#1  
Old 04-21-2019, 11:12 PM
leeklm's Avatar
leeklm leeklm is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 1,747
Default 4" or 6" Rim??

Happy Easter... I plan to run a 165/80/15 tire up front, which is recommending a 5" rim. However, the AR wheels I am going with are only available in 4" or 6" widths .
Since the tire size is right in the middle, I am sure either rim would work ok- but if I am going to go a little beyond the mfg recommendation, would it be better to go with the 4" rim or the 6" rim in this scenario?

__________________
68 Firebird-- Street/Strip - 400/461 Eagle Forged Bottom End & Ross Flat top pistons. KRE 325 CFM D port, Ultradyne 263/271 @.050, .4267 lift. Crower Solid roller lifters and 1.65 stainless rockers. Quickfuel 1000 on Torker2 intake and 2" open spacer. Hedman 1.75" headers. TH400 w/brake. Ford 9" w/3.80 gears & 28x9 Hoosier pro bracket drag radial. Best ET: 1.35 60ft, 6.29 @ 107.20 mph, 9.99 @132.33 mph. 3,300 race weight
  #2  
Old 04-21-2019, 11:17 PM
b-man's Avatar
b-man b-man is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Sunny So Cal
Posts: 16,410
Default

That tire size is commonly used on older air-cooled VW bugs that came with 4” wide wheels from the factory.

Pretty small tire size for the front of a V8 American car, I ran that size on some 3-1/2” Centerline wheels on my GTO for a while. Not really ideal but if you’re going for a certain look you compromise.

All that said the 4” wheel is a better looking choice but a 6” wheel will offer more stability, it all depends on what you’re trying to achieve.

__________________
1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42
1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/2.56
2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23
  #3  
Old 04-21-2019, 11:44 PM
leeklm's Avatar
leeklm leeklm is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 1,747
Default

Thank you for the comments. I am going for that fat & skinny look, similar to this pic... one thing about a 6" rim is I would have more flexibility to go to a larger tire like a 205/75 if I did not like the smaller tire. Decisions...

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

__________________
68 Firebird-- Street/Strip - 400/461 Eagle Forged Bottom End & Ross Flat top pistons. KRE 325 CFM D port, Ultradyne 263/271 @.050, .4267 lift. Crower Solid roller lifters and 1.65 stainless rockers. Quickfuel 1000 on Torker2 intake and 2" open spacer. Hedman 1.75" headers. TH400 w/brake. Ford 9" w/3.80 gears & 28x9 Hoosier pro bracket drag radial. Best ET: 1.35 60ft, 6.29 @ 107.20 mph, 9.99 @132.33 mph. 3,300 race weight
  #4  
Old 04-22-2019, 06:43 AM
The Champ's Avatar
The Champ The Champ is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Rochester, MN
Posts: 2,534
Default

FWIW - the recommended rim width for a 165/80/15 is 4 - 5.5".

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes

Personally, I'd go with the 205/75/15 as the 165/80/15, besides being very skinny, is only 25.4" tall. The tread width on the bigger tire is very similar and the tire height is 27". Recommended rim width is 5 - 7".

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes

  #5  
Old 04-22-2019, 02:45 PM
amcmike's Avatar
amcmike amcmike is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,733
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by leeklm View Post
Thank you for the comments. I am going for that fat & skinny look, similar to this pic... one thing about a 6" rim is I would have more flexibility to go to a larger tire like a 205/75 if I did not like the smaller tire. Decisions...

Anything more than 26.1" diameter will rub on the rear side of the fender well on a firebird during turns, even with button head bolts.

A 195/70 would be closer to stock diameter (25.7"), still be skinny, and the recommended rim is 5-6".


And then with the 6" wide rim, in the future you could upsize to 205/65, 215/65, or even a 225/60 if you wanted.


Lot more possibilities if you go with the 6".

