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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 01-28-2016, 12:43 PM
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Default BDR Owners Running 15" Wheels... What Tire Size You Using?

I'm swapping from 18" to 15" wheels. I think I've narrowed down the rear to 295x50x15 Avon CR6ZZ. I'm still trying to figure out the front. My current front tire measure 25.6" tall and 9.8"wide ( 245 x40x18) The Avon in 245x60x15
( which seems to be the recommendation) is 26.7" tall and 9.9" wide which concerns me as it's an inch taller than my current tire and it's a tight fit with my tire now.

What are current BDR owners with 15" wheels running size wise on their tires. I know most have 17" or 18" tires but hopefully a few have some info!!!
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Old 01-28-2016, 01:27 PM
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Default Early BDR

I run 245/60 15" Avons in the front with no rubbing. However, I don't know how how much (if any) the wheel well clearance differs between early BDRs and the newer.
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Last edited by GLS-BDR226; 01-28-2016 at 01:42 PM.. Reason: Add photo
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Old 01-28-2016, 01:45 PM
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I've got the Avon's in the sizes you referenced (295/50R15 and 245/60R15) and have had no clearance issues, but then, my ride height may be set a little different than yours. For my car, 23 psi for the fronts and 17-18 psi for the rears seems about right. I was running 20 psi in the rears but saw that I was wearing out the middle of the tread more than the shoulders so I've dropped them down to 16 psi in the hopes of wearing the shoulders down a bit to get the wear more even. Great tires, good ride, sticky, expensive, heavy. I'll replace them with more of the same unless someone else enters the market with V-rated tires in Cobra sizes.

Good luck and cheers,
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Old 01-28-2016, 01:50 PM
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How wide are your front wheels? 7.5 or 8"
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Old 01-28-2016, 01:57 PM
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Mine are 8's
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Old 01-28-2016, 02:03 PM
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Mine are 8" wide from Vintage wheels. I'll second what Sledge says about the Avons. Quality tires that stick and handle extremely well. Not sure how long they will last though. I'm running 24 lbs in front and 22 in the rear but am noticing the same wear issues so I may have to drop the pressure.

But these are great tires. And I will stick (pun) with them inspite of the $.
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Old 01-29-2016, 05:44 AM
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What's the rough cost of the Avons?
Thx
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Old 01-29-2016, 06:20 AM
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Looking at your pic and the space you have between the tire and fender I think your ride height is set higher than mine. While I know manufacture tire specs are real life numbers differ, comparing them to actual tire measurements can give you some idea of the final outcome. Is it possible for you to take a pic with a tape measure or at least measure the top of the fender and top of the tire?

Just wanna get an idea of and if you height is set different mine.

My front fender edge is 26" from the ground and my rear is 27"

From the center of my hub to my fender edge is 13 3/4 for both front and rear.


Avons run about $400 a piece for the front and $470 a piece for the rear. Not cheap tires!



Quote:
Originally Posted by GLS-BDR226 View Post
I run 245/60 15" Avons in the front with no rubbing. However, I don't know how how much (if any) the wheel well clearance differs between early BDRs and the newer.

Last edited by ASO544; 01-29-2016 at 06:22 AM..
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Old 01-29-2016, 09:10 AM
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I run Avons as the only real alternative in 15's and use sizes 295/50/15 rear and 235/60/15 front. The car is driven briskly with some serous track time so I will get something like 5,000 miles on a set. Mine is build 206 and there are no clearance problems at all with stock ride height. With E36 suspension in a much lighter car the tires act as part of the suspension which compensates for being over sprung in most street situations.

I love the tires and will just stay with them permanently for this car. It did a 2:30 lap time on the Sebring long course with these tires and could have gone faster. I have several competition licenses and coach racers so a better driver than most.
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Old 01-29-2016, 09:45 AM
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I did know they had a 235 size. I only seen 245 and 225
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Old 01-29-2016, 02:10 PM
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My ride height is higher. Closer to 26.5-27. This leaves about an inch between the top of the tire and fender. The pictures are rotating counterclockwise for some reason. The height is easy to adjust but could throw off the alignment a bit.

