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Does anyone know what the biggest/widest daily driver raised white letter rear tires i can fit on my 91 Firebird base with stock rims, and what size would go on the front with those.
Thanks.
235/60R15 is a stock size for some thirdgens with 15x7 wheels. There's really nothing to be gained by going larger or wider than that, unless you want to run wider wheels.
I don't agree with Drew, except that 15" wheels on a '91 automatically means 3.1L V6, and performance would actually improve with a shorter tire. If you care how it looks, Then maybe a 225/60R15. If you really want performance, then something more like a 225/45R15. But it'll look wrong.
For a healthy V8, a 275/60r15 drag radial does offer more traction from a dead stop, and isn't too much for your stock 15x7s, but it's no help to a 3.1L V6.
Up front, you can go as far as a 245/60R15 safely, but again, I'd suggest either of the 225s.
15" wheels were standard equipment on the RS and Firebird even with the TBI V8.
A 235mm tire is 9.25" wide on a 7" wheel. Going wider is going to give up certain performance standards to gain an advantage in another category. IE you may gain traction but give up handling.
OP asked about daily driver tires, so I assume he's looking for everyday tires, not something for weekends at the race track.
Mickey Thompson came out with a "All Session" tire called the "Sportsman S/T" that I have on the rear now. Love them on my DD.
They have either "white" letters out, or "black" letters out depending on the side you choose.
I like "black" out on mine.
The bottom photos are the only ones I could find with "white" letters out.
Also, here is a thread with some info I started.
If you wanted a staggered look like mine you could go with a 235/60r15 front and a 245/60r15 rear but that's as large as I would go with a 7in. wide wheel in the rear.= https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/whee...er-cobras.html
Last edited by Ron U.S.M.C.; 01-08-2017 at 09:50 PM.
Thanks. I couldn't find any other raised white letter tires than the Cooper Cobra or BF Goodrich Radial TA. Will check the price for the ones u have. I'm prob gonna go with a 235 o 245/60r/15 in front and a 275 or 285/60r/15 in back. Are u guys sure 235 is stock for my car? Book says 215/65r/15 which are the size on there now (the ones i bought the car with 3 yrs ago). No biggie, any new tires are gonna be better than the two studded snows i've been running on the back (in the SoCal desert lol) since that blowout.
This "Tire Rack" chart will give you the "diameter size" for the tires. Just click on shop by size .= https://www.tirerack.com/tires/
It gives other info as well but I mention diameter because the tire sizes you mention are
235/60r15 = 26.1 in Diameter
245/60r15 = 26.6 in Diameter
275/60r15 = 28 in Diameter and I would not put that on a 7in wide wheel.
A 28 in tall tire is a monster.
Some guys run it but it is primarily a 1/4 mile strip car tire.
The first two would be fine.
235 front and the 245 rear.
That will give you a slight "staggered look with a "little" rake.
The 225/45r15 size tire mentioned in this thread is 23in in Diameter. ???????
Im pretty sure stock is 25 in Diameter.
Last edited by Ron U.S.M.C.; 04-07-2017 at 10:23 PM.
I don't agree with Drew, except that 15" wheels on a '91 automatically means 3.1L V6, and performance would actually improve with a shorter tire. If you care how it looks, Then maybe a 225/60R15. If you really want performance, then something more like a 225/45R15. But it'll look wrong.
For a healthy V8, a 275/60r15 drag radial does offer more traction from a dead stop, and isn't too much for your stock 15x7s, but it's no help to a 3.1L V6.
Up front, you can go as far as a 245/60R15 safely, but again, I'd suggest either of the 225s.
Just mentioning a 224/45r15 = 23in diameter tire or a 275/60r15 = 28 in Diameter tire on a 7in wide wheel is just confusing for someone looking for a set of street tires for a DD.
I know a little about tires and the statement above has got my head spinning.
215/65R15 will work but are a thin tire for a Camaro.
235/60r15 can go all the way around or just in the front and 245/60r15 rear.
That will give you a nice aggressive looking car.
This thread has a lot of info concerning those sizes. Post 49 and 50 in-particular. If you don't like the staggered look than 235/60r15 all around is very nice. = https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/whee...er-cobras.html
Last edited by Ron U.S.M.C.; 04-07-2017 at 10:49 PM.
Are u guys sure 235 is stock for my car? Book says 215/65r/15 which are the size on there now
You misunderstand...
235/60R15 is a stock size for some thirdgens with 15x7 wheels.
Read it a few times until it soaks in. 215/65s are stock for YOUR car. 235/60s were stock on some thirdgens with the same size wheels. 235/60s would be an upgrade that would fit, wouldn't cause buckets of problems, and wouldn't look Hill Billy AF.
A 245 is probably going to rub before you get to full lock. 275s are going to bow so far past the wheel, handling is gonna go out the window. Not to mention you'll almost need air shocks to clear them.
Yes, a base Firebird could, indeed, have received a V8 from the factory, but it still would've only received 15" wheels/tires; 16" was never available on a Firebird that left the factory as a base Firebird. The only way a base Firebird could've received 16" was if it had been optioned as a Formula.
This thread did seem to get a little confusing when reading through it, so to try to simplify it:
The factory-standard 15" tire throughout the generation was 215/65-15.
The factory-option 15" upgrade was 235/60-15, and few cars received it, which is why Drew said that only SOME 3rdgens received this size. Also, I believe it was only a factory option during the early years of the generation, which would explain why so few 3rdgens received it.
The only 16" size ever offered from the factory was 245/50.
And that's all. Although, the Firehawk received 275/40-17, which, I suppose, is, technically, a factory-offering.
Any differing sizes that people might have on their cars today, such as the above-mentioned 225/50-15, were not factory-offered sizes.
So to reiterate what others have said in answer to the OP's question, which probably doesn't matter now, as he asked 6 months ago, 235/60-15 would be considered the largest and best size for 15" wheels on a daily driven 3rdgen.
However, if anyone with 15" wanted to shell-out some big bucks for tires, Kelsey offers repro Gatorbacks in 225/60-15. They were reproduced for '80s Mustangs, but they would be an excellent fit and look great on 3rdgens, particularly the later "base" IROCs that came with 15" wheels.
01-02-2017, 03:36 PM
