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15" tires #1519458
10/18/13 01:36 PM
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Due to my narrowed rear axle I'd need pricey custom built rear rims to step up to a 17" + wheel/rim package. So until I win the lottery I'm stuck with my existing 15" rims. Looking at available tires with a minimum 12" section width rapidly narrows the selection down to a couple of options. The only choice that even remotely resemble a handling tire are the Mickey Thompson SR series. The Ford Cobra (not Mustang) guys seem to like them fairly well but my searches on handling comments has come up empty.

Tony (TC@HP2) posted some comments a year ago about these tires in response to a question from Mopar Mitch. I'm posting his edited responses below and hope he, and others with some 1st hand knowledge, will chime in:

"Another option may be to use the Mickey Thompson SR tires in 26x10x15 front and 26x12x15 rear. These tires are measured by section width in inches, so they would be close to a 260/50 and a 305/45. So they would be as wide as a vintage TA look, but a but shorter in overall height. Another advantage to this tire combo is these are H rated, so they may tend to stick a bit better than the average S or T rated street tire."
Pic of TC's car: "Here is the current combo with the 26x10 and 26x12 MT SR. Front rim is 8" rear rim is 10". IMO, the 10" is a skosh to wide of a rim for a 305. I wish there was a 315 or 325 15" tire out there that didn't cost an arm and a leg. Not sure how I feel about this rear tire and I may go for a 28x12 on my next set. That would be about a 305/55. I'll have to wait and see how these feel."

7892007-MTSR26s.jpg (131 downloads)
Re: 15" tires [Re: Rapom65] #1519459
10/18/13 01:49 PM
10/18/13 01:49 PM
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Specific questions for TC, any one else with input please join the party.

TC you stated "Not sure how I feel about this rear tire and I may go for a 28x12 on my next set" What was it you didn't like, tire not tall enough looks wise, 28 x 12 would bulge more at the side wall on a 10" rim, or? Did you try a 28 x 12 yet?

Your thoughts on handling performance of these tires...

What is the back space on your rims F&R? Do you feel a 7" front rim would pinch the 26 x 8 too much? Have any rubbing issues anywhere?

Thanks for all your help on this and other questions you have responded to.

Last edited by Rapom65; 10/24/13 02:44 PM.
Re: 15" tires [Re: Rapom65] #1519460
10/18/13 03:11 PM
10/18/13 03:11 PM
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10" tires do not belong on 7" wheels. You need to be around 9" for a proper fit.


We are brothers and sisters doing time on the planet for better or worse. I'll take the better, if you don't mind.
- Stu Harmon
Re: 15" tires [Re: feets] #1519461
10/18/13 06:02 PM
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OOPS! Typo, should have been 26x8, fixed...

Re: 15" tires [Re: Rapom65] #1519462
10/18/13 06:09 PM
10/18/13 06:09 PM
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8" tires will work on a 7" wheel since you're not looking at a crazy low profile.


We are brothers and sisters doing time on the planet for better or worse. I'll take the better, if you don't mind.
- Stu Harmon
Re: 15" tires [Re: feets] #1519463
10/18/13 07:41 PM
10/18/13 07:41 PM
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Have you looked at Team III wheels?


Mopar to the bone!!!
Re: 15" tires [Re: 72Swinger] #1519464
10/18/13 11:00 PM
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Quote:

Have you looked at Team III wheels?




Yes and when I buy new rims they will be high on the list. Unfortunately with the cash available right now I can buy new 15" tires and finish the car or I can buy 17"+ tires & rims and not finish the car. Either way sucks.

Here's what's still on the shopping list...
4 speed refresh - bearings & syncos
Firm Feel III conversion
Brake booster rebuild
Firm Feel T-bars
Fox/Hotchkis shocks
exhaust pipes (have TTIs and Flowmaster Mufflers)
heater box rebuild kit
ignition system
push rods
gauges
spark plug wires
plus a million bits and pieces

then tires.

Re: 15" tires [Re: Rapom65] #1519465
10/18/13 11:55 PM
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Quote:

Specific questions for TC, any one else with input please join the party.

TC you stated "Not sure how I feel about this rear tire and I may go for a 28x12 on my next set" What was it you didn't like, tire not tall enough looks wise, 28 x 12 would bulge more at the side wall on a 10" rim, or? Did you try a 28 x 12 yet?

