I've been goofed up for years, on just what the numbers on the side wall indicate. Many people have had questions and I hope this will help clear up some of the confusion.

http://www.dunloptires.com/care/tech.html

 

Thanks Dave, good explanation.

 

Here's an example using my tire sizes.
note, 25.4 mm = 1"

Front
215/60
215mm divided by 25.4 = 8.46"rim width recommended
60% of 215mm = 129.00mm, divided by 25.4 = 5.07" from rim to tread surface.

Rear
265/50
265mm divided by 25.4 = 10.43" rim width recommended
50% of 265mm = 132.5mm, divided by 25.4 = 5.216" from rim to tread surface.

The place where I bought my tires, recommends tires to be no more than 2" over suggested rim width. So my 265/50's are fine on an 8" rim.
Although I still want to go with 304/40's (aprox.) on 10" rims all the way around, which will give me 12" of tread on the ground.

 

Won't you need offset trailing arms to handle that width? And flares?

 

Off sets no, flares yes. As I understand, the off set trailing arms are to keep the tires in the fenderwells, actually narrowing the rear stance if you were to go with stock rims and tire sizes. The rim back spacing is crucial to clearing the calipers and not rubbing on the inside of the tire, on the body wall of the wheel wells. I believe that off sets might cause rubbing on the inside of the tire, against the body, if I tried to keep 12" of rubber inside the wheel wells.
I don't have a prob with trimming the fenderwells and adding flares to get the wide stance I'm goin' for.
Kinda like this wide body "Greenwood GTO" design.



The Greenwood kit isreally pricy, but that's kind of the direction I want to go. We all know a real sharp fiber glass guy, right here on our forum,that can do the work.
If ya don't know who I'm talkin' about, it's our own Blueshark! [sm=icon_rock.gif]
The Dude def has it goin' on! [sm=hail.gif]

( we have plans, as soon as I get the scratch together )

Since the "Starship" is not a "numbers matching" car, which I didn't want anyway, I can build it the way I want and to heck with the next owner. I just might take it with me.

 

(Since the "Starship" is not a "numbers matching" car, which I didn't want anyway, I can build it the way I want and to heck with the next owner. I just might take it with me. )

You mean we don't have to keep it just the way GM made it? I can do it my way? I was told you can only do it your way at Burger King! I don't know what I have more fun with, building AND driving my cars my way or watching my numbers buddys paying outragous money for their "correct" number part and then putting them in a trailer and driving a truck. Whatever floats you boat I guess!

 

You could always go with the GM L88 flares.

 

L88 flares?[sm=interesting.gif] Please explain or show me a pic.
Please?

 

I'll have to check and see if I have anything on them. Seems like I remember that they were thrown in L88 cars at the factory for dealer install.

 

If you're not goin' to drive 'em, ya might as well take a pic of one ya like and hang it on the wall on your garage.
It'll save ya a lot of bucks.