[Guest]

Before you ask, yes I searched. I'd like to get some opinions on tire sizes for your wagons. Right now I've got the 15" Caprice alloys with factory (215-70-15) tire size. I really like the alloys and plan to keep them on the car. It's my understanding that these wheels can take up to a 255-60-15 size.

I want to keep the nice ride of the car but give it a little more traction. I've been thinking a 235 tire.

Those of you running factory rims, what size are you running? Do you like them? Why/why not?

TIA! Mike

 

[Guest]

I am running 255-60's on a stock 9C1 rim. I love them, nice and wide and because of the overhang, there is never a curb rash on the rims.

Dennis

 

[Guest]

I've got the 235x70 on factory buick alloys. Very happy overall. They do rub a little on the Sway bar under tight turns, but nothing other than that.

 

[Guest]

I've been looking around at tires and I'm thinking about the BFG Radial T/A in 235/60 or 70. I like the 60 series better for handling but not sure if that's going to stiffen up the ride too much.

Oly21, did those tires change your ride quality much?

Thanks, Mike

 

[Guest]

DBeast.......

I'm running 235x70x15s on my stock alloy 15" factroy rims with no regrets.

 

[Guest]

I can't say what the tires them selves did alone because at the same time the tires went on, I did a front end rebuild, new front shocks and front and rear Hotchkis sway bars. Also, I only had the car for a couple of weeks before the tire change. I think the ride quality improved as well as the overall look.
I am using BFG Radial T/A and do not have a complaint about them. Here is link to a picture:
http://impalassforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=003294

Hope this helps.
Dennis

 

[Guest]

Dennis, that's a great looking wagon! Those wheels really fit the car nice.

Thanks everyone for the responses! I'll be pondering my tires for a bit. I'm really leaning towards the 235/60's though.
Mike

 

[Guest]

I've had 235/60-15 radial T/A's since 1996 on all my wagons. No ride issues. They lower the car a good amount - a nice look without the big $ for rims/tires.Here is a small pic that used to be my sig pic.

 

[Guest]

i run 2556015 in front 2756015 in back front rub a little on 15 x7 rims 4 bs.but the center tread on the 275 wear out due to not enough rim. really should be 15 x8

 

[Guest]

I noticed that Tire Rack was running a special on 235/60-15 Michelin Pilot XGT H4 High Performance All Season tires for $70 each.

Even after paying around $5 per tire shipping, that's still a heck of a deal. They are usually around $130-$150 each locally.

You might want to check out www.tirerack.com to do some research & comparisons.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by MUSSCLE in Milwaukee:
I've had 235/60-15 radial T/A's since 1996 on all my wagons. No ride issues. They lower the car a good amount - a nice look without the big $ for rims/tires.Here is a small pic that used to be my sig pic.

That looks good! I hadn't thought about lowering the car. Extra bonus. Thanks!

MiddleAgeLazy, I checked that out. That puts the Pilots at the same price as the BFG's. Thanks for the tip!

You guys with the 255 tires. Have you found that the car 'wanders' more on the highway with larger tires? My SS has 285's and wants to follow every groove in the road.
Mike

 

[Guest]

I have not noticed any wandering with the wagon.

Dennis

 

[Guest]

I run 225/75/15s... I'd like to say its because I like a narrow and tall tire for traction and ground-clearance for MN winters, but the real reason is because its an easy size to find mismatched oddballs with good tread for $5 each at swap-meets

 

[Guest]

DBeasst, I just put Yokohama Avid Touring 235/70/15 11/16" white-walls on wagon and am very happy with performance which I find most similar to factory issue GoodYear Eagle GA's on sedan. The set was $275 delivered from Tire Rack w/80K warrantee. Doubt seriously I'll get near 80K but I'll be happy with anything over 40K cause that's all the Goodyears were good for at $440/set when they used to be available. Check out the ratings on Tire Rack for this tire. I think these cars don't look right with factory 15" aluminum wheels w/o white wall.