Your thoughts on handling performance of these tires...

What is the back space on your rims F&R? Do you feel a 7" front rim would pinch the 26 x 8 too much? Have any rubbing issues anywhere?

Thanks for all your help on this and other questions you have responded to.




Hey Rapom,

Only reason I would go the 28" rear tires is the look. 26" square doesn't look bad, but the 28"s would like more era correct. No, I've haven't tried 28"s yet. I actually haven't tried the 26" yet.

When I was inspecting the engine for its install( a former race engine from my drag car) I found a couple of blackened bearings, so my plan on getting it together and on the road fell apart for a time. So I can't comment on the sticking ability of the MT SRs. Talking to the reps at Mickey Thompson, they are claiming a 15k mileage capability out of these tires, if you don't abuse them which tells me they are a bit softer than your average BFG.

Rims are 15x8 front, with 4.5 back space. No rubs under full compression or full lock, but the fender lip edge was close enough to make me roll it to avoid any potential problems. A 4.75 back space (which I had with a previous set of wheels) would have been perfect. 4.75" is as much back space as you can run with a 15" rim before it hits the ball joint. Rears are 15x10 with 5" back space. Rear housing is a '67 B body with springs moved 1" inboard and zero arch leafs. Again, no rubbing issues anywhere.

Re: 15" tires [Re: TC@HP2] #1519466
10/20/13 11:52 AM
10/20/13 11:52 AM
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TC thanks for the response and info. Guess I will be the guinea pig for this experiment. Have two new-ish sets of N50 MT "I" tread rears I was going to use up while I saved for new rims/tires. From what I've been able to find out they are a road race oriented bias ply but old school tech. Unfortunately I have found nothing out there that would match up to them for the front. So on to plan B.

These N50s are 13.25" section, 11.5" tread & 27" tall on my 10" rims. I set my ride height for my 4 link rear for that height tire and now I'm torn which way to go, 26" or 28" x 12".

Re: 15" tires [Re: Rapom65] #1519467
10/20/13 12:22 PM
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Yes the MT I tires are old school bias ply, but they also have 4 ply sidewalls so even though they are tall, they are probably going to deflect much less than the current crop of 2 ply sidewall radials.

Why not pick up a pair of G-60 MTs for the front? 27" tall, 10.4 section width with 7.4" tread face.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mtt-1566 Granted its a bit tall for a front tire, but judicious trimming might fit it.

Re: 15" tires [Re: TC@HP2] #1519468
10/20/13 05:55 PM
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All though they are listed on Summit they show no price and are "unavailable" when put in the shopping cart. I think these tires were long ago discontinued. I've tried searches in the past for these and usually end up with a bunch of garbage results. My only hope would be to find some NOS somewhere but no luck on the Web. In fact I've totally bombed on finding any 4 ply bias front tires that would even sort of match up to these. That is why I was leaning towards the SRs. Not the best handling tire out there I'm sure but a least they're 15" and not stupid money for a set of 4.

Re: 15" tires [Re: Rapom65] #1519469
10/20/13 10:50 PM
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I was thinking they might be discoed. Too bad. Try these guys: http://porterstire.com/sportsmanitires-tennessee#u=/Line:1134/DisplayAll:0

I wouldn't mix the ST, SR, or other radials with the "I" rears. Just my preference.

Re: 15" tires [Re: TC@HP2] #1519470
10/20/13 11:04 PM
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If you're dead set on 15's you might run across some Hoosier R6 in decent sizes but none in a 28" tall. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?...romCompare1=yes


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Re: 15" tires [Re: 72Swinger] #1519471
10/21/13 05:41 AM
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I have some really neat 15x8" rims i got for my Challenger project (while i save for the fancy 18's) and was looking to find some legal-looking 295/50-15'-ish tires for them, but i got lost in the choices. Figured i might find something cool in Goodyear, as i see lots ov them on actual race cars, but really really good 15's are a confusing proposal. My only criteria really was that it had tread, last longer than a year, and might look semi-legal to a passing cop at 30mph. I finally gave up. Might sell the rims, might just waste some money on Radial T/A's... though thats a pretty dangerous tire as far as i'm concerned.

A BFG Rival or G-Force KD/KDW2-level tire in 295/50-15 would be cool. I still think they'd sell enough ov them to warrant the tooling.

