Tire for 15 x 8 Rally Wheel

[SHOTROD81]

Trying to decide on a rear tire size for the old heap, and hoping someone had some suggestions or input. Its an 81 C10 with stock ride height. I plan on taking it to clunker weekend at the local strip a few times this summer just for fun, so the rubber I am looking for would not be full-time, just to throw on before taking it there and to hopefully keep it going in a straight line

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. I have a set of 15 x 8 rallys that currently have some very worn 275/60/15s on them from the previous owner. They look ok(size-wise), but I was wondering if there might be something a little taller I could throw on (unless that would be too tall). I recently switched from 2.56 gears to 3.73, so I'm not worried about a taller tire killing my low end. Maybe 265/70/15s? I'm not looking for drag radials, just something a little bigger than the 235/75/15s that are on it now. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=265-70r15-275-60r15

 

[gpmorgan]

255/70/r15

 

[bucket]

Actual size will vary. Generally, the taller the sidewall, the thinner they make the tread for some reason. For example, a 245/50/16 will tend to have at least an inch more tread width than a 245/75/16. Also, tread width can vary by as much as an inch or so, just between brands. Even though they are the same size listed on the sidewalk.

I think a couple companies make a 295/65/15. Or something like that.

 

[Rusty Nail]

255/70

https://tiresize.com/calculator/

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[SHOTROD81]

Thanks to you all for the suggestions. Do you think 265/70s would be too tall?

 

[Rusty Nail]

https://tiresize.com/tiresizes/265-70R15.htm

There is a compromise to be had somewhere...while a 265 may be closer to actual better size I'm not convinced that size will offer a better compound or tread design for the intended purpose.

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[MikeB]

Also, tread width can vary by as much as an inch or so, just between brands. Even though they are the same size listed on the sidewalk.

Glad you said that because some folks think a 255 is a 255 is a 255. In my experience less expensive brands, like Pep Boys and other store brands, are a lot narrower than the "nominal" size; whereas a name brand like BFG or Michelin might be a little wider than nominal.

For example, I bought a 55 Chevy that had off brand 235-60 tires on the front that I replaced with 215-70 BFG Radial TAs. Both measured 220 mm section width! And a Bridgestone tire I once had on my DD measured 15 mm wider than a Kumho tire of the same 215-65x15 size.

 

[bucket]

Glad you said that because some folks think a 255 is a 255 is a 255. In my experience less expensive brands, like Pep Boys and other store brands, are a lot narrower than the "nominal" size; whereas a name brand like BFG or Michelin might be a little wider than nominal.

For example, I bought a 55 Chevy that had off brand 235-60 tires on the front that I replaced with 215-70 BFG Radial TAs. Both measured 220 mm section width! And a Bridgestone tire I once had on my DD measured 15 mm wider than a Kumho tire of the same 215-65x15 size.

I've had cheaper tires wider that some big brands, but they have been few. One thing I always noticed was BFG and Goodyear were usually wider than Michelin. But it varies by decade too. A good example is the 205/55/16, back in the 90's and 00's, it was generally a very fat tire for a "205" size and most cars that used that size were of the "performance" variety. But now most available in that size have narrower tread and floppy sidewalls too.

Speaking of Pep Boys tires, they used to make some good ones in addition to the cheap skinny ones. The Ultra Z was a great performance tire, plus another one with directional tread (the name escapes me) and there were a couple (Challenger GTH and Super Sport GLH) that were very comparable to the BFG Radial TA.

And "Performance Radial GT" was another good tire, I think Western Auto sold those.

 

[MikeB]

And "Performance Radial GT" was another good tire, I think Western Auto sold those.

Man, Western Auto is sure a blast from the past! I remember doing business with the stores in west Ft. Worth and on the Denton town square back in the late 1960s. They had aftermarket gaskets (McCord, maybe) and even some hard parts that were a lot cheaper than the Chevy dealers.

 

[highdesertrange]

I remember you could buy a lot of stuff from Western Auto, like pots and pans, ammo, desert water bags, etc. highdesertranger