Widest tires for stock 16X8 rims?

I recently got in a wreck in my '97 Z-28 in which my rear tire was cut, but both rear tires were getting bald anyway. I want to run the widest rear tires on the stock 16X8 5-spokes. Only tire I found so far is a 295/60R16 BFG Radial T/A; it's only S-speed rated, but it's got good wear characteristics, M+S rating, and it's cheap. I have these brand tires on my '81 T/A and I am pleased with their performance, but the T/A had no need for Z-rated tires as it could only top out around 120. And I don't want DR's as this '97 is my daily driver and I heard they suck in the wet, which is why I hydroplaned off the road on my bald rear tires in the first place. Any opinions? Will this tire clear the rear fenderwells on the factory rims? Any other tire suggestions?Thanks.

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'81 Turbo T/A
-'75 Pontiac 400
-Richmond 5-speed/3.70's
-Holley 650cfm 4-barrel on 1/2 in. spacer, blocked exhaust crossover, 160* thermostat, Blackjack 1-5/8 in. 4 tube headers, Thrush 2-1/4in. dual exhaust kit w/ Thrush California Turbo mufflers, no A/C-no emission controls; drunk bitch induced front-end damage, placed on indefinite hiatus.

'97 Z-28
-LT1 350
-Borg Warner T56 6-speed
-descreened MAF, blocked off air silencer, TB bypassed, Flow Tech Warlock 3in. muffler w/ built-in cutout, Moroso CAI, custom cold air scoop = 277.7 rwhp/ 301.9 rwtq; add-on's since last dyno = Hypertech airfoil and 160* thermostat, B&M Ripper.

i dont know if a 295 would fit on a 8 inch wide 16. I wouldnt go over a 255 but some people put like 265's and 275's on them.

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1994 Black 6-speed Trans-Am (http://www.cardomain.com/id/erm1981)
* 18 inch Z06 chrome rims with 265/35zr/18 up front and 285/35zr/18 out back
* BMR adjustable panhard bar, G2 front/rear sway bars, Blistein HD shocks and struts, eibach prokit in my garage, BMR LCA's and brackets
* U.S. Exotics Warbird Hood shipping August 9th

The way to find the answer is to go to Tire Rack and see what the manufacturer recommends for width. They don't list a 295/60-16 in the BFG Radial T/A, but that have a 295/50-16. According to BFG, that tire can be mounted on a rim anywhere from 8" to 11" wide.... so, it will fit on an 8" rim, per the manufacturer. Might look a little "full"... but it will meet the manufacturer's specs.

But there is a huge downside to a tire that size.... the outside diameter is 27.6".... two full inches larger than the stock tires on your car. This will cause your speedo to be off by 7.7% - it will read 56mph when you are actually going 60mph - unless you correct with HPP or an edit program.

And, it will make 3.42 rear gears feel like 3.18 gears. And the car might look more like an off-roader.... http://web.camaross.com/bb/smile.gif. It will lift the rear of your car up another 1".

Rubbing is anybody's guess... the width of the tire will not be a problem in the back... will not stick out any further toward the outside or inside than my 315's, but that extra diameter puts the tire another inch into the top of the wheel wells, where few people have gone before.

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Fred
94 Formula A3+1: 381/TH400+OD/N2O

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[This message has been edited by Injuneer 94FormM6 (edited July 30, 2002).]

Thanks Injuneer. Yeah, my bad, it was the 295/50-16 I meant to state. I didn't realize the 27" height though. I may just step up to a 255/50-16.

don't go any wider than 255-50-16 (as already stated above).

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BLK 94 TRANS AM M6
B&B TRIFLOW CAT-BACK
SLP-CAI
GRANATELLI M.A.F.S.
T/B COOLANT BYPASS
SLP T/B AIRFOIL
SLP SKIP-SHIFT-ELIM.
BMR S.T.B.
CHARCOAL LEATHER,T-TOPS,
EVERY FACTORY OPTION
CHROME SLP WS-6 17 X 9 WHEELS & 275/40/17 GOODYEAR EAGLE F1's
HARWOOD WS-6 HOOD