Decisions Decisions......
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
Decisions Decisions...... Ok, wasn't really sure where to post this but it is a tire question. Yes there's the tire section, but it doesn't appear to have much traffic....plus most of you guys are making pretty good power, so i think it fit best here. Now with that out of the way, the question. In an attempt to solve my traction issue, I'm going to be changing tires here soon. I've been looking at two different tires, one is a 295 45 17....the other is a 315 35..both ET street. What I'm wondering is, would the added sidewall of the 295 45 better serve me.....or the wider contact patch of the 315? I'm somewhat partial to the 315 right now for no other reason than aesthetics. But if the 295 would make the car hook....it's a no Brainer. Thoughts/opinions?
9 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13,616
Likes: 185
From: Norn Iron
On paper, what is the actual tread width of each tyre ?
Very oddly, some wider section tyres often seem to have negligible difference in actual tread width.
What width rims ? TBH I'd probably go for whatever was visually the best looking given the little difference between them
Very oddly, some wider section tyres often seem to have negligible difference in actual tread width.
What width rims ? TBH I'd probably go for whatever was visually the best looking given the little difference between them
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
On paper, what is the actual tread width of each tyre ?
Very oddly, some wider section tyres often seem to have negligible difference in actual tread width.
What width rims ? TBH I'd probably go for whatever was visually the best looking given the little difference between them
Very oddly, some wider section tyres often seem to have negligible difference in actual tread width.
What width rims ? TBH I'd probably go for whatever was visually the best looking given the little difference between them
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
I use to run 305/35/19 drag radials and still the traction sucked. I always wanted to go to a smaller diameter and width rim, with a narrower contact patch and larger sidewall that was taller and bulged some on the sides...I think thats a better trade-off in many cases with respect to traction only.
The 295/45r17 will hook better, you will benefit from the added sidewall. If they're setup right, they don't look goofy, actually look good. I've known several cars running the 315 and they changed to the 295 and were able to hook better. Another couple options are the 305/45r17 ET Street R's, or the M&H 325/45r17s. Both will hook as well or better than those Mickeys do. If you're worried about aesthetics, buy a spare set of rear wheels to run any of the taller tires on and swap em out when needed.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
The 295/45r17 will hook better, you will benefit from the added sidewall. If they're setup right, they don't look goofy, actually look good. I've known several cars running the 315 and they changed to the 295 and were able to hook better. Another couple options are the 305/45r17 ET Street R's, or the M&H 325/45r17s. Both will hook as well or better than those Mickeys do. If you're worried about aesthetics, buy a spare set of rear wheels to run any of the taller tires on and swap em out when needed.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
I use to run 305/35/19 drag radials and still the traction sucked. I always wanted to go to a smaller diameter and width rim, with a narrower contact patch and larger sidewall that was taller and bulged some on the sides...I think thats a better trade-off in many cases with respect to traction only.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/multimedi...r-plumbed.html
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
My buddy's old car with 325 M&Hs on it. This car made 570/550 on the motor and would hook 1st gear on these tires.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/multimedi...r-plumbed.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/multimedi...r-plumbed.html
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
By the looks of what photochop posted....I may have found what I need. Bigger tire....that hooks....and still looks good. His buddies ride is gorgeous.
Last edited by Game ova; Mar 14, 2017 at 10:20 AM.
A taller tire will actually have a little more patch, not as wide as a wider tire, but a longer patch, some cars work better with that-of course susp. plays a huge part in hooking. I do like a wider tire from a looks point of view, and if it hooks better yet, lol
Yeah that is nice. It may require some BFH work to get them to fit lol. I fit 295/50/16's in my fenders with just a slight BFH and kept the bumpstops, but that was on a narrowed 9" with wheel adapters.
Awesome. I saw the rear pic of your car and figured it was a deeper dish stepped lip wheel.
Yeah, you'll likely need to hammer in the 3 oclock and 9 oclock bumps on these cars in the rear inners to make those fit. And depending on offset may need to roll your quarter panel lips.
He swore up and down that the M&H's hooked better than the previous MT radials he'd tried on the street and track. He did mention they wore out faster though is the only downside.
Yeah, you'll likely need to hammer in the 3 oclock and 9 oclock bumps on these cars in the rear inners to make those fit. And depending on offset may need to roll your quarter panel lips.
He swore up and down that the M&H's hooked better than the previous MT radials he'd tried on the street and track. He did mention they wore out faster though is the only downside.
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
I have. I understand that this is trivial, but I like all of my wheels to be matched at all times...even at the track. While I'm not 100% sure yet....it's looking like those 325s might be the ticket. Are you suggesting a 15" wheel and a tall tire? I think if I wasn't so hung up on uniformity I would probably go with that.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 513
Likes: 1
From: Moose Jaw SK, Canada
Originally Posted by Game ova
I have. I understand that this is trivial, but I like all of my wheels to be matched at all times...even at the track. While I'm not 100% sure yet....it's looking like those 325s might be the ticket. Are you suggesting a 15" wheel and a tall tire? I think if I wasn't so hung up on uniformity I would probably go with that.
Get a sexy set of 15s for the strip, (maybe even a biasply setup depending on what suspension you have under the car)
WHILE getting the 325s for your street wheels too!
Edit: I constantly roll around on my biasply 15s, though down the road I would like to get a nice street set something like 17s