TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:30 pm

Lotrat wrote: I poured over tons of posts to figure out what I wanted. Everyone likes to post what they are running, not much help unless we have the same setup. Everyone's ride is different. Ball Joint, Link, longer beams, longer trailing arms, IRS, swing, stock height, cut&turn, re-indexed rear, lifted spindles, 2x2's, 3x3's, body lifts, baja fenders, full fenders, and rim sizes all need to be taken into account when picking a tire.

I got pretty close to what I wanted. Glad I bought used tires and rims to try out the sizes. Next tire purchase will be a better fit.

Most important is the type of terrain you plan on driving on. Everyone seems to think BFG tires are great, but they won't cut in where I run, and the tires I run wouldn't cut it in the sand either.

Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:54 pm

Thanks for everyones responses.

I apologize that I do not have any pics to post. I haven't even figured how to yet! :oops:
The suspension looks to be stock. Baja kit already installed.
The general concensus seems to be 30's or 31's out back and 7's up front.
There's nothing wrong with running 245/70/14's, I just prefer to have a baja look like a baja and have the option of offroading without worrying about tearing up good street rubber.
Thanks again for everyones input.
I'll try and work on getting some pics up here. I'm extremely computer challenged so this would be one of the greatest feats of the year for me. :shock:

Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:08 pm

You guys keep mixing up with two different numbers.

On the back you keep saying 31 which is a great size baja tire. The 31 is the hieght of the tire and there is no mention of width.

On the front you guys keep mentioning 7. That is the tire width not the hieght.

Lets keep apples to apples and include both numbers.

My own 2 cents is to keep the tires pretty narrow on a baja on from and back. I like to run about a 10.5 width rear and a 7 in front.

As far as tall I think the 31 is a great rear size and a 29-30 is good for the front.

Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:10 pm

shred625 wrote: You guys keep mixing up with two different numbers.

On the back you keep saying 31 which is a great size baja tire. The 31 is the hieght of the tire and there is no mention of width.

On the front you guys keep mentioning 7. That is the tire width not the hieght.

Lets keep apples to apples and include both numbers.

My own 2 cents is to keep the tires pretty narrow on a baja on from and back. I like to run about a 10.5 width rear and a 7 in front.

As far as tall I think the 31 is a great rear size and a 29-30 is good for the front.

the 31 is a standard 10.5" width, and the 7 on the front refers to both sidewall height and tread width.

Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:45 pm

We are so close making a "standard" tire size for a "lifted" baja.
Will a 31x10.5x15 always fit on a long torsion bar rear? I've heard they can rub depending on the brand.

The 7.00x15 size in the front wins hands down. They are on the front of many baja's.
The Yokohama Y742S 7.00x15 is 29.8" in diameter
The Hercules HDT 7.00x15 is 29.62" in diameter
The Nankang/Nanco (can't find the spec)
on 5" rims

The rear is a toss up on the size. 30's always fit. 31's may fit, but may really slow down a baja with a stock motor.

The BFG AT 30x9.5x15 is 29.5" in diameter (stock motor/trans)(long torsion tubes)
The BFG AT 31x10.5x15 is 30.7" in diameter (short torsion tubes)
on 7-8" rims

I'm not saying that these are "THE" tires to run, but it would be nice to have something to cut and paste every time it's asked...

Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:19 pm

Is there a good radial for the front? Not too excited about bias ply... i like to turn nice :)

Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:52 am

Lotrat wrote: We are so close making a "standard" tire size for a "lifted" baja.
Will a 31x10.5x15 always fit on a long torsion bar rear? I've heard they can rub depending on the brand.

The 7.00x15 size in the front wins hands down. They are on the front of many baja's.
The Yokohama Y742S 7.00x15 is 29.8" in diameter
The Hercules HDT 7.00x15 is 29.62" in diameter
The Nankang/Nanco (can't find the spec)
on 5" rims

The rear is a toss up on the size. 30's always fit. 31's may fit, but may really slow down a baja with a stock motor.

The BFG AT 30x9.5x15 is 29.5" in diameter (stock motor/trans)(long torsion tubes)
The BFG AT 31x10.5x15 is 30.7" in diameter (short torsion tubes)
on 7-8" rims

I'm not saying that these are "THE" tires to run, but it would be nice to have something to cut and paste every time it's asked...

nicely done

Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:46 am

Because I just got it back on the ground last night (widened beam, etc.), and HAPPEN to have a pic handy :lol: , I'll post a pic of mine. I'm running BFG's all the way around. 33x10.50x15 rear and 30x9.50x15 front. Both front and rear suspensions are modified. 1915 with an 091 trans. Street and some desert driving.

PS- it's not quite finished yet, so shocks, front bumper, etc. are yet to be re-installed.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 12:02 pm

az350x wrote: Because I just got it back on the ground last night (widened beam, etc.), and HAPPEN to have a pic handy :lol: , I'll post a pic of mine. I'm running BFG's all the way around. 33x10.50x15 rear and 30x9.50x15 front. Both front and rear suspensions are modified. 1915 with an 091 trans. Street and some desert driving.

PS- it's not quite finished yet, so shocks, front bumper, etc. are yet to be re-installed.

What size rims did you use? Include backspace too. That thing looks awesome.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 12:22 pm

Lotrat wrote: What size rims did you use? Include backspace too. That thing looks awesome.

