Anyone have this setup? I know its a slightly tight pinch, but according to the BFG specs, they can be mounted on 8" wide rims. I'm curious to see some pics.. mounted on 8" wide rims.

I currently have a set of 15x8 vintage mini-lite rims that I drive on the street... with 275-60-15 rear and 245-60 front... debating to get new 295-50 for front and rear... will look awesome, for sure! Or else, stay with the 275-60-15 rear and maybe a slight size larger to 255-60-15 fronts (the 245-60 fronts are a bit small). Wheel/fender clearance is not an issue as the fenders have slightly modified lips to accomodate my 275-45-16 race Hoosiers on 16x10 rims.

T/A nks ahead!

It will work but those 295 tires like 10 inch wide.

Thanks.. Cool pic.. yeh, the 10" rims would be best for the 295-50s.... I've even thought of getting 15x10 repro rally rims with proper backspacing, although the fronts could be an issue with the upper BJ and lower tie-rod. Still, I want to use my 15x8 vintage mini-lite rims for the "theme" of the car.

I've got 15x9 with 245-50-15's (Optimas)

A little different spoke and center design than those (Superlites?)

Yes.. "Super-Lites" (bought from Jess Neal). They really transform the image of the car! With these rims, its intention is only for street/hwy driving (ok... a little hi-speed road course driving)... but for eventual serious competition or lapping, the 16x10 rims with fresh rubber will be on the car.

I google'd some more on this topic since our pm's and found people do run em with that combo. I just think you have to decide if you really wanna use these same tires for a road course (especially if you already have a set of road course wheels it sounds like). Just google "295-50-15s 8 inch wheel". A lot of guys are asking the same question, but none mention road racing with that set up.
Here is one discussion. chevy forum: http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-193807.html

and a picture from that discussion with that set up:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r125/cdbattista/1972%20Camaro/P1010026.jpg

I'm curious of the outcome too as I was planning on the same sizes on the back when I burn off the 255/60/15 that are on there now?
I REALLY want to upgrade to these to get better rubber choices, but can't swing the money at this time.
http://www.team3wheels.com/lt_iii.html

I've already done the DrDiff offset hangers and b-body width rear end thing so I can fit bigger rubber out back.

Looking at your original post photo; we know the TA series was required to run 15x8 wheels and the allowable tires were 6.00x15, 7.00x15, and 8.00x15. Since race tires were measured diferently than street tires in the day, we can find that while these specs seem small, the actual size of them was pretty large.

According to Roger Krause Tires, a 6.00x15 tire is 25.5 diameter with a 10.6 section width. In metric terms this is close to 265/60x15.

A 7.00x15 is 26.7 diameter with a 12" section width. In metric terms this is close to a 305/50x15.

A 8.00x15 is a 26.8 diameter with a 13" section width. In metric terms this is close to a 335/45x15

Since those are specialized sizes and not readily available, a 255/60 and a 295/50 may be the closest metric sizes out there. You can run a 295/50 on an 8" rim, but you need to drop the air pressure to around 28psi to get full contact patch on the street. I've run this combo before without issues. Naturally, running this in a more vigorous manner would require higher pressures and put more wear on the shoulders than normal street running and may offset the center tread wear some. Putting this combo together really duplicates the tires seen on the vintage Challenger in your original post. IMO, a 295 really likes a 9-9.5 width rim. 8" isn't bad, but does buldge the sidewalls a bit. 10" is a bit too wide as it is actually wider than the tread face width.

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 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.

There also is the Maxxis Marauder MA-S1 tire that is alos H rated and has a tread design similar to the old Goodyear Gatorbacks. They offer a 255/60x15, 265/50x15 and 295/50x15. The problem with these guys is they do not have an extensive distribution network. Most of their focus is on truck and atv tires, so maybe a local 4x4 or motorcycle store could pick them up for you.

Thanks Killer bee! the Camaro pics suite my need...

Thanks TC! The info you give here is accurate to my thoughts, as well. I'll look at other tire company's options, though I favor thge BFG "T/A", again, for my car's "theme". Actual advantage with the taller sidewall tires option (255-60 frt, 275-60 rr) is the extra cushion, and ground clearance... for street/hwy driving.... as well as slightly reduced hwy rpms with the 275-60 rears (I'm currently running a 3.23 rear in my 8.75, have 3.55 and others, though I'm also considering a 2.94 if out there somewhere... more capable of extended 1st gear Solo II/autocrossing and longer stretches on hi-speed road courses, plus reduced hwy rpms (less expensive than an O/D trans changeover!).

Hi Brad... IF I'd ever purchase another set of rims, such as 17 or 18 inchers, I'd definitely go with the "vintage Trans Am" 8-spokes like on the site you've attached... the "theme" is so classic and gives the car its true (IMO) heritage impression. (There I go again... dreaming of spending $$ that just isn't available... at this time!)

I have 295/50s on 15x8s on the back of my Roadrunner. Rim's a bit narrow for the tire, but no problems. A 9" rim would be better, 10" probably about max width for them.

Thanks TOPSIDE... gives me more to consider yey/ney.

I had that combo on my 72 Charger. Not the perfect rim for a 295, but it worked. Handled awfully though. No grip at all. My BFG"s (new gen) were pretty old though. Cant see even brand new ones handling a lot better though. Just not a HP tire in my opinion. Even a 225/50/15 Z-rated (ancient) Yoko on a 15x7" rim handled better than the much newer BFG 295 Radial T/A's.

Here's the Charger.

Here are the same rims/tires on my Challenger. The rears are actually 305/50/15 Euros, but you get the idea. Thats a 15x8" steelie rim, 4 1/4" backspace, and i think i had a 1/4" spacer up front (not that i needed it, more just to see how it looked).

I think maybe a 4 1/2" backspace might be perfect, as any more will have the wheel into the A-arm, but also, much less and the tire is into the fender lip. To actually use these i'm pretty sure i'd have to get the tin-snips out or bash the lip in front.

Another angle...

Here you go. 295-50-15s on a 15X8

another

Here is a snapshot of when I had the 295 on an 8" rear and 235 front. Sorry, I don't have many other pictures from this time frame. There is a considerable sidewall bulge on the 295, but it fills out teh wheel well nicely.





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 a 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. My photography equipment obvously improved in this time....

PR, Adam, TC and all -- thanks for the pics... just what I what looking for! I may still stay with the 275-60 rear, and get 255-60 fronts... but I have all winter until next year to ultimately decide.

Also, when I ran my T/a at the Monster Mopar Autocross recently at INDY, well... I took about 30 total runs and wore the Hoosier A6 275-45-16s down to the cord on a cpl tires.. they were very old tires.. from 2001.. so, its time to get replacements on them, too, perhaps some streetable BFG Touring tires in 255-50-16s... those I can safely drive on the street AND run hi-speed road course events.

Tomorrow.. Sunday Oct 7 (well... its already today).. I'm the "Pace Car" at w2w road race at the Joliet Autobahn... ~50 miles SW of Chgo)... pics to follow!