What size tire and wheel for 66 coupe

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galaxie

New Member

Sep 8, 2004

12

0

0

Chicago suburbs

Sep 8, 2004

#1

• Sep 8, 2004

• #1

I am new to the board and know very little about wheels. what prompts me to ask about tires is after our annual trip to the strip, I posted what I thought were poor 60 foot times, after looking at other 60 foot times. It could be tires or it could just be me. My 60 foot times seemed to be almost a second slower than the vehicle in the other lane. I am finishing at 94 mph @ 15.1 seconds. for the quarter mile. I have a 66 k code coupe 289 which is pretty close to stock, 350 open rear with top loader 4 speed. I am currently using a off brand radial (road hugger g\t 215 60r x 14) on magnum 500 wheels. I would like to keep the car original looking and could probaly go up to a 15 inch if it would make a difference in traction. This is mainly a cruise night car but I would like to improve my times as well. I do not want to make mods to the car. I hope you guys can offer some insight. thanks!

 

Vinyl66

Member

Mar 21, 2004

398

0

16

Sep 8, 2004

#2

• Sep 8, 2004

• #2

With a 94mph speed you should be in the 14's. Are you spinning a lot off the line? If you are, then easing into the throttle will improve your times.
What are your 60 foot times? I ran 15.2-15.4 this summer with a 2.3 60 foot.
My 60 foots were bad I thought but no one was 1 second quicker to 60 except a Dodge Neon 4 cylinder front wheel drive that hit 180 in the quarter.
If your 60's were slower than this than you are spinning waaay too much!

With a 3.50 rear and 215/60/14's (24 inch tall) you have good gearing. Those wheels are heavy but I don't believe that is the problem. If you can burn the tires off from a standing start then you need some stickies. BFG makes a drag radial the same size as your tires now. I will be trying out a set myself in a couple of weeks. The treadwear rating on them is 0, so I will use them on an extra set of wheels.

 

G

galaxie

New Member

Sep 8, 2004

12

0

0

Chicago suburbs

Sep 8, 2004

#3

• Sep 8, 2004

• #3

Thanks for the info. My 60 foot times were around 3 seconds. I will practice the launch and if i can' get the time down then I'll try stickier tires.Can anyone recommend a launch technique for street tires.

 

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fastback brian

Founding Member

Jul 15, 2002

540

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0

So Cal , I.E.

Sep 8, 2004

#4

• Sep 8, 2004

• #4

whoa,a 3 second sixty. My best 60 foot on radials is a 2.2, that was on a 195/75/14 whitewall, probably would have been a 2.1 but they made me take the hubcaps off.
For you, no burnout and stay out the water box. DONT lower the tire pressure, try to keep it around 28-30 psi. Launch just off idle maybe around 1500 rpms or lower if it still spins. But if the tires are breaking loose after the car gets moving then your tires are most likely junk or you have alot of torque out of that 289.

 

302 coupe

Founding Member

Mar 2, 2000

1,952

3

36

Macon, Ga.

Sep 9, 2004

#5

• Sep 9, 2004

• #5

go with 15x7 magnum 500's with a good 235/60/15 tire, then practice driving--alot.

 

MustangMatt1966

New Member

Mar 11, 2004

1,004

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Orlando Fl.

Sep 9, 2004

#6

• Sep 9, 2004

• #6

my 60' times are a 2.3/2.4 and i ran a top speed of 107 mph and ran a 14.3 as i recall lol but i know i spun my tires, my friend said i spun through the 60' foot marker, i have original rims with cooper cobra tires, i know they are junk, i need slicks or something to get my times down, i am positive the car should be in the 13, are there any street slicks or things that i can get for my original rally wheels?

 

BlueMonster65

Founding Member

Feb 24, 2001

385

0

16

Connecticut

Sep 9, 2004

#7

• Sep 9, 2004

• #7

if you want traction invest in a traction-loc type differential. that one legger is killing your times. no matter what tires you have on there you'll be getting some one tire fire action unless you throw in a locker.

 

Vinyl66

Member

Mar 21, 2004

398

0

16

Sep 9, 2004

#8

• Sep 9, 2004

• #8

You guys are spinning waaaay too much off the line. Spinning takes precious time off of your ET. My old '89 LX ran a 107 in the quarter like yours MustangMatt but my time was 13.4. This was with 225 Falken (hard) street tires also. I had to gradually get into the gas at the strip to prevent spinning.
With a good launch and traction, high 12's are possible with a 107 mph.

Drag radials and a posi will do wonders for elapsed times for those of you who are overpowering the tires.

 

MustangMatt1966

New Member

Mar 11, 2004

1,004

1

0

Orlando Fl.

Sep 10, 2004

#9

• Sep 10, 2004

• #9

thanks vinyl66, i had a feeling with that, but to launch i have to dump the clutch or else i get major wheel hop if i "ease" into it, so there for dumping the heck out of it is causing me to spin the like crazy........i just dont know what to do?