79 TA Tire Wheel Question

[10Aniv]

This may be already on here but I can't seem to find it.

I am having some 18" wheels made for a 79 TA. All things being stock other than the rear suspension will be changed to coil overs. I am looking for a idea and starting point on how much tire I can stuff under this car, both front and back.

Car will have a 500 hp 455 in it so I need some rear tire under it. Tubs could be an option.

Help anyone? I am getting the tool to measure rims and such but just want an idea.

[opnwide]

a 295 is about it on a 9.5" wheel, and you'll be banging on your seat belt bulge to get those in there. Some people have been able to get a 315 tire under a firebird, but those cars sit a bit higher to avoid interference with the fender lip and the top inside of the fender. So how low do you want to go.

[10Aniv]

I was looking to have the fender lips just over top of the wheel by maybe an inch or so. I might not be able to go that low though as the headers would hit all the time.

I went and checked out your post and I like where yours are in relation to the fender lip. I also was planning to use Year one Honeycombs on mine. Not sure if yours are thier "stock" version or the custom made ones. The custom made ones was where I was going. ALTHOUGH getting the tubos widened and redone might be kinda cool, the down side they are a 15" rim. My car is going to be a updates version of the TATA. Think of a TATA Year One version, but not identical, just a baseline.

[opnwide]

I used their "cast" 17" wheels as they are more true to the originals. I had the rears widened 2.5" to fit the 335s. At 4-5" lowered, the front wheels rubbed on the inner fender too much (but looked so cool). I had to raise it back up 1-2". You could run 255s at that height and probably be OK. The 275 in the back was fine lowered 4", but I did have to massage the fender lip a little to keep from cutting the tire. 4-5" drop is quite a bit if you don't have some serious suspension mods. A 3" drop is reasonable, however.