275 vs 295 tires

[Dino]

I was looking at my tires this weekend as I had a tiny slide on Saturday while trying to avoid a squirrel.  I was doing 60 when he crossed the road and I mashed the pedal.  All 4's locked and I could feel the rear slip and slide a bit to the left.  Nothing major and nothing happened but it was one of those 'maybe it's time for new tires' moments.  

The thread is not bad at all but they are only 225 wide on 14" rims and I think it's just not enough thread width for a car this size and weight.

I always wanted 275/60 tires on 15" rims so I could have a good stance with a 235/60 up front.  The wife would prefer 295 in the back but I think 275 will be plenty.  

Has anyone run both and feel one is better over the other?  This is a driven car and I drive it in anything but ice and snow.  

My main concern is driving it in the rain.  Wide tires are usually turned into skis when it's wet and the idea is to slide less, not more.

I'm also thinking of getting either RWL Mickey Thompsons or Cooper Cobras which I believe is the same brand.  I hear a lot of bad about the BFG's.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Any insight is appreciated.

Oh and the squirrel made it to the other side, although he may have needed new underwear.

[Wookie316]

295's look sweet on the back of a Charger.
Something to consider is what rim you are running? 15x8 are better for a 275 by far. 10 inch rims fit the 295 very nice. Probably a 5 - 5 1/2 back space would work best. There are a couple threads on the subject a bit further down the page.

Mickey T's are a very nice tire. That would be my choice.

Good luck. Post Picts when you have them on.

[Dino]

295's look sweet on the back of a Charger.
Something to consider is what rim you are running? 15x8 are better for a 275 by far. 10 inch rims fit the 295 very nice. Probably a 5 - 5 1/2 back space would work best. There are a couple threads on the subject a bit further down the page.

Mickey T's are a very nice tire. That would be my choice.

Good luck. Post Picts when you have them on.

I don't have 15" rims yet so I can get pretty much anything.  I do like the ballon sidewall look like a 275 on an 8 wide rim so I can only assume 295 on a 10 wide is roughly the same look.

[cdr]

295 on 10 in wheel

[HPP]

I do like the ballon sidewall look like a 275 on an 8 wide rim so I can only assume 295 on a 10 wide is roughly the same look.

Hmm, not quite.  275 is 10.75" section width. 295 is 11.625" section. That means a 275 is 2.75" wider than the 8" rim, so it has a nice curve to the sidewall. By contrast, the 295 is only 1.625 wider than a 10" rim, so it tends to be flatter in the sidewall. You would need a 325 tire to create the same curve on a 10" rim as a 275 on an 8" rim. Now, a 295 on a 9 or 9.5" rim would be closer.

[Lennard]

295/50-15 on 15x10 looks awesome.

[Mopar Nut]

I do like the ballon sidewall look like a 275 on an 8 wide rim so I can only assume 295 on a 10 wide is roughly the same look.

Hmm, not quite.  275 is 10.75" section width. 295 is 11.625" section. That means a 275 is 2.75" wider than the 8" rim, so it has a nice curve to the sidewall. By contrast, the 295 is only 1.625 wider than a 10" rim, so it tends to be flatter in the sidewall. You would need a 325 tire to create the same curve on a 10" rim as a 275 on an 8" rim. Now, a 295 on a 9 or 9.5" rim would be closer.

It depends on who makes the tire, my BFG 295/50R15 section width is 12.17.

[Chryco Psycho]

the 295 is a shorter tire as well seeing as the 295 / 50 is all that is available , the 275 is a 60 series , the 275 is 28+ " tall , the 295 is around 26 tall , personally i like the 295 /50 better
I agree with staying away from BFGarbage , you may want to look at the Nitto drag radials too , long life & sticky , Discount tire direct has decent pricing on the Nitto

[twodko]

Too bad you don't live closer Dino, I have a set of 8x15 Mag 500's with 275 60 R15 Firestone Indy 500 on them with less than 600 miles on them for sale. Buddy has a pair of 10x15 Mag 500 with 295 50 something or other on them I'm buying from him.

