Rear tire sizes - what are you running?

[tow_d]

I am finally getting around to replacing the old tires on my buggy. It has 15x10 aluminum slots on the back with well aged L60-15 tires. I'd like to stay with a similar overall size. For those running 10" wide wheels, what size tires are you running? That will help point me in the direction of what tires are actually available. It's going to be a street buggy, so I don't need any aggressive off road tires, but having trouble finding a decent street tire with a nice look to it. Would prefer something less expensive than a Mickey Thompson if such a tire exists.

Thanks for any help.

[vwracerdave]

You need to also consider transaxle gearing and engine power when selection rear tires.
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2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK

[tow_d]

Should've mentioned that: stock 1968 swingaxle trans, fresh 1600DP. Nothing fancy, just a nice buggy for cruising around town. Not trying to set any speed records, and no plans for any major off-road adventures.

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

For 10 inch wide wheels..

L60-15 = sectional width 10.50 Diameter 27.86

A couple of good comparable size choices are..

255/60/15 = sectional width 10.00 Diameter 27.05

275/60/15 = sectional width 10.80 Diameter 28.00

BF Goodrich Radial TA's.. hands down.. IMO.

but ....Im a biased 10 inch wide slot..... 275/60/15 user though..
1600 single stock port.. 70 transaxle..

Runs and pulls just fine..

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[vwracerdave]

A would stay under 27" tall tire.
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2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK

[tow_d]

Anybody running a 'drag radial' on their buggy for normal street use? Any feedback would be appreciated.

Looks like I've now got an opportunity to take my buggy to OBX on vacation this summer, so need to make sure whatever I pick will at least get me around in the sand. Nothing crazy, just cruising on the beach. I'd prefer one set that does all.

And here's a pic of what I've got for reference. Current wheels are going to be refinished, and tires replaced- this set is old and dry rotted.

I do have a set of Mickey Thompson Baja Belted HP's that I can take with me, but would prefer not to drag along extra parts if I don't have to. These are awesome in the sand, but they don't balance out well at all and make for a very bumpy ride. Here's the buggy with that set on (I really need to polish the wheels, they've been sitting way too long).

[weasel_ugs]

Well the drag radials might get scary when wet.

[andygere]

275 60 15 on an 8.5" wide rim. I thought they looked pretty good, ran fine with a stock 1600 DP.

[clonebug]

I just picked up a set of two new 275/60-15 BFG's for my California trip in two weeks.
These will be replacing the two 12 year old Coopers on the buggy now.

$164.00 each plus a little tax ended up being $358.24 to my local Walmart store.
They will give you a nice cruise rpm at 60-70 mph.
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[VOLKSWAGNUT]

[clonebug]

[hillmotorsports]

Somebody is making money....

I priced 275/60/15 BFG T/As at Costco in Ottawa Ontario yesterday.... $166.99 Cdn which would convert to $129.34 USD.
Similarly, 295/50/15 were $184.99 cdn, or $143.28 USD.
Plus 13% sales tax, $15/tire mounting.
Not in stock, 5-7 days to store.

Buyer beware?
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Rosemarie and Paul Hill
Morrisburg, Ontario

(With way more projects than spare time!)

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

[mr_bill]

235/75R-15 GOODYEAR WRANGLERS ON 6" WIDE WHEELS...SINGLE PORT 1600CC.... H30/31 CARB
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see ya' on the trail........

"Mr Bill"
Dos Perros Motorsports
Orange, CA
1972 Class 11x/Stock Bug
'60's era "vintage" Tunnell-Buggy

"...no one here....get's out ALIVE...."

Motor = electric
Engine = internal combustion

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[EMPIImp69]

BFG Radial TA 305/50/15 on 11.5" rims

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1963 Ragtop Bug

[Deh Shark]

275/50/15 on a 10inch rim

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Organize folks are just to lazy to look for stuff!!

55 3 fold Ragtop
Manx Dune buggy 2387cc

[germanx]

I ended up with a 245/60 tire for a 9x15 rim.
Don't fall into the trap of selecting a rim and a tire you like without having checked your backside clearance for rim and tire. And you have to consider the specific rim-offset (to place the tire "tucked in" or "sticking out" - in relation to the your fender edge, or in other words, in relation to the overall width of your body across the fender edges.)
The dark green Empi buggy above has a much wider rear width than my HAZ body. I could never fit 11.5" rims with such an offset.

A 9" wheel might actually look meatier or bigger than a 11" wheel which is tucked much more 'under' the fender.

Another aspect is the power you need to accelerate and slow down rotating masses. Each pound you add in terms of larger tire or rims counts seven times.
If your 305 tire is 5 pounds heavier than a 245, you are adding 2x5x7 = 70 pounds to the car just with the tires in the back. Wider rims will have a similar effect.
If you run a 2.3ltr turbo injection monster, you swallow that issue, but with a 60 horse 1.6 ltr you would for sure feel the slow down in acceleration...

This is why I did not go with the 275, but with the 245 - for the weight benefit of the smaller sized rubbers.

With the offset of my rear rims, I decided to use a 1" spacer disk to move the rear tire more to the outside...

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'73 Beach Buggy
'66 T1 Deluxe

[clonebug]

I just put my new BFG 275/60-15 tires on and I have about 1.5 inch clearance to my spring plates.
I like when they are tucked under the fenders.
The Weld Wheels I use have a lot of backspace and fit my buggy perfectly I feel.
It also helps they are some of the lightest wheels on the market.

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[EMPIImp69]

Have 245/60/14s in front. I once had lightweight CMS alum wheels on this buggy. There is very little to no difference in power and acceleration with the steel wheels I have on there now.

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1963 Ragtop Bug

[andygere]

I love the stance and the fat tire look on that green Empi. That body just screams for fat tires, and the old-school chrome smoothies look great with all that tire on them.