert,
AZ
Cobra Make, Engine: Backdraft #90, 351w,Tremec 3550, SB100 SOLD
Posts: 577
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Not Ranked
tfarhood,
I asked about the car I drove having the M3 package and was told, no, only the 17" wheels. I really think it might have been a balance issue. So, I am going to look into the 17" wheels. But, I think I will keep the 15" too.
Skip
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04-19-2007, 01:57 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: S.Elgin,
IL
Cobra Make, Engine: 396 long block, PROBE Forged Dished pistons 8.75 to 1 and Vic Jr. heads from Engine Factory. Tremec TKO. BDR#244 Sterling Gray/Silver stripes. 17in polished wheels, glove box and tonneau cover.
Posts: 1,846
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Not Ranked
GET THE 17s! Mine ROCK! I love them! The ride is smooth and they bite when you get going....looking to switch to Victor Racers when I need new rubber.
Sid
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T.S.B. of The West Side Cobra Club
N.D.N.P.N.P.
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04-19-2007, 02:44 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Cobra Make, Engine: KMP 539, a Ton of Aluminum
Posts: 9,591
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Not Ranked
The smaller sidewalls of the 17" wheel/tire package will equate to a harsher ride, but I don't know if that was the case with that other BDR.
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04-19-2007, 03:11 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jupiter/Tequesta,
FL
Cobra Make, Engine: BDR#078,408 Dart Block, TKO 600,Indigo Blue, White Stripe
Posts: 315
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Not Ranked
Harsh Ride!
It's a sports car not a Lincoln. You are supposed to feel the road. Plus you will not be taking it on trips (after the first year).
The 17 inch tires perform, and feel great. You want a tire that looks "correct" and don't care about handling go with the inch.
But in the BDR the M3 option requires inch wheels to clear the rotors.
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JayB
Jupiter, FL
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04-19-2007, 03:22 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Portland,
OR
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA FIA, 1964 289->Webers
Posts: 3,689
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Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally Posted by FUNFER2
I know I'm in for it, for what I'm about to say. Sorry ahead of time!
First- if you want a musscle car affect, go with the 15" and fill up the wheel well with tire, not wheels. Second- if you want a "Hot Rod look" or.... if your going to race it (autocross) ect, go with the 17" (a lot better traction). I have yet to see a cobra with the 17"s that I really like. I'm really into Hot Rods & the bigger wheels, 17"-20".....look great but, not on a cobra. With such a small car & heavy body lines, they look way to big for the car. I have seen many of the 60's factory cars like, Camaro's, Firebird's, ect... that have been Hot Rodded, very low stance & large wheels that look awesome until they get too large, like over 20". The Cuda build on the Discovery channel (I believe) was truly a fantastic bad ass, car when finished but the rear wheels were OVER KILL !!! Anyway, "to each it's own" I say. I'm NOT...knocking you guys that have 17". I just prefer the larger tires on a cobra. If I ever wanted to build a Hot Rod cobra, everything, but the body lines, would be changed. Tires & wheels, interior, chassis, radio & maybe even a HEMI, for a engine ! So, it's all in what you want. Either way, is not wrong. I will say, that if I were road racing, I would have 17" but, I drag race mine & will stay with 15" If Good Year ever comes out with the old LARGE....raised white lettered Good Year tires in a radial......I would buy them in a heart beat !
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What he said!
17's are great tires for traction & on smooth roads. 15's look the part & feel better on your A$$
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ERA FIA 2088
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04-19-2007, 03:58 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Gilbert,
AZ
Cobra Make, Engine: Backdraft #90, 351w,Tremec 3550, SB100 SOLD
Posts: 577
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Not Ranked
You guys crack me up!
I wrote the original thread in August 2005! I so appreciate your input even a year and half later.
SkipB
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04-19-2007, 07:21 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: winslow,
nj
Cobra Make, Engine: BDR #188 342R Roush
Posts: 93
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Not Ranked
17"
When I got my car with 17" rims it shook real good at all speeds. I took it to my front end shop that I trust. They checked it out and the car was tracking staight. They then checked tires and front two were way off and rear was alittle off both sides. Some custom balancing to all wheels and the car is 400% better. Yes it's rough on rough roads but no more wheel shake.
17" wheels look and handle great.
tom
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No I wouldn't race you, my lug nuts require more tourqe than that thing puts out........
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04-20-2007, 07:43 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: S.Elgin,
IL
Cobra Make, Engine: 396 long block, PROBE Forged Dished pistons 8.75 to 1 and Vic Jr. heads from Engine Factory. Tremec TKO. BDR#244 Sterling Gray/Silver stripes. 17in polished wheels, glove box and tonneau cover.
Posts: 1,846
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Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally Posted by JayBar
Harsh Ride!
It's a sports car not a Lincoln. You are supposed to feel the road. Plus you will not be taking it on trips (after the first year).
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Ditto! Long trips? This year will be the third trip to London for the cobra show with 17's!
Sid
__________________
T.S.B. of The West Side Cobra Club
N.D.N.P.N.P.
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04-22-2007, 12:40 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: southeastern,
OK
Cobra Make, Engine: BDR #139, Indigo blue, white stripes, KeithCraft 351W, 315 WHP, 17" Boyd Smoothies, dual roll bars, gunrack, assorted young females
Posts: 1,308
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Not Ranked
I'm no purist, 17" Boyd Smoothies and sticky Nittos.
Steering wheel "quiver" even after a quality 4-wheel alignment.
The old '60's hot rodder got PO'd and dropped the tire pressure to 18 PSI.
Tracks like Dad's old Oldsmobile, hands-off on the highway, no quiver.
Tire life is not a problem with me, Gunrack is not a daily driver!
UT
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Eagles soar- but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
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04-22-2007, 04:46 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Winchester, VA,
VA
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF 2369; Keith Craft 427FE Alum w/614hp. & 1999 Lotus Esprit V8, 375hp
Posts: 72
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Not Ranked
I had the 15's. Look'd o.k and the high side wall acts as a good shock absorber to smooth out the bumps.
However, it takes a lot to even make the 17's squeal. The are a bit rougher ride but handle like glue.
Kurt
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04-22-2007, 07:15 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 3,077
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Not Ranked
The best $20 I ever spent was road force balancing the POS BFG T/A's that came on my BDR. They are the worst tire on the road. Knocked out 95% of the steering wheel dance. One tire had over 60lbs, got it knocked down to 25 lbs, minivan with some firestone ??? had 5 lbs.
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04-25-2007, 12:00 PM
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Stolen Avitar
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Brunswick,
GA
Cobra Make, Engine: BDR 1311 428PI
Posts: 3,044
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Not Ranked
So Skip, did you ever get the 17" wheels? If so, how do you like them?
Steve
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04-25-2007, 12:53 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Gilbert,
AZ
Cobra Make, Engine: Backdraft #90, 351w,Tremec 3550, SB100 SOLD
Posts: 577
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Not Ranked
lovehamr,
Nope, at this point I am still on 15s. I just can't quite adjust to the look of the 17s. I know the rubber available is much better, but it gets away from the traditional look. Maybe if I had another car.........? I'll check with my wife about her moving outside so I can put a second Cobra in the garage. I wonder what my chances of success will be? If this works out then I will get 17s.
SkipB
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