The "Flyin' Whale" '66 Chrysler 300 needs new sneakers as the tires on her date back to 2005 and the car has been sitting most of the time for the past 10+ years.
For Sale - Found an auction listing the "Flying Whale" '66 300 For Sale
The car currently has 295/50R16's on the rear & 255/50R16's on the front and I really like the stance of the car and at least for now, I would like to keep the wheels that Henry, who built the car, had made for it. The problem is that no one, except an Asian tire company, Maxxis, makes them in the 295/50R16 size and those tires appear to be more truck orientated. The only tires I can find in this size or a size that is close are drag radials. Henry ran a 12.11 1/4 mile in the car with serious traction problems on BFG T/A radials (499 HP @ the rear wheels) and I may take her down the track a few times a year but she will be mostly a street car. My concern is that I have heard that drag radials ride like crap, handle like crap and are not good in the rain. This car was built not only to go fast in a straight line but to also handle like a modern muscle car so I don't want to put drag radials on if they don't handle, ride lousy and suck in the rain. Let's face it, if I bring the car to Carlisle some year, it's a given that I will have to drive her in the rain at some point in time so any feedback would be appreciated.
Finding front tires is not a problem and the car looks so bad a$$ with the 295 steamrollers in the rear and I would rather not go smaller. My only other option is to go up to an 18" rim size as the larger 16" & 17" tire sizes are going the way the of the 14" tires (discontinued) and moving down to 15" may cause some interference with the rear disc brakes and suspensions modifications. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Bill
For Sale - Found an auction listing the "Flying Whale" '66 300 For Sale
The car currently has 295/50R16's on the rear & 255/50R16's on the front and I really like the stance of the car and at least for now, I would like to keep the wheels that Henry, who built the car, had made for it. The problem is that no one, except an Asian tire company, Maxxis, makes them in the 295/50R16 size and those tires appear to be more truck orientated. The only tires I can find in this size or a size that is close are drag radials. Henry ran a 12.11 1/4 mile in the car with serious traction problems on BFG T/A radials (499 HP @ the rear wheels) and I may take her down the track a few times a year but she will be mostly a street car. My concern is that I have heard that drag radials ride like crap, handle like crap and are not good in the rain. This car was built not only to go fast in a straight line but to also handle like a modern muscle car so I don't want to put drag radials on if they don't handle, ride lousy and suck in the rain. Let's face it, if I bring the car to Carlisle some year, it's a given that I will have to drive her in the rain at some point in time so any feedback would be appreciated.
Finding front tires is not a problem and the car looks so bad a$$ with the 295 steamrollers in the rear and I would rather not go smaller. My only other option is to go up to an 18" rim size as the larger 16" & 17" tire sizes are going the way the of the 14" tires (discontinued) and moving down to 15" may cause some interference with the rear disc brakes and suspensions modifications. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Bill