Author Topic: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit? (Read 14991 times)

MizzouRT · « **on:** January 04, 2011 - 06:35:43 PM »

I remembered the T/A had 60 x 15s all the way around, so looked them up with following results:

Front: E60x15 8.88" wide x 26.1" tall
Back: G60x15 9.76" wide x 26.8" tall

So that makes a good baseline that will always fit. Then I found and read the popular "e-body tire combos" thread here. The largest 15" front tire I noticed that fit the stock wheel well was Carlwalski's BFG 245/60R15. This got me to look up the following:

BFG T/A
245/60R15 9.8" wide x 26.6" tall
255/60R15 10.2" wide x 26.8" tall

Goodyear Eagle GT II
235/60R15 9.45" wide x 26.1" tall
255/60R15 10.24" wide x 27.0" tall

Know that front tire traction is a key limiting factor in braking, so want the widest / stickiest 15" tire available but without rubbing issues or worries going over speed bumps, etc.

Will either the BFG or slightly taller Goodyear 255 work OK on front without modifications? Or is the BFG 245 the maximum size?

challengermaniac · « **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2011 - 09:17:59 PM »

Well, just remember all of that rubber on the frontend can potentially put undue stress on the rest of your suspension. My TA has 235 15's on the front and 255 15's on the rear that work great for me.

I understand there currently is a long back order of the BFG 235 15's given they are used on a current production vehicle, so get your order in if that's the tire you want.

I have also heard there are better "traction" tires out there, so if you want more than great looks, you may want to consider some brands other than BFG.

HP2 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2011 - 09:52:44 AM »

Wheel sizing, backspace, ride height, and vehicle assembly tolerances all conspire to detemine what will fit or not. We have a member on here who has 275 on the front on a 17" rim with the proper backspace. I've got the equivilent of a 255 on the front of mine with a 15" rim. My set up will clear all the frame and suspension components, but could contact the fender brace under extreme compression, and my tire is slightly under 26". However, because of the suspension set up I have, it isn't going to go that far unless somethnig drastic happened, like doing a Dukes style jump. A taller tire would only have more contact potential.

As far as the stickiest 15" tire, you have to look at what is easily available and reasonably priced to break those out. As such, it may be the MT SR or the Maxxis Maruader. Both are H speed rated. The Maxxis is under 300 UTQC and the MT does not have a UTQC rating. MT is claiming 15-18k miles are possible on it, which means it is a pretty soft compound. There are softer compound 15" tires out there, but not all are d.o.t. approved, easy to find, nor cheap. However, if your willing to pay and wait, there is a company out of England that makes a d.o.t. approved, VR50 series, 15" tire, that is as sticky as a racing slick, for the low cost of $280-300 each.

MizzouRT · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2011 - 01:36:19 PM »

Quote from: HP2 on January 05, 2011 - 09:52:44 AM

Wheel sizing, backspace, ride height, and vehicle assembly tolerances all conspire to detemine what will fit or not. We have a member on here who has 275 on the front on a 17" rim with the proper backspace. I've got the equivilent of a 255 on the front of mine with a 15" rim. My set up will clear all the frame and suspension components, but could contact the fender brace under extreme compression, and my tire is slightly under 26"...a taller tire would only have more contact potential.

Thanks, that is very helpful. It sounds like width is not a problem, but the height is where the rub (literally!) might be. I' m running the 15 x 7 rallye wheels all the way around with the factory backspacing. Also, if I remember right the Hotchkis TVS will lower the front about 1", which won't help on vertical clearance if I go with the 27" tall GY 255s.

What I would like to do is run 255/60R15 all the way around. At the same time, I don't want to go below a 255/60R15 on the back. If they would fit all around, the slightly wider and taller Goodyear 255 is what I would go with. But if 255 won't fit on front, then next option is putting a BFG 245 on front, as I know from NZ that will fit without issues.

Realize I can get better tires at reasonable prices and better performance with 17" rim, so don't want to put huge $$$ in the 15" tires. That way I can give the 15" a try and if I'm not happy with them, then won't hurt too much to look at 17" rims. I see plenty of nice looking 17" combos here.