 

[Guest]

Here's a cool site: Tire Size Calculator

Put your stock factory tire size on the left, then play with the sizes on the right and you can see how tall or short and wide and narrow the new tire is compared to the stock size.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by The Reconditioner:
DBeasst, I just put Yokohama Avid Touring 235/70/15 11/16" white-walls on wagon and am very happy with performance which I find most similar to factory issue GoodYear Eagle GA's on sedan. The set was $275 delivered from Tire Rack w/80K warrantee. Doubt seriously I'll get near 80K but I'll be happy with anything over 40K cause that's all the Goodyears were good for at $440/set when they used to be available. Check out the ratings on Tire Rack for this tire. I think these cars don't look right with factory 15" aluminum wheels w/o white wall.

Thanks for the comment. I'm really torn between the 235/60/15 and the 235/70/15. As was mentioned, the 60's would lower the car just slightly and improve handling. But it is a wagon and I don't expect too much.

I do like the whitewalls on the wagon too. I've got 225/70/15's with whitewalls now and like the look. Decisions decisions! Someone on here, who's name I can't remember right now, has some BFG Silvertown's with really wide whitewalls. I LOVE that look but don't think the tires would be practical or cost effective for a daily driver. At least not for me.

MoSSe: I love that site! Use it all the time. Thanks! I'm hoping to get Brian to reprogram the computer with the new size (among other things) so I'm not too worried about differences. How's that new CC of yours cleaning up?
Mike

 

[Guest]

I have the 235/70-15 Yokohama Avid touring tires, but have the whitewalls facing in. I prefer the blackwall, I guess. I've been pretty happy with them. They look a little meatier than a 225-75 tire, too

 

[Guest]

DBeasst, if you want to go wider on 15's, why bother with 235/60 when you can go 245/60 or better yet, 255/60 and still be less than 28" tall (235/70 height). If I was willing to lose the whitewall, I'd want to get more beefy. I ran a lot of 80's B Bodies on 245/60/15's and they handled great, the last one on Uniroyal Tiger Paw GTS's (Goodrich TA's were crap). I have 235/70/15's as previously stated and highly recommend the Hotchkiss rear bar & LCA's (about $500), ZQ8 bumps ($20), and Monroe Severe Service front shocks, #550012 ($33ea) & coil-over rears (no rear leveling) #550052 ($60ea). I have never driven a tighter, better handling B-body on 15" shoes, save for a few 9C1's, than this F40 wagon, so it's not all about the tires & wheels, because you need some really heavy-duty hardware to get a boat to stop listing in the turns.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by The Reconditioner:
DBeasst, if you want to go wider on 15's, why bother with 235/60 when you can go 245/60 or better yet, 255/60 and still be less than 28" tall (235/70 height). If I was willing to lose the whitewall, I'd want to get more beefy. I ran a lot of 80's B Bodies on 245/60/15's and they handled great, the last one on Uniroyal Tiger Paw GTS's (Goodrich TA's were crap). I have 235/70/15's as previously stated and highly recommend the Hotchkiss rear bar & LCA's (about $500), ZQ8 bumps ($20), and Monroe Severe Service front shocks, #550012 ($33ea) & coil-over rears (no rear leveling) #550052 ($60ea). I have never driven a tighter, better handling B-body on 15" shoes, save for a few 9C1's, than this F40 wagon, so it's not all about the tires & wheels, because you need some really heavy-duty hardware to get a boat to stop listing in the turns.

Reconditioner, Every time I see those pics of your cars I drool like crazy. Those are some gorgeous RM's! <wipes drool from desk>

I guess I'm still formulating the grand plans for the wagon. I bought it to be a daily driver, not a performance toy, that's what the SS is for. BUT I would like to improve handling some. Hence the tires. The previous owner disabled the air level and put Bilstiens in the back which make for a decent but not harsh ride. I am considering SSmokeyBear's new swaybar setup. to help with the car's handling as well but not sure yet.

I guess my primary need (or want really) is to keep the classic Buick ride while improving handling some. That's why I haven't really been looking at the 245 or 255 size tires. In fact, they guy I bought the car from had four brand new 255's that I could have bought with the car but didn't 'cause I wasn't really looking at such 'large' tires.

Slowly making mod list..... Mike

 

[Guest]

DBeasst, thanks for the compliments. It's a lot of work keeping after those black cars, nice to know they are appreciated by those who are "in the know". You are not going to sacrifice ride quality w/245 or 255's in 15". As I mentioned, had 'em on '80's B-bodies, sedans and wagons and no depreciated ride quality. Gas mileage may have decreased a bit though moving wider a couple of sizes.