295/50 15 vs. 275/60 15? Which is better?

[RallySnake]

In the 24 years I've been driving my Arntz Cobra, I've burned up LOTS of tires. When you run a SCCA Solo2, you really find out how good your tires REALLY are.

The first set came on the second hand rims that I purchased. They were BFG's. The problem is that the hard rubber compound just doesn't grip well on a light car. They would let go gradually and I was able to do some phenomenal drifts with them. If you like making your passengers scream, these are good tires.

Most of the tires I have used since then are no longer made. The Yoko Avid S/T’s I have on the car now have been pretty good. But, the rears have worn to the point I have to replace them. If a lotto ticket pays off, I just might be able to afford the Avon’s. Since I run through a set of tires every year, it just does not make sense to spend $1,600 for a set.

I have found that larger tires on the rear do not make much difference. It doesn’t matter if they re 305’s, 295,s or 275’s, it’s the rubber compound makes the difference. However, I have found that using larger tires on the front really helps handling. If you want to get around a track quickly, you want your front tires to be as large as your rear tires. Unfortunately, 275 tires look a little wacky on the front of a Cobra, so I compromise with 255/60/15’s.

The Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/T tires look like the best, affordable choice right now. I would really like to hear from someone who has run a Solo2 or Autocross with them. Do they have a gradual breakaway? Do they give audible warning?