Bigger tires

[tscott9330]

Are offset trailing arms worth the investment? Do they allow big enough tires to make a big difference in traction?

How big a rim can you run without offset trailing arms, and how big do the offsets allow you to run?

Also how wide of i tire can i run With and without? If you could give tire width in inches becuase I dont quite understand the tire size codes.

Thanks, Tom

 

[mike weyman]

i have 295/50/15's on mine,they have about 12 inches approximately of pad on the ground.had to use a spacer behind the rim though.

 

[BeaterShark]

Offset TAs will allow you to put the rim 2" inward. So, a 10" rim would fit the same as the stock 8" rim (assuming the correct offset).

Another alternative is to relocate your parking brake bracket to the top of the stock TA. This should provide enough clearance for a 9" rim (maybe 9 1/2" ??).

To see the recommended tire widths per rim width, go to the Tire Rack and find your favorite tire. Go to the "specs" and it will show what width rim range the manufacturer recommends for each tire size.

 

[The73vetteman]

Another alternative is to relocate your parking brake bracket to the top of the stock TA. This should provide enough clearance for a 9" rim (maybe 9 1/2" ??).

My '73 had 275s on the rear when I bought it. It was only when I came to fix the parking brake that I realized the previous owner made them fit by removing the PB cable brackets. (Guess I should have been more thorough when I checked out the car before buying .... a lesson learned!)

Anyway, I had two new brackets made and welded on to the tops of the trailing arms. Works great now. Well as good as a C3 PB ever worked. There's not a lot of clearance though. I don't think you could go wider without offset TAs like you suggest.

'73

 

[BeaterShark]

My '73 had 275s on the rear when I bought it.

...

Anyway, I had two new brackets made and welded on to the tops of the trailing arms.

...

I don't think you could go wider without offset TAs like you suggest.

'73

You mention the tire size, but never metion the rim width (or offset). I never mentioned tire width. A 9" rim with a 5" offset will fit just like an 8" rim with 4" offset. A 9 1/2" rim with a 5" offset would probably still be OK, but realize it will stick out 1/2" farther outside. I've never seen a tire wider than 285 recommended for a 9 1/2" or less rim, so that is what I would say is the max tire w/o offset TAs.

I was only suggesting that by relocating the parking brake cable give you more room to go wider than stock. This will not allow you to go as wide as you can with the offset TAs, but does save alot of time/money if you don't need to rebuild the TA assembly.

 

[Chris Kennedy]

I have offset arms on my '81, and use 275 60 15s all around on standard rims. There is no problem with the rears, and the only issue with the fronts is a VERY slight rub when the wheel is hard over. I had the same problem with the standard 255s, too. The tires I use are Dunlop H rated Sport Rover GTXs, which are also just a bit wider than other brands of 275 60 15s (check the Tire Rack specs, and you will see that there IS a difference between tires even where they are the same size!). Next tires will be the Kumho 275 60 15s, which also are H rated, as the Dunlops are not offered any longer.

--Chris Kennedy