Issues w/ 15" tire in front...

97 RedSS
07-23-2005, 02:36 PM
Just picked my draglites up and installed the 3.5 15" runners on the front and Im having clearance issues w/ my headers...since it dropped my car 2" in the front when I lay into and then let off the gas, I can hear my headers draging on the street a few times..I did have a passenger with me(weighs 150 or so) so that problably didnt help...Im scared when I launch at the track Im going to have problems with my headers hitting...anyone else with hooker lt's had this problem?

Cody

Injuneer
07-24-2005, 12:25 AM
Not sure what the 15" tires have to do with the question.... you should have opted for a 26" diameter skinny (e.g. 26 x 4.5), and that would be slightly taller than the stock tires on your SS. To drop the front end 2", you would have had to use a 22" diameter tire, and that wouldn't make any sense (I think 22.5" is the smallest size).

If you need more clearance, get a larger diameter tire... they make them up to 29" diameter. Raising the front of your car isn't going to help it aerodynamically though.

97 RedSS
07-24-2005, 10:16 PM
Yea, that looks to be the issue..I measured the diameter and its around 23".
When I replace these I will opt for the bigger diameter to help on clearances...
I didnt seen anywhere on the tire that states the diameter..
Tire size listed is 165 r15 86T
These were bought used so I didnt have a choice...

Thanks

Cody

Injuneer
07-25-2005, 12:22 AM
If you have a tire that isn't a true "front runner", which you seemed to imply was what you had, you either have to look up the outside diameter in the manufacturer's catalog, or calculate the diameter from the section width and aspect ratio. You have the section width (165), so you need to see if they give an aspect ratio.... e.g. 60, 70, 75, 80 etc.

Most of the VW tires were 80-series, and that would give you a 25.4" outside diameter, not that far from stock (25.65")