V6 Discussion and questions about the base carbureted or MPFI V6's and the rare SFI Turbo V6.

Time for some new tires, recommendations?

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Old Oct 3, 2003 | 10:17 PM
  #1  
pasky's Avatar
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Car: 1991 RS Camaro (Jet Black)
Engine: 95 383 CI (6.3) LT1
Transmission: 95 T-56
Time for some new tires, recommendations?

I don't even know what size to use because it seems my front tires that the previous owner put on them are a bit bigger than they should be, they make a nasty scraping noise if I pull the steering wheel all the way in one direction. I have the 91 RS rims, can someone recommend some good tires to put on? Im not looking for performance, however I don't want tires that wear down quickly, thanks.
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Old Oct 3, 2003 | 10:44 PM
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From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Car: '99 Trans Am, '86 Camaro
Engine: LS1, Scrap
Transmission: T56, T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Stock ZT, 3.42 Open
If you're running the 15x7 rims, my money's on 235/60 BFG Radial T/As.. Low cost, good grip, decent treadlife. I'd say Goodyear Eagle RHs, but unfortunately they went out of production a couple years back.. I've got the last set of RH 235/60s this city saw on my daily driver..
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Old Oct 3, 2003 | 10:45 PM
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i just put on some KUMO tires from tirerack.com. i love them. the size that im using is 255/50/16 on the back and 245/50/16 on the front. I dont have any rub problems. sean
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Old Oct 3, 2003 | 11:06 PM
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Project: 85 2.8 bird's Avatar
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From: BFE, MD
Car: 13 Ram 1500/ 78 Formy
Engine: 5.7 / 7.4
Transmission: 6sp / TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.55 posi / 3.23
The Sumitomos I got from www.tirerack.com are pretty good. While the HTR200 (on teh bird now) is a "summer only" tire, when the tires on the GPGT, I'm going to get THESE for it. All weather, inexpensive, and pretty damn good!!!

For winter tires on the bird, if I break down & do get the TX tags, I have the 14" stockers w/some chetchnian off road all terrain style tread.

Last edited by Project: 85 2.8 bird; Oct 4, 2003 at 01:38 AM.
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Old Oct 4, 2003 | 12:17 AM
  #5  
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Car: 1991 RS Camaro (Jet Black)
Engine: 95 383 CI (6.3) LT1
Transmission: 95 T-56
Thanks, those sumo's sound like a good deal, not too bad for $61 per tire.
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Old Oct 4, 2003 | 01:48 AM
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Car: '86 Camaro SC, '16 QX60
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Transmission: T-5, CVT
I like Michelins. Good bang for the buck.
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Old Oct 4, 2003 | 06:28 AM
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Yokohoma Avid S/T's are very good tires and very cheap, i got mine for $53 per tire at tirerack.com

also, if you have a Kramer tire near you, they carry them in stock.

I used 235's all around, no rubbing either.

Last edited by Lee7; Oct 4, 2003 at 06:31 AM.
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Old Oct 4, 2003 | 01:49 PM
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Car: 1991 RS Camaro (Jet Black)
Engine: 95 383 CI (6.3) LT1
Transmission: 95 T-56
Hmm, ok im seeing different sizes now, I have no idea what the stock size is. I have the 1991 RS rims on my car. I do want the tires in the back a little bigger. Will the 245 in the front and 255 in the back be a good setup, or will the front possibly rub? Thanks.
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Old Oct 4, 2003 | 02:45 PM
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Car: '86 Camaro SC, '16 QX60
Engine: 2.8 V6 POWER, 3.5L V6 N/A
Transmission: T-5, CVT
Check out your current set-up. Crank the wheel all the way to one side and then the other and measure the clearance. If there's lots you can go bigger, if there's none you have to go smaller. I think the stock tire size should be on a label on the rear-facing side of the driver's side door near the lock mechanism.
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Old Oct 4, 2003 | 02:48 PM
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Originally posted by pasky
Hmm, ok im seeing different sizes now, I have no idea what the stock size is. I have the 1991 RS rims on my car. I do want the tires in the back a little bigger. Will the 245 in the front and 255 in the back be a good setup, or will the front possibly rub? Thanks.
stock sizes are 215's, which is very skinny and look really stupid, they should have gone with 235's which are basically the perfect size for the rims.