Re: 15" tires [Re: Pale_Roader] #1519472
10/21/13 10:40 AM
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Yeah, pickings are slim in 15" categories for performance street. Most are designed for cruisers (high mileage/low traction)and have not had significant updates to their construction in decades.

The two newest carcass designs for 15" tires are the MT SR and the Maxxis Marauder. Both H rated, both classed as LT tires, both with decent tread designs. In the realm of street competition tires are of course the Hoosier A and R series and the Avon CR6ZZ.

I suppose if you were so inclined, you could pick up some radial slicks and groove them to a street type tread. They may casually appear to be legal, but close inspection of the sidewall warning would say otherwise. Could lead to liability issues and a host of trouble if you were to ever get in an accident with them on the car.

Re: 15" tires [Re: TC@HP2] #1519473
10/21/13 06:36 PM
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If I could find a NOS set of G60 "I"s I would run them in the front just so I could wear out the two sets of N50s I have in the shop. I considered running a radial front with them but research showed that was a real bad idea. Most 15s in a wide profile are constructed with either drag radial compounds/tread(less), or are hard street compounds/all season tread. You also have the comp tires; R1s, A6s and Avons but you sure don't want to ruin them highway driving. SRs are not race tires but there a step above what else is available. It is what it is until demand fosters new tire offerings or the lack thereof completely kills 15s for good. Ultimately I will be going 17s or bigger but it will be "down the road some".

Re: 15" tires [Re: Rapom65] #1519474
10/21/13 11:22 PM
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In bias ply designs you could look at Pro-Trac or American Racer to complement the MT "I"s. I think Towel City still offers bias plys as well. No exact matching tread pattern, but similar construction and sizes.

Re: 15" tires [Re: TC@HP2] #1519475
10/22/13 05:16 AM
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Quote:

In bias ply designs you could look at Pro-Trac or American Racer to complement the MT "I"s. I think Towel City still offers bias plys as well. No exact matching tread pattern, but similar construction and sizes.




Or if you know a good carpenter with a good lathe you could make some tires out ov wood?

With all due respect, why is anyone talking about ancient bias-ply tires in a cornering forum? That stuff was less than marginal 40 years ago, let alone how bad it would be, even NOS if you found some today. My 15 year old sun-baked Radial T/A's i use for rollers would work better than an 'I' tread MT or any old bias trash. I had Pro Tracs on my 70 Buick when i was 18 years old and immortal, and even i thought they were scary back then...

Re: 15" tires [Re: TC@HP2] #1519476
10/22/13 05:29 AM
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Quote:

Yeah, pickings are slim in 15" categories for performance street. Most are designed for cruisers (high mileage/low traction)and have not had significant updates to their construction in decades.

The two newest carcass designs for 15" tires are the MT SR and the Maxxis Marauder. Both H rated, both classed as LT tires, both with decent tread designs. In the realm of street competition tires are of course the Hoosier A and R series and the Avon CR6ZZ.

I suppose if you were so inclined, you could pick up some radial slicks and groove them to a street type tread. They may casually appear to be legal, but close inspection of the sidewall warning would say otherwise. Could lead to liability issues and a host of trouble if you were to ever get in an accident with them on the car.




Have you actually tried that 295/50-15 Marauder? I didn't know they came in a 295. Wonder if they'd be as good as say, the old Comp T/A (H-rated). I had those on my A66 Challenger, though they were very small (235 & 255/60-15's) and that car actually did pretty damn well with them. I'd be down for a 295/50-15 version ov those Comp T/A's, or a similar level tire in a Marauder, for the time being anyways. Till i can afford the 18" Forgelines...

About grooving a slick... how hokey would that look? Could you dictate the design to any real degree? Are there not rain tires in a Goodyear racing tire? The Goodyear racing catalog seems to have a lot ov options, and in wide 15's too... but again, its just too confusing a catalog to figure out.

Re: 15" tires [Re: Pale_Roader] #1519477
10/22/13 02:11 PM
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I have the 28x12 s/r in rear (15x9 rims), 26x10 in front (original 7" rims)- car isn't finished yet so I haven't been able to drive with these yet, so I can't elaborate on them.
But these are the most bias type looking radial I can find (square edged).

7896560-cuda-barf001.jpg (108 downloads)
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