• Magazine
  • British V8 Home Page
  • Read the Current Issue!
  • About The Magazine
  • Searchable Archive
  • How-it-was-Done Index
  • Download Back Issues
  • Contribute Articles
  • Sponsor / Advertise
• Photo Galleries
  • BritishV8 Photo Gallery
  •   MG Sports Cars
  •   Triumph Sports Cars
  •   Healey Sports Cars
  •   Sunbeam Sports Cars
  •   Other British Cars
  • BritishRaceCar.com - New!
• Web Forums
  • Web Forum Hub
  • The BritishV8 Pub
  • Project Journals
  • MG Sports Cars
  • Triumph Sports Cars
  • Healey Sports Cars
  • Rootes Group Cars
  • Other British Makes
  • Race Cars & Motorsports
  • Drivetrain Issues
  • Handling Issues
  • Body / Trim / Interior
  • Classified Ads
• Meetings
  • Meetings Overview
  • British V8 - 2018
  • British V8 - 2017
  • British V8 - 2016
  • British V8 - 2015
  • British V8 - 2014
  • British V8 - 2013
  • British V8 - 2012
  • British V8 - 2011
  • British V8 - 2010
  • British V8 - 2009
  • British V8 - 2008
  • British V8 - 2007
  • British V8 - 2006
  • British V8 - 2005
  • British V8 - 2004
  • British V8 - 2003
  • British V8 - 2002
  • 2001 MG V-8 Meet
  • 2000 MG V-8 Meet
  • 1999 MG V-8 Meet
  • 1998 MG V-8 Meet
  • 1997 MG V-8 Meet
• Contacts
  • How To Contact Us
  • BritishV8 Vendors
  • Racing Vendors
  • BritishV8 Store
  • VIP Contributors
  • Support This Website!

Steering, Suspension, & Brakes

tips, technology, tools and techniques related to non-driveline mechanical components

rficalora Rob Ficalora Willis, TX (2764 posts) Registered: 10/24/2007 02:46PM Main British Car: '76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: rficalora Date: February 03, 2015 05:10PM Both are pretty wide -- and about 26" diameter -- about 1.5-2" taller than the 205/55/15 or 225/5/15 a lot of us use. Could be good options for folks with flares & the right wheels... * P275/50R15 Nitto NT555R 101V * Hankook Ventus H101 Radial Tire - 265/50R15 The Nitto is stickier but maybe too wide. The Hankook doesn't have as good traction ratings but a little less wide. Even with my restrictive exhaust, I could use more traction; I'm sure some others could too. Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/03/2015 05:34PM by rficalora.

MGBV8 Carl Floyd Kingsport, TN (4467 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 11:32PM Main British Car: 1979 MGB Buick 215

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: MGBV8 Date: February 04, 2015 03:18PM Rob, The Nitto NT555R is a drag radial. The sidewall is going to be too soft for cornering. Probably pretty sketchy in the rain, to boot.

BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6435 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: BlownMGB-V8 Date: February 05, 2015 10:15AM I'd like to find a 23-24" tall 15" tire that is wide enough to fit an 8" rim. (Sport radial) Any ideas on that one? The only things I've seen so far have been racing tires. Jim

MGBV8 Carl Floyd Kingsport, TN (4467 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 11:32PM Main British Car: 1979 MGB Buick 215

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: MGBV8 Date: February 05, 2015 11:16AM A 225/50-15 would fit the bill. Kumho Ecsta AST Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/2015 11:21AM by MGBV8.

BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6435 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: BlownMGB-V8 Date: February 05, 2015 06:48PM A 225 might be wide enough... Is 50 the lowest profile they make in a 15"? Jim

MGBV8 Carl Floyd Kingsport, TN (4467 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 11:32PM Main British Car: 1979 MGB Buick 215

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: MGBV8 Date: February 05, 2015 09:00PM A 225 fits great on a 8" rim. Miata racers do it all the time. ;) You can get a G-Force Rival in 225/45-15. It's only 22.9" tall.

BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6435 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: BlownMGB-V8 Date: February 06, 2015 09:20AM That sounds interesting, I think I have a 255 or 265 on there now (I will look) but they are too tall. I've decided to run a California Rake as that will increase my header clearance and let me get more suspension travel without raising the front end of the car. Got time to find something though as the tires I have will do for awhile. With an 8.8 width a 225 should be wide enough, but since when was enough ever enough? Jim 255/45-17 on the front Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2015 10:48AM by BlownMGB-V8.

rficalora Rob Ficalora Willis, TX (2764 posts) Registered: 10/24/2007 02:46PM Main British Car: '76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: rficalora Date: April 13, 2016 11:06AM I realized g-force Rival comes in both 225/45/15 & 205/50/15. Rather than selling my current wheels & going to 17", I'm thinking that's my answer.