IIRC up to 265's will fit on the wheels, but dont quote me on that. I would personally go with the largest that can fit and not have rubbing problems.
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Old Oct 4, 2003 | 03:31 PM
  #11  
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From: Vancouver, BC
Car: '86 Camaro SC, '16 QX60
Engine: 2.8 V6 POWER, 3.5L V6 N/A
Transmission: T-5, CVT
I have 215s and I think they look pretty good, but my SC doesn't have any GF, so the tires don't have to look beefy. Besides it rains a lot here, so thin tires don't plane as much.
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Old Oct 4, 2003 | 06:30 PM
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do u have the 16 rs rims or the 15's i have the 16 on my rs. and mine is a 92. thanks sean ps the size that was stocl on the 16 for the rs 16 was 235 55 16
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Old Oct 4, 2003 | 07:46 PM
  #13  
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From: Santiago, CHILE
Car: 1986 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Engine: 305 Tuned Port Injection
Transmission: The famous 700R4
Axle/Gears: No idea
Check this post: 48 replies about this.


https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=151274

Denis V.
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Old Oct 4, 2003 | 09:03 PM
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Project: 85 2.8 bird's Avatar
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From: BFE, MD
Car: 13 Ram 1500/ 78 Formy
Engine: 5.7 / 7.4
Transmission: 6sp / TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.55 posi / 3.23
215/60R15

http://images.cardomain.com/member_i.../325040_61.jpg


and rear view

http://images.cardomain.com/member_i.../325040_64.jpg


they're wide enough for me
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Old Oct 5, 2003 | 01:40 AM
  #15  
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From: Vancouver, BC
Car: '86 Camaro SC, '16 QX60
Engine: 2.8 V6 POWER, 3.5L V6 N/A
Transmission: T-5, CVT
Originally posted by Project: 85 2.8 bird
215/60R15...

they're wide enough for me
Same here, and agreed. On the 15" steel rallys. I didn't like them much at first but they really grew on me.

edit: no wait I've got 215/65R15s
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Old Oct 5, 2003 | 07:19 PM
  #16  
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From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Car: '99 Trans Am, '86 Camaro
Engine: LS1, Scrap
Transmission: T56, T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Stock ZT, 3.42 Open
Pasky, we really need more info than you're dishing out.. "91 RS Rims" means.. uhh.. well.. nothing. They're stock.. but ""stock"" would be 15x7s and ""stock option"" would be 16x8 with the Z28 suspension package.. and we're not psychic enough to know which of the two you have...
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Old Oct 5, 2003 | 08:18 PM
  #17  
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From: Vancouver, BC
Car: '86 Camaro SC, '16 QX60
Engine: 2.8 V6 POWER, 3.5L V6 N/A
Transmission: T-5, CVT
A voice out of nowhere says: "check the label"
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Old Oct 6, 2003 | 12:01 AM
  #18  
pasky's Avatar
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Car: 1991 RS Camaro (Jet Black)
Engine: 95 383 CI (6.3) LT1
Transmission: 95 T-56
Sorry, have no clue their was different options. Anyway to check the RPO or VIN to find out exactly what I got? Thanks.
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Old Oct 6, 2003 | 11:27 AM
  #19  
TechSmurf's Avatar
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From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Car: '99 Trans Am, '86 Camaro
Engine: LS1, Scrap
Transmission: T56, T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Stock ZT, 3.42 Open
How about you just look at your existing tires and tell us if they're 15" or 16"?.. =P As long as they're stock they can only be 15x7 or 16x8.
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Old Oct 8, 2003 | 02:37 PM
  #20  
CC_HotRod's Avatar
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Car: 1984 Camaro
Engine: V6
Transmission: 700 R4
I just got a set of 15" Z28 wheels. The previous owner had 245/60 on the rims he said no rubs.
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Old Oct 8, 2003 | 04:36 PM
  #21  
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From: Modesto, CA USA
Your rubbing problem may be due to worn struts or other parts.
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Old Oct 8, 2003 | 04:47 PM
  #22  
TomP's Avatar
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From: Central NJ, USA
Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Rubbing the inside fender well is common on tight turns; just don't turn the steering wheel that far if you're in a parking lot.

