Thread: Will I have an issue with handling???

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Hello Everyone! I'm switching from a small block Chev to a blown 392 hemi & was wondering with the wheels & tires that I have is there going to be a handling/stopping issue? Tires are Firestone 125R x 15's with a load rating of 1355 lb's. 5" section width & 3 3/4" tread width... Wheels are the ET III's 15 x 4 1/2"....Everything was fine with the small block but hemi weights 900 pounds! I am going to switch the front springs to the ones recommended by Pete & Jakes {their chassis set-up}. Is this to much weight for my current wheeels/tires??? ET III also makes these rims in 15 x 6 size so I could get those along with wider tires...... Thanks, Bill

Bill, I'm no tire expert, but the only problem I can see is the rear coming around to the front with the loud pedal down.

I think common sense would tell you that it's gonna take longer to stop and the handling will not be quite as agile with another 350 lbs on the front, but I don't think load-carrying limits of your current tires will be breached.

With all the extra frontal weight the handling will certainly not improve....You're probably ok on the weight issue for the tires and wheels, but you may want something bigger up front to lessen the tendency of those skinny fronts to plow and slide instead of grip and turn... If you know someone with a set of scales it would be good to check the front and rear weight on the car just to be sure....

...Thanks Tech & Dave, my main concern was the tires just not handling the weight. So if I'm ok on that I'll see what happens..... Bill

I run a similar tire set up, although with the lighter SBC. Its all about the look with big & littles. Obviously there are better handling tires but I feel that they are safe enough and try to use extra care especially with the distance I put the car ahead of me at. Them skinny little suckers don't grab much pavement.

a guy here in town has a 32 ford with a blown BBC in it he went from 5 inch wides to those 12 spoke wheels and skinnys he said it drives jut as good if not better then before.

I went from 195/60-15 on 6" wide wheels to 155/80-15 on 5" wide wheels and haven't noticed any difference. Small Block Ford.

Given similar tire construction, the only time you'll notice any difference is when you pass the adhesion limits of the skinny tires, and then it's too late anyway!
Seriously, the extra weight might make the front "stick" better than it did with the mouse motor. What happens when the Hemi gets the boost up is anybody's guess! Be fun to find out, though.

Steer it with the loud pedal if need be.

Reasonable applications of course, too much will just bring the rear too far around.

Originally Posted by C9x

Steer it with the loud pedal if need be.

Reasonable applications of course, too much will just bring the rear too far around.

↑↑↑ I love that.