[Brightyellow69rtse]

275 60 15s here wiuth 235 60 15s up front. 15x7 up front 15x8.5 i think. thats the widest rim size they make for the wheels i liked. the charger never sees rain so i cant comment on how it reacts. i did have 275's in the rear on my camaro and that was fine in the rain from what i remember.  avoid bfg they wear away to nothing in no time!

[Paul G]

I will say that wider tires are not going to eliminate the rear end sliding around issue when braking hard. That is just a condition of the design of the brakes. If you do a lot of wet weather driving, again you wont like the wider tires. They will hydroplane. A good choice for all seasons is a modest tire like a 225/70-15. The wider tires like a 275/60-15 in back will look really nice, and will perform better when drag racing. But not good in inclement weather.

[Dino]

Man those 295's sure look purdy! 

I understand hydroplaning is an issue, that's one of the reasons I'd go with a 275 before a 295 but I may need to reconsider and get something less wide. 

Thanks for the advice folks.

[440 Fanatic]

Initial traction is independent of tire width. Only 2 factors are involved, the down-force and the index of static friction which is a property of the 2 materials in contact with each other.
Personally I like the 275/60-15s because of height, makes my 3.23's more highway friendly and fills out the fenderwell nicely. 

[Chryco Psycho]

if the tread pattern is designed well hydroplaning will not be an issue unless the water si quite deep or the tires are worn

[Fred]

When I restored my charger, I got talked into getting 275/60R15 for the back and 235/60R15 for the front. (They were Yokohama 352's) I drove them for 3 years after which as some of you already know I decided to get Goodrich 295/50R15 on 10x15" rims for the back and 235/60R15 on 7x15" rims for the front. And I tell you what..........I should have done it from the start. They look mean and fit the car to a T. And handle exceptionally well in the dry. Not sure about wet conditions (as you know).
I've always been a fan of Yokohama but had to go with Goodrich for the simple reason that  I can't get the Yokahama 352 radials anymore.

[TXcharger70]

I am having the same exact dilemma. I can't seem to decide between 275 60 15 or 295 50 on 8in w/4.5BS. I am currently running 235 60 all around w/. 3:55s. The 275 maybe a little more friendlier on the highway. But I just can't decide I toss and turn and can't come up with a decision

[Cooter]

295/50/15 needs a 10" rim to wear properly. Just becasue it WILL mount on that 8" wheel, doesn't mean it won't be wearing the centers out of the tread. If 10" wheels won't fit your wheelwells, leave the 295/50 for someone else's headache, and run the 275/50. It is the same width as the 275/60, just shorter.

[Lord Warlock]

The first thing to address is: never slam on the brakes to avoid a squirrel,  just steer where they were when you first saw them, they'll usually change directions under the car anyway.  There is no reason to risk damage to the car to protect a rodent with a fuzzy tail.  Even when you hit one, they don't usually make much of a mess anyway, unlike rabbits which tend to explode and spray when they pop.  A dog or cat I can understand attempting to avoid, but not a squirrel. 

next,  275 vs 295 really isn't going to be much of a difference in braking performance.  you'll still lock up and slide with the old brake systems we have in the chargers.  I'd go with the wider 295 or larger in the back, I've always preferred wide tires in the back of mine.  I wish i could find a comparable width/stance to the L50-15 Kelly supercharger series tire i have on mine.  275s don't seem to be near the width the old tires have.

[JB400]

I haven't got into the tire fitment issue yet, but armadillos are no fun to hit.  No animal is, but armadillos are built like a boulder.

[Lord Warlock]

I can relate to the armadillo, i hit one at 70mph on the interstate in my stealth, and the car went airborne, thought i'd torn off the whole nose of the car, when i stopped and took a look, nothing...no damage, no blood, and no carcass, the dang animal wandered off the road on his own after the hit.  I WILL avoid those in the future. 

[stripe74au]

I haven't got into the tire fitment issue yet, but armadillos are no fun to hit.  No animal is, but armadillos are built like a boulder.

Ever hit a Wombat? 

[JB400]

I don't drive through a zoo