I run P225/60r15's in the front on a 15x7 american racing (ar-46) rim. The rear currently has P245/60r15's on 15x8 ar-46 rims. Tires are BFGoodrich Radial T/A's.
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Old Oct 9, 2003 | 08:39 PM
  #23  
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From: Lehigh Valley, PA
Car: 00 T/A Firehawk
Engine: 346ci LS1
Transmission: MN6
Axle/Gears: 3.42 LSD
I'm running:

Bridgestone Potenza RE730 P245/50ZR-16 Tires
on my 1991-1992 Camaro Z28 16x8 Rims
They are used in summer only




and

Firestone Firehawk All seasons
on my stock 1990 15x7 Rims
They are used in the winter only

Note: Old picture...
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Old Oct 10, 2003 | 04:00 PM
  #24  
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From: Orlando, FL
Car: 1991 Pontiac Trans Am
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: Borg Warner T-5
i just put 2 new Yokohama Avid S/T 255/60/15's on the back and it handles so much better. I moved the 235/60/15's to the front also.
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Old Nov 11, 2003 | 11:56 AM
  #25  
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From: NE
Car: 82 camaro SC
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700r4
245/60R15's all the way around right now. The current wheels(88 Iroc-z 15's) and tires(245/60's) on my 82 were on the car from about 93 to 99. The 245/60 rubs a little bit on really tight turns, but not enough to hurt the tires. IMO they are nearly to wide for the wheels. Sure rides better than the 245/45R16 Iroc-Z wheels I took off--they are going to be refinished this winter. Steering response/cornering sucks compared to the 16's though Never liked the BFG Radial T/A's, the current Kelly Chargers have much more grip. My choice would be 235/60R15's....
Attached Thumbnails Time for some new tires, recommendations?-sideoldwheels.jpg  
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Old Nov 13, 2003 | 09:04 AM
  #26  
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I am running gy eagle rsa's in the front (225/60/15) with minor rub. still buying the rest of the suspension parts. I am gonna lower the nose about an inch so that'll be the worth of the sag cause my ride is at 3 inches right now. which is the inch lowered if that'll help anybody. I want to try a 265 in the rear, I have 255's right now and have quite a bit of room. I tried a set of 295/50/15's and there like an inch total too wide and my stock 15 inch gta's are too small for um. worth a shot though. I work a tire kingdom so I have all kinda size testers. and sadly enough my firebird has been there almost a week getting it refired 2bodymen and 4mechanics. and it wont start with the key yet. lol at least it's a car they perfer.
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Old Nov 13, 2003 | 08:25 PM
  #27  
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From: Jacksonville, FL
Car: 1989 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 MPFI
Transmission: 700R4
235/60-15 is a good upgrade from the 215/65-15 (way too skinny). 265/50-15 works well, I have a set of Dunlop GT Quailfiers in that size that I ran hard for about two years. They rub at full lock, but the extra meat helps offset the ride with the stiffer springs and bushings I have. Currently I am running 245/45-16ZR Goodyear GS-C on a set of polished 86 Trans-Am rims. I got a great deal on these tire from a member of this website, and they are an awsome tire. COmbined with the tight suspension, my car now really sticks to the road. Really scares the crap out of a passenger when throw the car around. If anyone is interested, I have pictures of a side by side comparision of the 245/45-16 and the 265/50-15. Overall diameter varies by less than 1/2 inch.
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