__________________
"The Mustang's front end is problematic... get yourself a Firebird." - Red Forman
  #6  
Old 04-22-2019, 04:29 PM
leeklm's Avatar
leeklm leeklm is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 1,747
Default

"Anything more than 26.1" diameter will rub on the rear side of the fender well on a firebird"

Good to know. I currently have a set of MT front runners on the car in shop (4×28) , but springs are too stiff and car is at least 2" higher in front than what it should be. Since the MTs are fairly new, I am hoping they will work on the drag strip. With the skinny weld wheels, there appears to be clearance, but again the car is currently too high to effectively determine clearance.

I noticed that most of the tires in a 195/70 are for trucks, but the 205/70 is pretty close and offer a good selection.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

__________________
68 Firebird-- Street/Strip - 400/461 Eagle Forged Bottom End & Ross Flat top pistons. KRE 325 CFM D port, Ultradyne 263/271 @.050, .4267 lift. Crower Solid roller lifters and 1.65 stainless rockers. Quickfuel 1000 on Torker2 intake and 2" open spacer. Hedman 1.75" headers. TH400 w/brake. Ford 9" w/3.80 gears & 28x9 Hoosier pro bracket drag radial. Best ET: 1.35 60ft, 6.29 @ 107.20 mph, 9.99 @132.33 mph. 3,300 race weight
  #7  
Old 04-25-2019, 11:42 AM
hobbygto65's Avatar
hobbygto65 hobbygto65 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 1970
Location: Brainerd,MN
Posts: 1,767
Default

Another thing you might think about is braking, those skinny little tires will make your stopping distance a lot longer. Take my word for it I found out the hard way.

  #8  
Old 04-25-2019, 01:04 PM
Chief of the 60's Chief of the 60's is offline
Suspended
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: On the Rez
Posts: 3,233
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by hobbygto65 View Post
Another thing you might think about is braking, those skinny little tires will make your stopping distance a lot longer. Take my word for it I found out the hard way.
Hmmm.... I have been 126mph in one car and 137mph in another on "those skinny little tires" without stopping issues.

  #9  
Old 04-26-2019, 12:54 AM
hobbygto65's Avatar
hobbygto65 hobbygto65 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 1970
Location: Brainerd,MN
Posts: 1,767
Default

Not when a Cadillac pulls out front you a half a block away and your going faster then you should be.

  #10  
Old 04-26-2019, 10:48 PM
amcmike's Avatar
amcmike amcmike is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,733
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by hobbygto65 View Post
Not when a Cadillac pulls out front you a half a block away and your going faster then you should be.
^^^this

...or that modern Hyundai with 4 wheel abs discs, decides to lock them up because a squirrel ran across their path.

On a track in a straight line, with plenty of open shutdown area, sure easy-peasy. On the street that can be curved or straight, with other traffic, whole new ball game.

__________________
"The Mustang's front end is problematic... get yourself a Firebird." - Red Forman
  #11  
Old 06-06-2019, 04:50 PM
leeklm's Avatar
leeklm leeklm is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 1,747
Default

Quick update for anyone interested... after installing 200lb santuff drag springs and getting the stance correct... my 5" Weld Prostar wheels clear fine with a 4x28" runner.

I purchased the 6" AR Torque Thrust and installed 205/70/15 tires. Worked ok with just me in car, but with a passenger, outer front fenders would rub. I fooled around with spring spacers but then lost too much front end travel for my liking.

I thought about selling the 6" rim and going 4", but the local tire shop was comfortable mounting a 165/80 on the 6" rim. So far so good, and I am happy with the look!



Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

__________________
68 Firebird-- Street/Strip - 400/461 Eagle Forged Bottom End & Ross Flat top pistons. KRE 325 CFM D port, Ultradyne 263/271 @.050, .4267 lift. Crower Solid roller lifters and 1.65 stainless rockers. Quickfuel 1000 on Torker2 intake and 2" open spacer. Hedman 1.75" headers. TH400 w/brake. Ford 9" w/3.80 gears & 28x9 Hoosier pro bracket drag radial. Best ET: 1.35 60ft, 6.29 @ 107.20 mph, 9.99 @132.33 mph. 3,300 race weight
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:28 AM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017