• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

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

  • Thread starter Thread starter FastDriver
  • Start date Start date Aug 14, 2011

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
SN Certified Technician
Sep 5, 2001
6,109
2,726
224
Vass, NC
Aug 14, 2011
#1
  • Aug 14, 2011
  • #1
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

Mustang Master
Nov 29, 1999
9,692
95
99
PA
Aug 14, 2011
#2
  • Aug 14, 2011
  • #2
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 was like well chit..Im missing something
Jul 25, 2011
184
7
18
Mo.
Aug 14, 2011
#3
  • Aug 14, 2011
  • #3
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

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
8,036
1,625
194
NJ
Aug 14, 2011
#4
  • Aug 14, 2011
  • #4
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.
 
R

reldla1996

Member
May 4, 2011
356
22
19
Dayton, Ohio
Aug 14, 2011
#5
  • Aug 14, 2011
  • #5
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 was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
SN Certified Technician
Sep 5, 2001
6,109
2,726
224
Vass, NC
Aug 14, 2011
#6
  • Aug 14, 2011
  • #6
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

New Member
Jul 31, 2011
121
0
0
Aug 14, 2011
#7
  • Aug 14, 2011
  • #7
i have 275/40 zr17 on mine and have about 1 inch of space left over on the inside side of the tire...
 

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because
Founding Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,773
17
89
Dallas, GA
Aug 14, 2011
#8
  • Aug 14, 2011
  • #8
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

I was like well chit..Im missing something
Jul 25, 2011
184
7
18
Mo.
Aug 14, 2011
#9
  • Aug 14, 2011
  • #9
2000xp8 said:
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.
Click to expand...
You are exactly right about that my friend!!
 

JungleJoe

I was like well chit..Im missing something
Jul 25, 2011
184
7
18
Mo.
Aug 14, 2011
#10
  • Aug 14, 2011
  • #10
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.....
 
R

rustyruststang5

Member
May 9, 2011
151
2
17
Ne
Aug 15, 2011
#11
  • Aug 15, 2011
  • #11
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

中國製造
15 Year Member
Oct 31, 2006
5,525
943
214
Chengdu Province
Aug 15, 2011
#12
  • Aug 15, 2011
  • #12
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!

JungleJoe said:
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.....
Click to expand...

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

90lxcoupe

20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 7, 2003
3,596
350
134
Aug 15, 2011
#13
  • Aug 15, 2011
  • #13
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

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end
15 Year Member
Jul 3, 2009
5,129
1,666
204
Maryland
Aug 15, 2011
#14
  • Aug 15, 2011
  • #14
you can go 7's on 275/60 why bother cramming a ton of tire in there if you dont need it.
 

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
8,036
1,625
194
NJ
Aug 15, 2011
#15
  • Aug 15, 2011
  • #15
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 want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.
15 Year Member
Jul 6, 2006
5,232
2,652
223
gainesville
Aug 15, 2011
#16
  • Aug 15, 2011
  • #16
I have 31sx10.5 on the back and after a **** ton of pounding and rolling they rub on corners.
 

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
SN Certified Technician
Sep 5, 2001
6,109
2,726
224
Vass, NC
Aug 16, 2011
#17
  • Aug 16, 2011
  • #17
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

中國製造
15 Year Member
Oct 31, 2006
5,525
943
214
Chengdu Province
Aug 16, 2011
#18
  • Aug 16, 2011
  • #18
FastDriver said:
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
Click to expand...

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

I was like well chit..Im missing something
Jul 25, 2011
184
7
18
Mo.
Aug 16, 2011
#19
  • Aug 16, 2011
  • #19
NikwoaC said:
You massaged the quad shocks? How do you do that without destroying them?
Click to expand...

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

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end
15 Year Member
Jul 3, 2009
5,129
1,666
204
Maryland
Aug 16, 2011
#20
  • Aug 16, 2011
  • #20
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
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

9
Engine Donor '00 Mountaineer meet '91 Fox
  • 91firecracker
  • May 11, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2 3
Replies
41
Views
932
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 28, 2026
91firecracker
9
C
Drivetrain T-5 transmission issue
  • Ch3No2
  • Jul 11, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
3
Views
384
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jul 18, 2025
2000xp8
Wheels-Tires What’s needed to fit a 18x10 wheel in the rear
  • AnthonyA1234
  • Nov 29, 2024
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
10
Views
975
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Dec 5, 2024
Trogdor
B
Where to go from here on my build…
  • B0udreaux
  • Jul 14, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
8
Views
221
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jul 18, 2026
AeroCoupe
Wheels-Tires LS mii swap and rear rim size/axle questions....
  • 78mIIman
  • Feb 2, 2025
  • 1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech
Replies
6
Views
739
1974 - 1978 Mustang II Talk & Tech May 6, 2025
78 Mach1
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?