Help with question about Drag Lites

[dmac30]

I picked up a really nice set of Weld Drag Lites and tires for a steal of a price IMO for my '91 Coupe. The rears are 15x10 and have a set of 295x50/15's on them that are way too wide. The wheels have 5 1/2" of BS. The tires extend beyond the wheel well by a good inch at least causing tire rubbing + it looks really stupid. I'd like to keep the wheels. How narrow of a tire can I fit on these wheels and have them tuck inside the wheel wells? Nitto 555R 275x50/15's were recommended. How's that sound?

 

[dmac30]

Anyone?

 

[TheUser]

well...the nitto tires run small for their size. I've read that the nitto 275's are actually more like BFG 255's, which are roughly 10 inches wide. The problem you'd have there is that the wheel might actually be a little big for that tire. You could try some BFG 275/50's like I have.

My wheels are also supposed to be 15x10's but w/ 6 1/2 inches of backspacing. However, I believe mine are actually 15x9 w/ 5.5" of backspacing. Either way, mine rub on the fender well when going up an semi-sharp incline faster than a crawl. You could roll the fenders a little bit w/ some pvc pipe (search for threads on that).

If you really like the Nitto tire, maybe just try some 295's or something. I realize you want them tucked into the fender, but that probably won't happen w/ that wheel unless you roll the fenders. Alternatively, some guys run air bags in the rear to raise it up a bit and clear the tires.

 

[86bluecobra]

i have always been told that the 10 inch rims which weld does not make anymore needed to be a 6.5 in BS. the reason your tire sticks out is because of the BS. maybe you could send the rims back to weld and have them change em to a 6.5 inch BS.

 

[TheUser]

if you have 6.5" backspacing, you'd have to beat the hell out of the inner fender and probably pull the quad shocks. I had to dent my quad shocks a little bit to get mine to fit w/ what I believe to be 5.5" of backspacing. When I measured it, it was hard to tell.

However, 86bluecobra is right, the actual reason you're rubbing is there is too much wheel on the outside portion.

There are a lot of threads about this, so maybe you can find how someone else did it. I know there are several running 15x10's. I know some have air bags, like I said above.