Fat tires on an '86 GT
 

Hey guys (and gals),

What's the widest tire i can put on the back of my 86 'GT without rubbing? I know it depends on my rim size, but assuming i have the rim for the job, how wide can the tire be before i start rubbing?

thanks guys

275s will fit if you remove the quads and roll the fenders-but you may need to modify the tailpipes as well, 245s fit and look great-no modification needed.

I have 26X11.5 ET Streets on my 88 with 15X10 draglights with a 5.5 backspace. No quads and a rolled fender lip.

i'm a bit of a neophite - just learning over the last 2 years about muscle cars. started out with a 69 dart, added a '72 lemans, and now i'm into my first mustang. so my question is this: what do you mean by "no quads" and a "rolled" fender lip.

sorry for the dumb question, and thanks for your help

cheers

steve

No such thing as a dumb question, the quads are a second set of shocks that are factory installed horizontally to reduce wheel hop. Rolling the lip is when you bend the inner lip of you quarter panel up and away from the sidewall of your tire.

thanx qwkrn-u! for the fast and helpful response. and in language i could understand! sounds like i can make those mods myself, but not sure i want to take out the quads just to fit a 275-wide tire, when i can put a 245 on there without any mods. will have to think about that one.
thanx again for your time.

regards,

steve

What about something in between?
265/35R18
255/40R17

I would run a 5-spoke "Pony" wheel with 245/50/16s, look great and fit perfect. Other tire sizes are available, but costly since thy're not too common. The quads do help with wheel hop, but a lot of guys remove them with no problems. I'd go 245/50/16 rear and 225/50/16 front, both are readily avalable and reasonably priced.

man, this site (and you guys) are awesome. so much free help, and quick responses. this is why i'm into cars, and glad to see others are of like mind and on this site.

thanks for all the input. right now i've got 15" Riken wheels (5-spoke) which look great, and i'd like to stick with. so probably go with the 245s and a slightly higher profile, maybe 245/60R15s in the back and 225s up front. thanks again for all the input guys.

cheers

steve

No prob Steve glad I could help.

i've got the quads off and rolled the fender lip - went well for a neophyte like me! still toying with rim and tire size though. i'm considering 275/60R15's in the back on 15X10 rims with the 5.5 backspace you have mentioned. my question is, with the 60 series am i gonna have to raise the rear a little to allow for travel? also, i know you took off the quads and rolled the lip to fit your 275's, but did you have to make any modification to the tailpipes to accomodate them as well, or was the lip rolling and removal of quads enough?

cheers

^^ how would one raise the rear to accomodate for the 275??

60 is a pretty high profile im not meaning to bash you but thats like mini van or economy car hieght sidewall i have 235/55s on my 88 and even they are prety tall i would look at a 50, they arent to tall or to short they are a nice happy medium but thats just my two cents worth

I have had a 265 50 15 on a weld with 4.5 back spacing and still had the quads and no fender roll. I now have 275 50 15's on a centerline with 5.5 with quads and a slite rub fron the fender on my 88lx.

86gt, I had to tap a flat spot into the corner of my MAC 2 1/2" tailpipe to get the tire to clear on the right side, the other side was fine. 1QK50 has almost the same set up as I do for street tires, I have 275 50 r15 BF Goodrich Radial T/A's on 15x8 welds with 4.5" back space. They fit and look better than the 15x10's with 5.5 B/S I find the 10's stick out a bit too much. I also have adjustable sping perches on my lower control arms to adjust hight. Ill try to post some pics of both set ups later. Sorry it took so long to answer your question I didnt see it till now. LOL

I plan on putting air bags in both springs so I can run 295 50 15's

Well I put the 295 50 15's and I still have room. 1/2" before I hit the quad. I want to try 315 40 15's.

hey 1QK50,

i'm intrigued (and excited). how'd you do that?
the info i've gotten suggests i need to remove the quads and roll the lip just to squeeze 275's in there. that would require a 15X8.5 or 15X9 rim, with 5.5" offset. how'd you get 295's on there and still have a 1/2" to go before you hit the quads? what's the rim size and offset you're using? and do the wheels stick out past the wheelwell/lip? If i can put 295s or 315s on i'd like to do that, but i don't wanna stick out past the lip. i'm happy to take the quads off (already have, actually) but would be interested to know what your rim width is, what the offset is, and whether or not you're out past the lip.

thanks in advance for getting back.

cheers

steve rockon:

Cant remember the offset off hand, have to measure. The rims are centerline autodrags 15 X 8.5. The quads are a slimmer aftermarket brand, maybe that's why I have more room. The tire doesn't go past the lip.

I've got 275/55 15's on a weld 8" rim.......


kept my quads, and I didn't have to roll the fender... lol


but while we're at it... what about a 28x 12.5 tire???? I know it'll fit the rim.... but will it fit the wheel well?

Hey QWKRN-U, can you tell me a good way to roll the inner lip on the rear quarter panel.:tup

Thks...........Gus

hey gus,

there's a tool specifically for this - it bolts to the lugs and used that as a fulcrum to roll the lip evenly. you can probably rent them at any tool rent-all type place.

some guys say stick a baseball bat btwn the tire and lip and get a buddy to push the car forward while you hold the bat. everyone i've heard from says this is a real good way to put a dent in your fender and not a good way to roll the lip properly

The tool is made by Eastwood and there is a guy on the GTAMC that rents one out.(not sure if hes on CMOC or not) I have heard the tool works very well and if you heat the paint on the lip with a heat gun it will keep it from cracking while you roll the lip.

I did mine with a hammer and dolly while I was doing the body work and paint on the car, so I wasnt too worried about chipping the old paint.

June 2008 5.0 Mustang and Superfords mag has a story on how they fit a 315/35ZR-17 on a 17x10 rim with 6.4 BS on the back of their '86 T-top coupe using a couple of different BFH's and the eastwood lip roller.
Interesting story

Thanks for the info. Will look into it.:)