I never saw where 235/60/15s were available. Just the 225 and 245s.

Good luck.
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Old 01-30-2016, 02:15 AM
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I decided on the AVONs and am going 295 on the rear and 245 on the front. I may have to adjust the front ride height slightly but nothing dramatic. Here are my current fender measurements with my 18" wheels and tires

Ground to front fender



Center of hub to front fender



Ground to rear fender



Center of hub to rear fender

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Old 01-30-2016, 12:40 PM
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Cbreez:

About $1700-1800 plus shipping, mounting and balancing for a set of 4
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Old 01-30-2016, 03:57 PM
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thx for the info...
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Old 10-06-2020, 06:08 PM
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I think this is best thread to post this question

I have an older BDR #69 15" rims and currently has BFG's 235/60 295/50
rear seem ok but the front are not round 65 70 shake.

Only looking for street use and reading most of the older posts Yokohama Avid S/T's seem to be the best road choice.

But unless I am missing something on the tire sites (tire rack and such) seems there is a very limited choice of tires in the sizes I have looks like they are not made in 15' or they are not wide enough.

I am discounting cooper and BFG's as the same quality but not finding much else to pick

Hankook ?????? has the sizes in there Kinergy ST any thought would be appreciated

Bill
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Old 10-08-2020, 04:27 PM
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While I don't have a BDR, the 255 x 60 x 15 fronts do a very nice job of filling up the front wheel well on an SPF and give the car an excellent look and stance.

Depending on how torquey your engine is down low, you might want to get the biggest tires you can fit in the back. Back tires tend to be consumables (as I suspect you have long known) so sticky consumables are better than not so sticky consumables.

While not the stickiest this tire is still a good compromise between sticky, handling and some tire life on the street. The tire is the Nitto NT555R 325 x 50 x 15 rear tire. Jegs has them for $213 right now which is a pretty good buy. Here is a link to the tire on Jegs; click here => Nitto NT555R

As you work through your tire alternatives you might find this comparative tire sizing tool helpful for comparing the various alternatives available to you, click here => Tire Sizing Comparator

Of course the Second Strike Gearing Calculator is replica brand independent and is quite helpful in noodling out ring and pinion choices with tire sizes showing you what it means when you are driving down the highway or around town. Here is a link to the calculator, click here=> Second Strike Gearing Calculator.



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Last edited by eschaider; 10-09-2020 at 12:07 AM.. Reason: Fix broken link
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Old 10-08-2020, 07:32 PM
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Keeping those sizes leaves very few options. The Cooper Cobras and The Mickey Thompson ST are the same tire (Cooper owns Mickey) 440 treadwear

Hankook and Nankang are also high treadwear ratings.

There are some Firestone Indy 500 available here & there, but the treadwear is 500 which is pretty hard and they're NOS so may be even harder.

I did run across these today.
American Racer tires from Boubin -::- - Products
Cheap prices. 295/50R15 @ $127 and the G60-15 (= the 245/60R15 is the width and dia) is $120.

I'm intrigued.
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Old 10-08-2020, 11:25 PM
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I believe the American Racer tires are the modern descendants of the McCreary tire line. I suspect, but don't know, they are bias ply tires. Something to consider in the search process.


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Last edited by eschaider; 10-10-2020 at 01:24 AM.. Reason: Spelling & Grammar
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Old 10-09-2020, 03:21 PM
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Ya the Americans do not say at all Radial or Bias

Maybe I am stuck with the Cooper (since its the same as MT) turn them black out.

Would like to hear from anyone running them (Coopers) as one of my biggest issues is the 65 -75 shake from the TAs

Thanks Bill
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Old 10-09-2020, 06:33 PM
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I had MT’s and they are a decent street tire. No issues with them and they rode well at around 22-24 PSI.
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