TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat May 07, 2005 8:01 am

I was woundering what size tires you guys use. I was thinking of runing 31s frunt and rear what do you think.

Sat May 07, 2005 9:17 am

Depends on the year, I run 30s all around, actually I think the rears are 28.5 but anyway you have to watch for the rear torsion bar if you have a late year and remember bigger tires are going to cause wear and tear on the clutch and virtually eliminate 4th gear.

Sat May 07, 2005 10:03 am

I run 31-10.5x15 rear and 30-9.5x15 front.

Sat May 07, 2005 10:43 am

Your fronts are 30x9.50x15's baja5?

What brand and style tire is that? Any closeup pics?

SHMO

Sat May 07, 2005 10:52 am

SHMO wrote: Your fronts are 30x9.50x15's baja5?

What brand and style tire is that? Any closeup pics?

SHMO

looks to be bf goodrich terra something or other

Sat May 07, 2005 11:16 am

They're BFG all tererains. I copied the wheel and tire size from my freind but if i had it to do over i would have gone a little narrower in the front. maybe some 15x7.00.

Sat May 07, 2005 9:19 pm

Whats the purpose of going a narrower tyre on the front?

Sat May 07, 2005 10:26 pm

less unsprung weight is the reason. It allows the suspension to work better, and it greatly reduces the wear and tear on the front components. They also handle a little better in most circumstances.

The only problem with the 7.00 x15's is that they are only available in a bias ply tire. Great, unless you plan to drive you car on the road.

SHMO

Sun May 08, 2005 12:46 am

i would have figured a wider tire would be better in the front for steering and braking purposes

Sun May 08, 2005 9:04 am

The car seems to handle ok with the tires i have but the wheels are pretty narrow so the side walls are tilted inward a little.I have no plans to change them right now, i have to add a back seat before next season, Junior is ready for action and the wife is ready to get away from camp.

Sun May 08, 2005 11:21 am

Narrow tire explanation:

Bajas and rails being so light up front like a narrower tire. A wide tire with only a little weight on it is more likely to push in a corner. It will also cause the car to skate a little at speed. Braking has the same issues. With the wide contact and very little weight, the car is more likely to skid. Steering effort and suspension cycling is another concern. With a wide heavy front tire the steering effort is obviously increased. The big thing that people often don't realize is the effect a wide tire has on the suspension cycling. The front of a rail or Baja is very light. Therefore the spring and shock valving is also light, at least compared to most vehicles. With a heavy wide tire up front you are adding un-sprung weight. To control that weight properly requires additional valving to be added in the shocks to control the wheel movement. With the very light front end our cars have, you get to the point that you are basically valving for the tires weight rather than the weight of the vehicle. More unsprung weight, more valving to control that weight making for a harsher ride. This is the very reason most racers run aluminum wheels and trick brakes, lighter weight equaling better performance.

SHMO

Sun May 08, 2005 11:54 am

I'm planning on running the 7.00 x15's as soon as I can. My friend runs them and is perfectly happy with all aspects of their handling, even on the street. Because of their durability they should last 10 years on the front. Great traction, not too wide, beefy as hell, and inexpensive.

As for me on the rear, I'm looking at 33 10.50. And I'm also getting a set of 35's mounted up on some spare wheels just for shock value.

Did I mention that I'm running gear redux? No clearance issues here. But man, I've got more unsprung weight than an elephant on a trampoline.

Sun May 08, 2005 4:26 pm

The only handling issue with the bias ply tires, other than the fact that they are rock hard bias ply tires intended for 6,000 pounds of truck, is the fact most of us run radials on the back. Mark my words, ANYONE who says that a 7.00x15 on front and a radial on the back handles, rides and works well has the same attitude towards parking on a hill becase the starter doesn't work.

"ya it works just fine....round...bolts on.....what more could a guy want"

SHMO