What size tire can be fit without mini-tubbing the fox?

[FastDriver]

I'm planning on putting a rear-end in and would like to put some serious tires on the rear-end. I'm thinking 335/x/15's out back. I'm wondering if this can be done by shortening the axles, pounding the hell out of the inner fenderwells and rolling the rear quarter panels into the wheel well.

The car is still a street car, and I don't want to mini-tub it if it isn't necessary, but I figure I might as well figure it all out now before I'm decided on the rear-end specs.

Chris

 

[Rick 91GT]

You can heat and beat and stretch the stock tubs a long way, and fit a 325/15 under it with proper clearance all around the tire. I remember years ago Chris Benigo heat and beated the stock tubs on his Hot Street car and put a 275/50 tire on it and sat the car on the frame and the tire still cleared....

Over 2.5 hours per side, a lot of heat and a BFH

 

[JungleJoe]

I had a 275-50-15 on a 8 inch rim on my old 93 convertible, dont know what the BS was on the rim, but it fit great.

 

[2000xp8]

Keep in mind the same tire that works on a car that only goes straight may not work all that well on a car that has to go around turns.
With my 275 35 18 drag radials, i'm pretty much perfect on the outside and around turns will rub on the inside, that's why i bought a panhard bar.
Now, the tires i have run pretty wide, so i'm not sure "275" is an accurate depiction of how wide they are.

 

[reldla1996]

I ran 275/35/17's on mine for a while, with the wheel wells untouched, and they rubbed around hard corners and/or if they was a bunch of weight in the trunk or back seat. Effectively the car became a two seater. With 255/40/17's, they never rub. Wheels are 17x9.5 with 6.42" BS.

 

[FastDriver]

I currently run 275/40/17s. They're ok and all, but it sounds like a mini-tub is the way to go to do it right.

 

[Opposedodie]

i have 275/40 zr17 on mine and have about 1 inch of space left over on the inside side of the tire...

 

[90mustangGT]

A buddy of mine ran 315/35R17 on a 10.5" Cobra R wheel with a little "massaging" but nothing extreme.... looked mean as hell. 15" rims with 275's should be much of an issue. I'd like to stuff some 295/60R15's under mine but that's going to be stuffing it, I know. That's not only wide, but it's a 29" tall tire. Of course, then my 3.73's will be kind of like 3.27's so I'd then have to go with something like a 4.30, and of course can't just do gears along..... I'd better stay out of there.

 

[JungleJoe]

Keep in mind the same tire that works on a car that only goes straight may not work all that well on a car that has to go around turns.
With my 275 35 18 drag radials, i'm pretty much perfect on the outside and around turns will rub on the inside, that's why i bought a panhard bar.
Now, the tires i have run pretty wide, so i'm not sure "275" is an accurate depiction of how wide they are.

You are exactly right about that my friend!!

 

[JungleJoe]

I have the 17x9 cobras on mine right now with Nitto 555's 275-40-17 and only had to "massage" the quad shocks. I just found out someone said you can just flip them around.....

 

[rustyruststang5]

275/60 15s on my 8in welds they rub over hard bumps/ turns or with alot of weight in the back. every thuing is untached on the body.

 

[NIKwoaC]

Chris, just minitub it and stuff the biggest tires you can find under it. You know you'll still blaze them with ease with that turbo motor!

I have the 17x9 cobras on mine right now with Nitto 555's 275-40-17 and only had to "massage" the quad shocks. I just found out someone said you can just flip them around.....

You massaged the quad shocks? How do you do that without destroying them?

 

[90lxcoupe]

275/60r15 on a 10'' rim is plenty of tire when the car is set up right. 325's look cool but its gotta be alot of heat and beat to get it to fit, cause my tubs are pretty hammered and there is no way a 325 would fit. It hits the spring perches too, dont see how you can move those in.

28x10.5 or a 275/60 radial is plenty of tire IMO.

It also makes a difference whether they are on a 8'' or 10'' rim.

 

[srtthis]

you can go 7's on 275/60 why bother cramming a ton of tire in there if you dont need it.

 

[2000xp8]

My personal opinion is unless you are in the quest for 7 or 8 second passes, i don't think mini tubbing is worth the trouble or money.
Guys run 9's (and possibly even quicker) without mini tubbing, so i don't see the point in doing it to a street car.
I know when the drag radial class came out, my buddy went low 9's on 17 inch boyd cottington wheels, that were completely meant for street cars, and weren't all that wide.

 

[stykthyn]

I have 31sx10.5 on the back and after a **** ton of pounding and rolling they rub on corners.

 

[FastDriver]

Thanks for the comments, everyone.

I do plan on running 8s.... relatively soon.

I don't plan on running 7s....yet.

Maybe mini-tubbing is not the way to go, but seems like it'll help get a bigger badder tire under the car, and while you can find the traction to go 7s at a track on a 275s, won't it still be easier to find on a 325?

Chris

 

[NIKwoaC]

and while you can find the traction to go 7s at a track on a 275s, won't it still be easier to find on a 325?

Chris

Not only that, but it would be SAFER. It seems like it's a lot easier to make a mistake and get squirrely on a 275 than it would a bigger tire, considering the type of speed you're after.

 

[JungleJoe]

You massaged the quad shocks? How do you do that without destroying them?

Just hammered them in a little where the tire would have rubbed, still work like nothing was ever done to them....

 

[srtthis]

actually from the few guys ive talked to running 325's... the 275 hoosiers work better. when the radials spin they dont start to haze like a slick will. they just straight go up in smoke, so honestly you'll lift sooner then you would on a slick