295/40/20 tire on rear 10" Saleen rims?

Peace · 12-23-2006, 02:05 AM

Hi, Iâ€™m a new proud owner of a silver 05â€™ Saleen s281 3v with the chrome wheel upgrade package, and relatively new to the forum. By the way, the car runs and look great

Now, I know this is a never ending story with tire sizes, but have searched the forums without finding too info in this case, so Iâ€™d appreciate some community input:

Iâ€™m thinking of replacing the PZero Rossoâ€™s with a tire with slightly larger section width in the rear than the 'upgrade' 275/40/20, but also better threadwear. I'd prefer that that the rear tires fill out the 10â€ rims a little better than the 275/40's do...

Only problem though, which has been noted also in this thread:
http://www.mustangforums.com/m_1946525/tm.htm
There is virtually nothing manufactured in sizes that would give the same overall diameter as the 275/40/20 do, i.e., nothing in:
285/35/20
285/40/20
295/35/20
305/35/20

But! there is
295/40/20 on the market, including:

BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW

The BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW â€™s seem to be a descent tire, and also come inSaleen '05 front 'stock' size 275/35/20 which is nice...somehow it feels good to have the same brand tires front and rear [8D]

Some Spec comparisons,
g-Force T/A KDW 295/40/20 vs. PZero Rosso 275/40/20:

Overall diameter: 29.5" vs. 28.6"
Threadwear: 300 vs. 220
Revs. per mile: 706 vs. 728
The speedo: 6.2% slow vs. 3.9% slow (Note, with upgraded rear tires the speedo is slow to beginn with)

Questions:
-Importantly, are they toolarge (rubbing)?
- Anyone using this config (295/40/20 on the 10â€ upgraded rear rims)?
or, will they risk look too 'much'?
- Any experience with the BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW?
- Other issues I havenâ€™t thought about?

Thanks for input

sowaxeman · 12-23-2006, 01:22 PM

You should be fine, as you can visually tell the 275 is just a bit on the small side IMO. I've seen a car with the original wheels and 315's and they claimed there was no rub. Although they did not look good (too tall sidewall)

You can correct the speedo issue easily with a handheld tuner if you wish it to be accurate.

Peace · 12-23-2006, 02:32 PM

Yea, I guess so,only thing is that the 315/35/20 (I assume it was?) have somewhat lesssidewall than the 295/40/20, 4.6" vs 5.0". And I agree 315 will look too wide...

I guess the extra sidewall 0.45" or so on the 295/40's compared with the 275/40's shouldn't be too bad. Still, I was kind of hoping anyone here had that config?

Could you please elaborate a little bit on that handheld tuner part? Have you done it?

sowaxeman · 12-23-2006, 03:44 PM

I have not changed my parameters, but there is a parameter for changing the speedo according to your wheel/tire combo. Its part of the DiabloSport Predator tuner that I used - simple plug in programmer that will set you back about $300 and allow you to perform simple changes depending on mods. In my case I used it to turn off my O2 sensors for the off-road H pipe, and to adjust the A/F for the CAI kit I installed.

05SDI · 12-23-2006, 09:03 PM

To comment on the BFG KDW;

We're running 255x35x20 front and 285x30x20 rear. I am very impressed with wet traction! (STAY OFF STRIPES) I didn't realize how much wet traction they had until one morning I was'playin' on a twisty road.I crossed over the fog line (white line on right side of road) on a right hand corner and under both cornering and acceleration when I crossed back over this fog line (planned by the way) front end had a bad under steer and rear end broke loose. Both happened very quick and as I had 2 tire on the stripe (white fog line)Tried to duplicate this when NOT on the stripes (lines) and never happened but it could be repeated when ever I was on wet road and driving on the lines. (most people with some street bike time will know as to what I'm talking about)
IMHO the BFG KDW are
Dry traction = decent
Wet traction= excellent
Snow traction = car better be in the garage!
Loudness =quieter then I though, looking at the tread

One last observation once they break loose they are easy to keep spinning when you have some HP!
05SDI

Peace · 12-23-2006, 09:30 PM

Do you have any pics of your car with the 255x35x20 front and 285x30x20 rear (if it is on Saleen '05-07 rims)?
I'm curious how it looks with the smaller sidewall at the rear, and what it does with the overall 'look'of a Saleen. Maybe your setup can be something for me to consider? The 285's will fill the 10" rear rims better...

I'm struggeling a bit with my choice of next set of tires and if 295/40's may look too wide...I have found some pics on Internet when supposedly 295/40/20's are on 'non-Saleen' Stangs...but it's hard to tell how they will look on a s281...

05SDI · 12-23-2006, 09:42 PM

No I don't have any pics on Saleen rims.
05SDI

JJ03MustangGT · 12-31-2006, 01:46 AM

first thing is that i dont have a saleen but i do have the bfg's. i just got my 295 x 18 and 245 x 18. and i agree in person when you see the tread you think mud tire/ noisy and loud. but actually there somewhat quiet. i acutally luv this tire more now than i ever thought i would. only thing is though they were expensive,and for a starvin college kid its not easy makin the green. but im definitelyhappy with the results. i say +1 on the bfg's.

Jazzer The Cat · 12-31-2006, 02:15 AM

[/quote]

Is that a Targa top you got there? Did you get that done? I used to have an '85 GT with T-tops, but those babies are looooooooonng gone (actually, it is in AZ b/c I sold it to my moms hubby :-)

Jazzer on going topless

danam · 01-24-2007, 08:40 PM

I put 305/25/20 on My rear Saleen Rims and look kinda stupid, low profile too small. I'd say 295/40/20 would fill it in perectly.

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