72bluNblu · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2011 - 10:12:45 PM »

Body fit and finish is a big aspect of the widest tire in the front. I had my tires hitting my fender braces with 235/60/15's on there, even running 1.12" torsion bars. I was running the car fairly low at the time, but by no means as low as I have seen other Challengers (especially the road race variety). And that's only a 26.1" tall tire.

I did remove my fender braces without issue, but I'm thinking a 27" tall front tire is going to be a difficult fit at any ride height. As far as width, I think I can get away with a 275. But I was looking at a 275/40/17, which is the same size as the other member with 275's. And that's a 25.6" tall tire...

MizzouRT · « **Reply #5 on:** January 06, 2011 - 01:09:10 PM »

Quote from: 72bluNblu on January 05, 2011 - 10:12:45 PM

Body fit and finish is a big aspect of the widest tire in the front. I had my tires hitting my fender braces with 235/60/15's on there...and that's only a 26.1" tall tire.

Wow, that is surprising that the 26.1" tall tire was rubbing, thinking you must of lowered it quite a bit? The factory F70x14 was quite a bit taller at 26.45".

brads70 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2011 - 04:27:29 PM »

Quote from: 72bluNblu on January 05, 2011 - 10:12:45 PM

Body fit and finish is a big aspect of the widest tire in the front. I had my tires hitting my fender braces with 235/60/15's on there, even running 1.12" torsion bars. I was running the car fairly low at the time, but by no means as low as I have seen other Challengers (especially the road race variety). And that's only a 26.1" tall tire.

I did remove my fender braces without issue, but I'm thinking a 27" tall front tire is going to be a difficult fit at any ride height. As far as width, I think I can get away with a 275. But I was looking at a 275/40/17, which is the same size as the other member with 275's. And that's a 25.6" tall tire...

I run the same tire 235/60/ R-15 up front with no issues. My fender lip to ground is 24.5 for reference? Obviously you were lower though!

beekppr · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2011 - 09:53:04 PM »

I have a Maxxis tire on my dirt bike and let me tell you it is light years ahead of the Goodyear it replaced in terms of traction and handling. I had no idea they made car tires but I will look into it when I need new rubber. I was blown away by the difference when I changed the front tire on my bike.

If braking is your primary concern, I would focus your search more on different rubber compounds offered by different manufacturers. There is some good stuff out there.

If size is important because of looks, or you need a certain ride quality or longevity, then thats a different animal.

72bluNblu · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2011 - 11:03:32 PM »

Quote from: brads70 on January 06, 2011 - 04:27:29 PM

I run the same tire 235/60/ R-15 up front with no issues. My fender lip to ground is 24.5 for reference? Obviously you were lower though!

That's where I'm at now, 24.5" from the ground to the fender lip through the centerline of the wheel. I think it's about an inch higher now than it was at it's lowest.

I was pretty surprised when I found out the tires were rubbing on the fender braces, but the bright shiny spot on each brace was pretty hard to ignore. It was only under pretty serious compression, my favorite backroad has a few pretty abrupt elevation changes. There was also a spot where I was touching the header flange down, but that was partly due to the road crown too. At the time the header flanges were about 3.5" off the deck.

It's possible the tires I have are a little taller than that, since I haven't measured them and that's just the calculated height for a 235/60/15. But I also wouldn't imagine they're more than a few tenths off either. At any rate, the max tire size definitely changes from one car to the next because of the assembly tolerances.

Chryco Psycho · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2011 - 12:18:44 AM »

Who is the british company HP2 ?
I have been looking for a 245 or 255 /50 15 , no one makes them anymore !!

autoxcuda · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2011 - 01:59:25 AM »

Quote from: 72bluNblu on January 05, 2011 - 10:12:45 PM

Body fit and finish is a big aspect of the widest tire in the front. I had my tires hitting my fender braces with 235/60/15's on there, even running 1.12" torsion bars. I was running the car fairly low at the time, but by no means as low as I have seen other Challengers (especially the road race variety). And that's only a 26.1" tall tire....

