Can anyone please help me w/ my Cuda's sidewall height decision? Pics would be great!

[JohnC]

Hi Guys...

this is for a higher horsepower 71 cuda project (e-body)...not a huge sized car, but not small either.

With all the knowledgeable guys around here i need some help.

Wheels will be 19x10 front and 20x12 rear.....

I have gone back and forth deciding between these two tire options:



michelin pilot ps2 275/35/19 front and 335/30/20 rear

or

nitto invo 285/30/19 front and 345/25/20 rear

suggestions/opinions welcome... ....Looks VS. Ride Quality??????????

I'm pretty sure there are examples of both directions (Ned, TJ, Bill and boilermaker...), which makes the decision even tougher--those are awesome rides! I'd just like to hear more opinions and see more pics of those sizes if they are available.

...this should be a long thread ...everyone has an opinion, right?...

PLEASE don't move this to wheels/tires--I had no responses there.
Thanks a million in advance!

John

[rogue]

You're already pushing it with the 30 series in the back. If its driven, I'd rethink your combination. I'd run nothing less than a 35 series on the street. I've got two damaged wheels in my garage to explain why.

Combine that with a high horsepower car... you're defeating the purpose. Do you drive this car or is it a show queen?

I'd rethink the combo personally, protouring is about performance not looking pretty in a parking lot. Call me a purist.

[Young Gun]

35s...thats what im planning on doing...

[Bruning Auto Design]

How low is the car? air ride or coil overs?

[JohnC]

How low is the car? air ride or coil overs?

Hi TJ,
I have not set ride height yet, but worried about michelins being a full inch taller...also I'm running coilovers...

...the taller michelin size is on Project Mayhem (69 charger) and a charger is a lot bigger car than our e-bodies--not sure if that would look right....

Thanks
John

[SimplyKC]

You're already pushing it with the 30 series in the back. If its driven, I'd rethink your combination. I'd run nothing less than a 35 series on the street. I've got two damaged wheels in my garage to explain why.

Combine that with a high horsepower car... you're defeating the purpose. Do you drive this car or is it a show queen?

I'd rethink the combo personally, protouring is about performance not looking pretty in a parking lot. Call me a purist.

Remember that the sidewall is a proportional ratio to the tire width, so, a 30 series 335 is not a rubberband.

A number of factory cars run that size. Here is one for example (But it is a 19" wheel):

[rogue]

Remember that the sidewall is a proportional ratio to the tire width, so, a 30 series 335 is not a rubberband.

A number of factory cars run that size. Here is one for example (But it is a 19" wheel):

a 345/25/20 on a 20x12 wheel is a bit smaller sidewall no?

[SimplyKC]

a 345/25/20 on a 20x12 wheel is a bit smaller sidewall no?

Slightly, because the sidewall is basically 25% of the 345 width (about 69mm). I wouldn't run the 25, but I would a 30 series. A 335/30 would be about 100mm. (It's not an exact science as the manufacturers vary from one to another)

That 100mm of sidewall will be the same whether it is a 17,18,19 or 20 inch wheel. It's just going to be taller overall.

This calculator can be handy:

http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp

I had a 335/275 combo on 18's on a 2002 Z06. The ride was fine, but the wide tires really like to follow ruts in the road (All roads have them) and that was sometimes scary. They were Michelin Pilots on my car.

[rogue]

I had a 335/275 combo on 18's on a 2002 Z06. The ride was fine, but the wide tires really like to follow ruts in the road (All roads have them) and that was sometimes scary. They were Michelin Pilots on my car.

I voted for the 30 series as well. 25 series just seems so damn thin.

Oh and you don't have to tell me about ruts in road, I have a 61 continental with bias plys

[JohnC]

I voted for the 30 series as well. 25 series just seems so damn thin.

Oh and you don't have to tell me about ruts in road, I have a 61 continental with bias plys

Ok, but also keep in mind we are talking about a 25 series with a 345 width. (25% of 345=3.4" roughly). Also, the new ZR-1 runs a 25 series rear tire with tons of power also....so

[BritishGreen68]

here is a decent site with pics of your sizes. I wouldnt be afraid to run 25 series..http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...icial%26sa%3DN

[DRJDVM's '69]

You can calculate actual sidewalll height

Yout take the width size, divide by 25.4 to get into inches then multiply by the aspect ratio.

Example
335/25.4= 13.18 inches wide x .30= 3.95 inches side wall

345/25.4 =13.58 x .25= 3.39 inch side wall

I went through the same thought process as you....... I decided the extra side wall was better than having a slightly wider tire... I'll give up 1/2 inch wider wheel for 1/2 bigger sidewall..... The 335 is pretty damn wide as it is, so 1/2 inch is not a big deal....Looks better and better overall ride and performance with a decent sidewall.

I like a big wheel but not a tiny sidewall tire. And dont forget that its really helps visually to have the sidewall be symmetrical from front to back....in other words dont have a 4 inch sidewall up front and a 3.5 in the rear

[JohnC]

You can calculate actual sidewalll height

Yout take the width size, divide by 25.4 to get into inches then multiply by the aspect ratio.

Example
335/25.4= 13.18 inches wide x .30= 3.95 inches side wall

345/25.4 =13.58 x .25= 3.39 inch side wall

I went through the same thought process as you....... I decided the extra side wall was better than having a slightly wider tire... I'll give up 1/2 inch wider wheel for 1/2 bigger sidewall..... The 335 is pretty damn wide as it is, so 1/2 inch is not a big deal....Looks better and better overall ride and performance with a decent sidewall.

I like a big wheel but not a tiny sidewall tire. And dont forget that its really helps visually to have the sidewall be symmetrical from front to back....in other words dont have a 4 inch sidewall up front and a 3.5 in the rear

Yes, Ned you are correct. just wondering if anyone has any pics of done projects/vehicles with those tire combos...
..the widths are actually the same because of the different manufacturers, but just wondering what the extra half inch of sidewall would look like in pics on our e-body mopars...

[JohnC]

Ok, if I go with the 335/30/20 on the 20x12 on the rear,
what tire match do you guys like better on the 19x9.5 front
between a 265/35/19 or a 275/35/19??????????
Thanks
John

[Norm Peterson]

I know that I'm really late chiming in here. I imagine that you've already guessed why . . .

Anyway, don't forget that those theoretical sidewall heights need to be reduced by however deep the wheel flanges are, for both visual and functional purpopses. Tire profile is taken to the tire beads, not to the outermost wheel OD. IOW and going back to the earlier numbers, if that 3.4" includes (say) 0.6" tall wheel flanges, you only have 2.8" or so of sidewall left for the practical purpose of accommodating bumps, ruts, and other road roughness while avoiding wheel damage.


Norm

[GRIMMEY71]

I am in the process of doing the same on my 71 cuda. what mods were needed for those size tires.

[JohnC]

I am in the process of doing the same on my 71 cuda. what mods were needed for those size tires.

PM sent!