They were on the car when I bought it, but I'll do my best to get the measurements. Honestly, I don't even know the brand. I'm guessing 7's in front and 8 in rear, but I'll put a tape on them this afternoon.

Thanks for the props. I'm EXTREMELY happy with the way it looks also, although I can't wait to drive it. Waiting on a few last things- FOA's for front are on order. Some brake plumbing, rear shock mount rework, etc. and then it should be on the road again. I was pretty stoked to see the new stance last night when I got it back on all fours, but now I can't wait to see it with the bumper back on, shocks mounted, etc.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 3:13 pm

In the imortal words of Larry The Cable Guy,
" LORD I APOLOGIZE"
I really didn't intend for this to get out of hand. I only have a chance to get on here about once a week sometimes twice. I think I will start to learn more about doing a search before I beat anymore dead horses. :oops:
Thanks to all who added their .02. Many times its better to get more view points when trying to make these decisions.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 3:19 pm

Mike Walters wrote: In the imortal words of Larry The Cable Guy,
" LORD I APOLOGIZE"
I really didn't intend for this to get out of hand. I only have a chance to get on here about once a week sometimes twice. I think I will start to learn more about doing a search before I beat anymore dead horses. :oops:
Thanks to all who added their .02. Many times its better to get more view points when trying to make these decisions.

It's all good. Did your question get answered? Is this for your 66 Baja? Is it lifted at all? Do you want street tires or tires that look bad ass?

Tue Nov 11, 2008 3:35 pm

Yep, answered my question, and it is for my 66.
I want badass tires that are streetable. I will be using as a daily driver. Has low profile street tires now with crager s/s wheels. Just don't care for the cruiser baja look.
Definitely not a body lift anyway. The front looks like its higher than a stock bug but nothing points to anything being modified. Could just be the fenders making it look that way.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 3:46 pm

My baja isn't my daily driver, but I do drive it to work once or twice a week. 60 miles round trip. I run 7.00x15 bias ply's in the front and BFG AT's in the rear. No problems on the freeways running at 75mph. I'm putting mud terrains on next. Bad ass is the only way to go on a baja IMO. I don't think the 7.00's will fit on a unlifted baja.

Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:38 pm

Here are some pictures

I received my front tires in today and made it to the tire shop to have them mounted and balanced.

Here is a photo of the donor car and the new kicks.

From left to right, "factory" 165's, 2 - 7.00 X 15 Nanco's, 2 - 31 X 10.50 Electrica Ironman LT66 Mud Cat's.

The rims are Ansen style slots. Light weight to keep the unsuspended weight down. 4.5's front and 7's rear. The fronts will get polishing before they are put on.

Disclaimers:
I know the front beam has "problems".

I know they are not muddy yet.

I will post pictures and backspaces once I have put them on the car.

Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:12 am

Lotrat wrote: We are so close making a "standard" tire size for a "lifted" baja.
Will a 31x10.5x15 always fit on a long torsion bar rear? I've heard they can rub depending on the brand.

The 7.00x15 size in the front wins hands down. They are on the front of many baja's.
The Yokohama Y742S 7.00x15 is 29.8" in diameter
The Hercules HDT 7.00x15 is 29.62" in diameter
The Nankang/Nanco (can't find the spec)
on 5" rims

The rear is a toss up on the size. 30's always fit. 31's may fit, but may really slow down a baja with a stock motor.

The BFG AT 30x9.5x15 is 29.5" in diameter (stock motor/trans)(long torsion tubes)
The BFG AT 31x10.5x15 is 30.7" in diameter (short torsion tubes)
on 7-8" rims

I'm not saying that these are "THE" tires to run, but it would be nice to have something to cut and paste every time it's asked...

I know a lot of you know this but wanted to mention for those that dont is that advertised specs and sizes may not be the actual sizes

My new BFG AT 30x9.5x15 on 7" rims measure out at 28 3/8" knob edge to knob edge and from ground to top of tire is 28 3/4" and these were taller than my previous armstrong 30.5 were. At the tire store i put the BFG next to another brand of the same size and the other brand was clearly atleast 1/2" taller while the salesman insisted according to the specs that is was only a .1" taller. tread on bfgs are 7.5 inch and biggest part of bulg is 9", so if actual size is critical to you , measure the actual tire .

Thu Nov 13, 2008 12:26 pm

Lotrat wrote: What size rims did you use? Include backspace too. That thing looks awesome.

Well, near as I can tell, the rears are 15x6, with 2 1/2" backspacing, and the front are 15x5, with 3" backspacing. I kinda thought they'd be 6 and 7" wide, but maybe not. Again, these tires and wheels were on it when I bought it.

Thu Nov 13, 2008 4:48 pm

On a lifted front do you loose any turning radius with 7x15s. Or better put, at full lock how much clearance would there be. Stock 5" rims BTW.

Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:05 pm

buzzboy wrote: On a lifted front do you loose any turning radius with 7x15s. Or better put, at full lock how much clearance would there be. Stock 5" rims BTW.

yeah you do, some rims have an offset that helps a little bit but they run on the inner body lip, but if you hammer it down, and set your stops so you wont hit its not that big of a problem

Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:10 pm

Does anyone have a part number for the 7 x 15 Nanco tires. I am having a hard time finding them on the east coast (central Florida)