What is the maximum tire size that anyone has put on a stock L rim? I have seen 325/30ZR18's and I wonder if a larger rim is required.

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Y2K Lightning Black
No mods yet but a bunch on the way!

 

SVT-Snake
To put a 325/30ZR/18 tire on the stock Lightning wheel brings only one word to mind---STUPID. No tire manufacturer would stand behind such an install and no tire installer in his right mind would even want do the install (they would have fun trying to seat the tire).I have the Goodyear Ferrari 315/40ZR/18's for the rear of my Lightning on custom widen Lightning wheels (10.5 inches wide, this is the minimum width for this size tire). Hey to each his own.

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BABolt
SVT#290



[This message has been edited by BABolt (edited 05-17-2000).]

 

Babolt, where and how did you get the widened Lightning rims?, How much was it?

 

Well I found the tyres, yikes $363 a peice.

I'm not sure but 1 was called goodyear f1 LEFT, does this imply that you have to order a left and a right one?

 

Wheel widening process.
I did a whole photo layout of the process at Zing.com. Cost of Lightning wheel $175.00, cost to widened wheel $150.00. There are wheel shops throughout the country that can do it. I did the dressing and polishing of the weld on the back side of the wheel so that after it is chrome plated no one can tell that the wheel was widened. Yea, the cost of the Goodyears was steep they list for $602.00 each and they are right and left specific just like the F1's on the Lightning. The price you state $360.00 each is about the going rate if you can find them. Price to chrome plate the wheel $125.00 to $150.00 Each. All of the prices that I just quoted were my price, who knows you may be able to do better. I did not include the shipping charge to and from the plater.

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BABolt
SVT#290

 

BABolt,
I wasn't going to just slap the tire on and hope for the best, that is why I wondered how much wider of a tire would fit on the stock rim. Thanks.

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Y2K Lightning Black
No mods yet but a bunch on the way!

 

Maybe you guys know something about this. I recall reading someplace on the internet last year that Goodyear specially engineered the F1s that are on the Lightning. Seems plausible because the Lightning is a heavy, high performance vehicle to begin with. Then you factor potential toeing and hauling chores. That might require a unique tire.

What do you know about this?

 

Redlite,
I am not sure about the design of the F1, seems to be a great tire though.
BABolt,
No harm no foul. I know you weren't saying anything bad. I have seen one other tire, not sure the brand but the size is 295/35ZR18. I am not looking for new tires yet, just like looking at future upgrades.

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Y2K Lightning Black
No mods yet but a bunch on the way!

 

Snake, I was talking a couple of weeks ago to a retired District Sales Manager for Bridgestone Tire (Japanese Co.). He said that the F1 is an "great" tire.

What I was thinking about concerning the Lightning F1s is that it is a Z rated high speed tire that might have to transport up to 5970 lbs. not counting a driver and two passengers. Added on that, pulling a 5000 lb trailer. If you average in the driver and two passengers at 175 lbs. each (adult males), that would be another 525 lbs. to transport. Total 6495 lbs.

Total for all comes to 11,495 lb. And, this is if load and trailer weights remain within specifications, including 500 lb. tongue weight capacity.

So, I would think a very capable tire is required for the Lighning application. And, maybe just any other 295 series Z rated tire is not sufficient. just a thought.

 

To BABolt,

So do you think that the L handles or launches any better with all the work you have done to the tyres and wheels.

Now after you've done this would you go in a different direction or stay on course?

 

f1car
I made the mods to my Lightning just like any customizer or street rodder makes changes. Many were done just for looks. The lowering and the wide wheels and tires I think just look cool. Is there some improvement associated with what I did. Yes, but that was just frosting on the cake. I like my Lightning a lot but I still think of it as a BA truck (Big A$$). For me it is the slowest vehicle that I own and it only handles better than my drag car. I had hoped that our weather would have been nice today ( some really awful rain) I had plans to open a can of whoop-a$$ on some Lightnings at the FME drags.
PS. If you look at my Zing album you will see a lot of changes that I am planning.If you see something that you like or have a question just ask.

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BABolt
SVT#290



[This message has been edited by BABolt (edited 05-19-2000).]

 

I think you guys are on to something regarding the weight of the L and the Z speed rating. A few years back Mercedes had a problem with their S Class cars. It seems that the car was too heavy for the Z rated tires. The tires flat spotted under all the weight and resulted in a rough ride due to vibration in the tires. The solution was to go with a lower speed rated tire that could handle the weight. Perhaps this is no longer an issue with todays sport truck tires, just something to consider.

 

SVT-Snake
I would hope that you would think that I never inplied that you would just bolt any larger size wheel and tire on your Lightning. There is not a lot of choices for one. But when you widen your wheels you have to be careful and though I like a low aspect ratio tire it just does not look good on the Lightning. I think that "40" is about as low as you should go but that is just my opinion.

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BABolt
SVT#290

 

A bit off topic but what is the equation to figure out ride heighth of a tire? I cant seem to remember the part where its converted from metrics

 

The stock tire is 295 45 18. 295 (width) 45 (aspect ratio, %of width)=side wall height 18 rim dia. (25.4mm = 1 inch) So:

295mm x.45=132.75mm 132.75mm / 25.4= 5.226"

18" + (5.226 x 2)
18" + 10.452
28.452 dia of the tire