MGBV8 Carl Floyd Kingsport, TN (4467 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 11:32PM Main British Car: 1979 MGB Buick 215

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: MGBV8 Date: April 13, 2016 01:21PM TireRack is not showing it, but BFG brought back the Rival in more sizes because they are now a sponsor of ChumpCar. [forum.chumpcar.com]

rficalora Rob Ficalora Willis, TX (2764 posts) Registered: 10/24/2007 02:46PM Main British Car: '76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: rficalora Date: April 13, 2016 01:37PM I did a little more research - looks like three ultra performance summer tires that come in both 225/45/15 & 205/50/15 (my rear/front respectively). Looks like: BF Goodrich g-Force Rival S Kuhmo ECTSA V720 Toyo Proxes R1R Anyone know if one is better than the other in the wet? Reviews rate all three high for dry traction. I don't drive in the rain often but can get caught in it from time to time so wet traction would be the differentiator for me.

MGBV8 Carl Floyd Kingsport, TN (4467 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 11:32PM Main British Car: 1979 MGB Buick 215

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: MGBV8 Date: April 13, 2016 08:36PM The BFG Rival S is for autocross. The compound is softer & will not last very long compared to the Rival. Can't speak to the others.

rficalora Rob Ficalora Willis, TX (2764 posts) Registered: 10/24/2007 02:46PM Main British Car: '76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: rficalora Date: April 13, 2016 09:18PM Rival S, along with the other two are listed as extreme performance summer vs. streetable track tire. I think I'm going to give them a try as the only other option is to sell my wheels & move to 17". New wheels like the ones I have would cost the same as 3 sets of tires so I'm thinking it's worth a shot?

MGBV8 Carl Floyd Kingsport, TN (4467 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 11:32PM Main British Car: 1979 MGB Buick 215

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: MGBV8 Date: April 14, 2016 08:50AM It's a great, sticky tire that was primarily designed for drive 'em to the track day/ autox & back home without swapping tires. The Rival will last 10K-13K miles (unless racing). The Rival S will not go near that distance. The Rival & the Rival S both have a tread wear rating of 200. There is no real standard for this number. I'd run 'em, but I still have some life left in my R-compounds. ;) Quote: Rival S The g-Force Rival S is BFGoodrich's Extreme Performance Summer tire developed for sports car, muscle machine and pro-touring car driving enthusiasts who want their tires tuned to lower their run times in solo, autocross, track attack and hill climb events. Rival The g-Force Rival is BFGoodrich's Extreme Performance Summer tire developed for sports car, muscle machine and pro-touring car driving enthusiasts who want their tires to turn heads on the street and lower lap times at the track.

BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6435 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: BlownMGB-V8 Date: April 14, 2016 10:47AM Depending on how many miles you drive in a season those could last anywhere from 1 to 5+ years. Jim

MGBV8 Carl Floyd Kingsport, TN (4467 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 11:32PM Main British Car: 1979 MGB Buick 215

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: MGBV8 Date: April 14, 2016 01:20PM ...and the type of driving. ;)

DiDueColpi Fred Key West coast - Canada (1355 posts) Registered: 05/14/2010 03:06AM Main British Car: I really thought that I'd be an action figure by now!

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: DiDueColpi Date: April 14, 2016 09:26PM I put the Toyo Proxes R888 on the blown P1800. 225/50/R15 on an 8" wheel. Mounted on the car they have a pretty square shouldered 9.250" cross section and 23.125" height. Dry traction and cornering are excellent. As long as it's warm out. On a cold day, (0' C) they don't bite at all! Tread wear is rated @ 100 but has held up well so far (2500 km) Wet traction is better than I expected. It is not a tire that I would use in the rain regularly. But at normal road speeds it's perfectly acceptable. And it's got a DOT rating. Cheers Fred Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/2016 09:31PM by DiDueColpi.

rficalora Rob Ficalora Willis, TX (2764 posts) Registered: 10/24/2007 02:46PM Main British Car: '76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: rficalora Date: April 17, 2016 02:53PM Ok, based on Carl's info + similar from philstireservice.com, I ordered the Toyo Proxes R1R. The g-force Rival S is, indeed more of a track tire and the plain Rival (no S) isn't available in the sizes I need. Will update with impressions once they're on the car.

MGBV8 Carl Floyd Kingsport, TN (4467 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 11:32PM Main British Car: 1979 MGB Buick 215

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: MGBV8 Date: April 17, 2016 04:28PM You should be able to get the regular Rival in 205/50-15 & 225/45-15. They just started making them again for ChumpCar racing. R-compounds are not supposed to be used at near freezing temps. I'm sure you knew that, Fred. ;)

rficalora Rob Ficalora Willis, TX (2764 posts) Registered: 10/24/2007 02:46PM Main British Car: '76 MGB w/CB front, Sebring rear, early metal dash Ford 302

Re: Ran across a couple of interesting tires for 15" tires Posted by: rficalora Date: April 17, 2016 05:57PM Might be so Carl, but I couldn't find them so already ordered the R1R's. They have to be way better than what I had.

British V8 Home Page         Photo Gallery         Web Forum         Annual Meetings         Contact Info         Site Map         British Race Car



© 2019 British V8™     All rights reserved.     Website & graphic design by:   Curtis Jacobson.
BritishV8 Forum is hosted by SiteWelder LLC, and is powered by a Phorum engine.