Who likes wide tires?

[Helirich]

I like wide tires, especially on the rear. When I first got my car, it needed tires all around. I got stock tires up front my car is lowered up front, so I didn?t have much to work with without scraping. On the rear, I got a couple sizes bigger with 245/60R-15. I think they look better and the slightly taller height didn?t seem to affect performance.

Later I was looking on a tire size calculator and found that if I went to a 50 size tire, I could go much wider without gaining height. I looked at my rear tire and I figured it could be wider. I thought when I ware out these tires, I will try them. Well, I haven?t worn them out yet, but I figure why should I wait on a toy.

I figured the Ideal tire size would be 285/50R-15. This is the same size as the uses. The problem is they are almost unavailable. The next best would be 295/50R-15. This size is available in the Hankook tires I have on the front. So I ordered a set.

Here is a pic with 245/60s with the 295/50.

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They are exactly the same height, but oh man are they wide. Here is a before and after after pic of the car.

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I assure you the pics don?t do it justice. The only issue I had was the shock mount got real close to the tire.

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The very end of the threads just scraped the tire. First thing I did was flip the bolt.

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Like this, it no longer touched while static, but after driving a bit I saw a rub mark.

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I couldn?t actually feel anything there, but it was concerning. So I buffed the edge of the bolt and washer.

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This gives about an 1/8? clearance static. It appears to work.

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I believe this is the widest tire that can fit on a stock wheel with stock rear suspension.

[Bitsyncmaster]

I like wide tires on the rear but I think going that wide needs a wider rim to look better.

[Timeless]

I like wide tires on the rear but I think going that wide needs a wider rim to look better.
Agreed.
https://deloreanmidwest.com/product/forged-wheels-16-17/

[Helirich]

Agreed.
https://deloreanmidwest.com/product/forged-wheels-16-17/

I don?t see a width on there. In the pics, they don?t look as wide as mine. I see how the bigger wheel would clear that shock bolt nicely. I like the way they match the look.

[mark w]

I run a 295 tire on a custom rear 3pc 15x10 wheel. fits the wheel well nicely.

[Helirich]

I run a 295 tire on a custom rear 3pc 15x10 wheel. fits the wheel well nicely.

I see the outside of your tire is further in than mine. That means most of the extra width goes to the inside. I like that. Gives it that Tubbed look. Makes me think you could even go wider. Mine looks like it could scrape the fender if I hit a major bump. It hasn?t, but it must be close.

That is quite a build. I don?t suppose you have a build thread somewhere?

[Josh]

a 295 is far too wide for a 8" wide wheel.
As you see there is interference with the shock.

I cant imagine it drives very well.

I recall others doing this back in the day. another with 50/295s and another with 60/275s
245s are a good choice if you want to go wide on the stock rear wheels, id stop there.

[Helirich]

a 295 is far too wide for a 8" wide wheel.
As you see there is interference with the shock.

I cant imagine it drives very well.

I recall others doing this back in the day. another with 50/295s and another with 60/275s
245s are a good choice if you want to go wide on the stock rear wheels, id stop there.

The tire manufacturer recommends 8-10? wide wheels. It drives the same as 245?s. It also hooks up better when I burn rubber for half a block.

[Josh]

The tire manufacturer recommends 8-10? wide wheels. It drives the same as 245?s. It also hooks up better when I burn rubber for half a block.

Ive seen Cooper's wheel width recommendations. They are almost laughable. 245 is the widest you want to run on a 8" wide, and with a 60 profile there is noticable ballooning.
Sidewall balooning and stretching can be a cosmetic thing, but for proper function of the tire you want to match tread width to the wheel width.

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Burning rubber for half a block with the stock engine? Is your street an ice rink? That's the only way I can imagine that is possible. Even at over 500whp, the car hooks up very well, the only benefit of the terrible weight distribution.

[Timeless]

I was waiting for your response Josh! :burnout:

[Helirich]

Ive seen Cooper's wheel width recommendations. They are almost laughable. 245 is the widest you want to run on a 8" wide, and with a 60 profile there is noticable ballooning.
Sidewall balooning and stretching can be a cosmetic thing, but for proper function of the tire you want to match tread width to the wheel width.

72052


Burning rubber for half a block with the stock engine? Is your street an ice rink? That's the only way I can imagine that is possible. Even at over 500whp, the car hooks up very well, the only benefit of the terrible weight distribution.

Someone needs their sarcastic meter calibrated.

Joking aside, the tires corner great. Might be my imagination, but they seem to even ride better. They also offer better protection to the wheel for curb rash. To each his own.

[mark w]

I see the outside of your tire is further in than mine. That means most of the extra width goes to the inside. I like that. Gives it that Tubbed look. Makes me think you could even go wider. Mine looks like it could scrape the fender if I hit a major bump. It hasn?t, but it must be close.

That is quite a build. I don?t suppose you have a build thread somewhere?

build thread? no. the car was modified in the 80s like that. Ive done restoration work since then.

here is an article I did for Hagerty in 2019. https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/custom-mongoose-bmx-inspired-delorean/
some things on the car have changed since then. Its had a frame off chassis restoration, for example/