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  1. #1
    FEP Power Member Broncojunkie's Avatar
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    Default 235/60/15 on 15x8 front tires?

    My wife likes the Cooper Cobras I put on the rear of my pace car (255/60/15). I've been planning on ordering some new tires for her 88gt, to go along with a set of 15x8 Weld knock-offs. I was going to go with the 225/60/15, but it looks like the cobras are no longer available in that size. So I ordered a set of 4 235/60/15's. Since I'm going from a 7 inch wide wheel to an 8 inch, am I correct in thinking that the minor size difference shouldn't be an issue? I think there is about a 1/2" difference in height, which should be lessened a little by going to a slightly wider tire.

  2. #2
    FEP Power Member Broncojunkie's Avatar
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    Any ideas? Just hoping I didn't go too big. She doesn't like the fats/skinnies.

  3. #3

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    Shouldn't be an issue. 0.47" taller and 0.39" wider. There's Cooper Cobra P235/60R-15's on the 15x7 10 holes on my '86, no problemo...

    Mike
    1986 Mustang convertible ---> BUILD THREAD
    Past Fox-chassis "four eyes":
    1983 Mercury Cougar LS
    1986 Ford Thunderbird ELAN
    1980 Capri RS Turbo

    Work in progress website ---> http://carb-rebuilds-plus.boards.net/

  4. #4
    FEP Super Member erratic50's Avatar
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    I ran 235/60/15's with 15x7 10 holes on all four corners of my 86GT and my 89LX sport convertible for many years. The only problem on the 86 was the tires rubbed slightly at steering lock. The 89 had less turning lock to lock and was fine.

    These days a 245/45/17 on 8.5" rims fits without rubbing on the 86. I jacked the fenderwells up where they are supposed to be and screwed them in place.

    215/65/15 are basically the exact same height as the 235/60. They rub on my sons stock 86 - time to jack the fenderwells.

  5. #5

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    The 79-86 spindle as well as the 87-93 non gt spindle has less clearance over a 87-93 setup with its different strut location and thinner mounts and all.

    I ran 235/60r15's on 10 holes up front and 275/60's put back and liked them alot, also cooper cobras. I didnt have a finger between the tire and the strut, but it never rubber on either my 87 tbird or my 86 cougar. Tires laster forever. I think i got about 60k out of the front and 80k out of the back.
    2 1986 cougars (both 4 eyed and 5.0)
    1 1987 cougar

  6. #6
    FEP Super Member erratic50's Avatar
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    Default

    Agreed.

    FYI - SN95 tribar 17's on an 80's Ford ranger 5 lug rotor will clear the strut on an 86GT if the spindle is positioned properly. Was running Monroe struts at the time.

    My car had -1 camber at max negative (in towards the motor) which was sufficient. The rim cleared the strut but the wheel weight hit needed to be replaced with a stick on inside.

    The 245/45/17's I put on rubbed a little bit before steering lock but it wasn't terrible.

    It's way better with the repositioning and screwing the fender wells. Also I have SN95 spindles up front now which add 1/8" of track width. I use camber bolts giving me the needed negative camber while keeping the top of my struts centered in the tower so I can get to max caster on my plates.

    Pushing struts out gives more room for more tire at the expense of negative camber and room for caster adjustment if you have plates. It's a bit easier to get where you want to be with a wider K or longer control arms or the short ball joints rather than the X2's, etc.

    This stuff is more of an art than a science for sure.

    235/60/15's should be fine

    my son runs Cooper Cobras at 235/60/15 on his 86 ragtop with 10 holes. Very nice - way more traction than I expected.

    The 245/45/17's on my 86 are Kumo. They are hard to get to break loose but once they let go it's a smoke show. I absolutely blew them off entirely on Wednesday night. Burned like they were on fire for most of entire city block. Gotta admit, it was fun though.
    Last edited by erratic50; 07-21-2017 at 03:15 AM.

  7. #7
    FEP Power Member Broncojunkie's Avatar
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    Great news! Thanks, everyone. Makes me feel a lot better. Wheels should be here tomorrow. Hope she likes them.

  8. #8

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    I did 265/50-15 Cobras on 10 holes on the rear of my 85. They looked surprisingly good.
    1984.5 G.T.350 had since 16y/o
    95 Cobra, Crystal White

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