What is your rims size and what is your backspace. I bet it was less than 4.25" that 15x7 rallyes have. You decrease the backspacing, then you immediatly reduce the width of front tire you can run.

Typical old school cast 5 spoke rims have 3.75 or 4.00 backspacing. Most like torque thrusts have 3.75" backspacing.

brads70 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 07, 2011 - 07:19:18 AM »

Quote from: Chryco Psycho on January 07, 2011 - 12:18:44 AM

Who is the british company HP2 ?
I have been looking for a 245 or 255 /50 15 , no one makes them anymore !!

Boydsdodge found these?
http://www.avonracing.com/road_legal_page.aspx

HP2 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2011 - 07:40:46 AM »

Quote from: brads70 on January 07, 2011 - 07:19:18 AM

Boydsdodge found these?
http://www.avonracing.com/road_legal_page.aspx

That's them.

Here is a stateside dealer that offers a number of special option 15" tires; http://www.rogerkrausracing.com/

Another option with a fair selection; http://www.dbtires.com

Two more if you really want to blow some money; http://www.summitracing.com/parts/COK-71232/

and
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/COK-71229/

MizzouRT · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2011 - 01:40:59 PM »

Quote from: beekppr on January 06, 2011 - 09:53:04 PM

I have a Maxxis tire on my dirt bike and let me tell you it is light years ahead of the Goodyear it replaced in terms of traction and handling. I had no idea they made car tires but I will look into it when I need new rubber. I was blown away by the difference when I changed the front tire on my bike.

If braking is your primary concern, I would focus your search more on different rubber compounds offered by different manufacturers. There is some good stuff out there.

If size is important because of looks, or you need a certain ride quality or longevity, then thats a different animal.

Thanks, that was a good idea. I looked at the Maxxis and nice looking tire, sure they will run circles around the GY or BFG 15". Bad news is Maxxis tops out at 225/60R15, which is smaller than I want on the back. In addition, no RWL, which defeats part of the purpose in going with 15" rims. Rather than go with the 225s with no RWL, would just skip up to 17" and get the good, reasonably price tires and say goodbye to the old school appearance of the rallye wheels and RWL tires.

MizzouRT · « **Reply #14 on:** January 07, 2011 - 01:52:02 PM »

I sent an email asking Hotchkis; their reply is shown below. Bottom line is customer is running BFG 235 without any issues and BFG 245 would also be fine on front. BFG 255 is pushing it and may not work.

Check out the body roll on the stock 440 Challenger is the link they included. I remember how bad the handling was but the pics are scary!
================================================================================

I asked someone we know who is running the 15� whees on Her Challenger and ere were the comments.

�ah, the key to the challenger wheel fitment is backspacing on the wheel. I've had BFG 275/60/15s in the back on an 8" rim fit with no rubbing, and on a different set of wheels, they rubbed badly.

I know people who have gone as wide as a 295, but that requires rolling the lip and giving up taking any passengers or cargo

On my Challenger now, the tires are BFG 235/60/15 all the way around. I'd do the 245s all the way around with the wheels he has, or recommend getting the rears widened and going up in back. The 255s will be no problem in the rear, not sure about the front.

The Blue Challenger is the car refered to above.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/12/hotchkis-track-day-proves-after-much-better-than-before/

Author Topic: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit? (Read 14991 times)

MizzouRT

Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit?

challengermaniac

Re: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit?

HP2

Re: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit?

MizzouRT

Re: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit?

72bluNblu

Re: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit?

MizzouRT

Re: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit?

brads70

Re: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit?

beekppr

Re: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit?

72bluNblu

Re: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit?

Chryco Psycho

Re: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit?

autoxcuda

Re: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit?

brads70

Re: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit?

HP2

Re: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit?

MizzouRT

Re: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit?

MizzouRT

Re: Is 245/60R15 largest 15" front tire that will fit?