Ok.... i just completed my LS1 swap.... And realized one thing.... no traction! So i need a larger tire....... I was considering going with a drag radial in the rear. So my question is.... whats the largest size tire i can go with if i roll my fenders? Any drag radial recomendations???
Thanks!
KB

 

What rims will you be using? Stock or are you planning on getting some larger aftermarket rims?

 

People have fit as wide as 11" in the rear w/ 315-dection tires (Kevin Wyum). I've seen 17x11" rears with 275/40/17 and 315/35/17. The latter will rerquire some shoe-horning in the form of upgraded trailing arms, and fender massaging.

For 18", you could use up to a 285/30/18 on a 10" wheel, or 295/30/18 on a 10.5" wheel, though my opinion is you may get a diminishing return on straight-ahead traction because of the tiny sidewalls. Its likely you could squeeze in a 315/30/18 with similar massaging to the 17" setup.

Given your extra torque, gearing issues that FD folks usually obsess about are a non-factor, so perhaps you could use the 285/35/18 on a 18x10" wheel that alot of Supra folks use. I've actually seen this on high-dollar PFS single turbo car, and it actually looked (and presumably worked) fine. That little extra sidewall will be appreciated.

For the more xtreme fitments, expensive modular wheels with precise offsets will be necessary to get it right.

Drag radials might be the ticket (or perhaps some of the streetable R's like A032s and RA1s) for you. I'd look through the sizes available for those tires (as well as high-end street tires like the BFG KD, S03, and T1s).

 

The BFG g-force drag radials come in 315/30/18, for an 11" wheel.

Thats about as extreme as you could go without fender flares. I'd PM Kevin Wyum for info on his 17x11" wheels, and be prepared to roll the fenders (and perhaps pull them a little), and use coilovers, with aftermarket trailing arms with a few extra washers!...

Might be cheaper to use the Pettit flares, and go up to 18x12" wheels. A guy in WV has been trying to sell a set of Forgelines for this setup for months... don't know if he ever did!

 

I would kind of like to keep my stock wheels. I am going for the stock sleeper look......

And was there any real reason for my post to be moved? it IS a 3rd gen car.......

 

I guess its BFG drags then.

 

Already looked in to them... i dont htink they come in anything close to that size.... its like a 255/50/16 is the smallest they make.
KB

 

I know its off topic, but any pics of this . i'd love to see how it turned out.

 

If you are using the stock width, then the biggest they make won't make you roll your fenders.
I fit 275's w/ out rolling.
I fit 285's w/ minor rolling.

So, search for the widest tire that is safe to use on your 16x8 and it is far within spec.


Raj

 

Here it is......

Its the only RX7 on the page. I will past some more pics as soon as i get a few more things done.....

 

How are you going for the sleeper look?the sound will give you away. ?

 

HaHa.... You would be suprised how quiet a full 3 inch pipe in to a greedy trust muffler sounds..... at idle... my car is as quiet, if not quieter than a 13B FD.....

 

I did the same thing as you and have 275/35 18s out back with new Yoko ES100s. No traction till about 75mph. Going to try stickier tires next set (which won't be long at this rate!). If that doesn't work, going custom 12" wide wheels in back and fender flares!

I'm also installing a traction control system...but haven't done that yet.

 

I'd say its time to give up on the stock wheels and just get some conservative-looking 5-spoke 17" wheels. Stock wheels just aren't going to cut it with high-powered cars.

I'd go bigger, but you should AT LEAST entertain getting some of the 17" factory wheels from later models.

 

Ya, i looked at the 99 spes wheels. And i also looked at the fender flares from Pettit. I might eventually go with the BIG tires in the rear.
KB