Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => General Fox T-Bird/Cougar Discussion => Topic started by: CougarSE on September 28, 2005, 02:43:49 AM

Title: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: CougarSE on September 28, 2005, 02:43:49 AM
Its time to buy some new tires. I was wandering what size you all like and think I should go with.  I have snowflakes on my car now.
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: oldraven on September 28, 2005, 10:56:41 AM
I'm using 245/50/16's, and they fit fine. I'd advise, since you don't have quad shocks, that you get 255/45/16's on the rear and 235/50-55/16's on the front, as the 245's tend to wander every time you find a rut in the road.
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: slamedcat on September 28, 2005, 11:05:53 AM
Quote from: oldraven
as the 245's tend to wander every time you find a rut in the road.


And if lowered you will have rubbing issues when turning sharp corners.
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: oldraven on September 28, 2005, 11:07:18 AM
Quote from: slamedcat
And if lowered you will have rubbing issues when turning sharp corners.


If he went with 245's, you mean? I know at stock height mine have never come close. Would the 235's?
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: slamedcat on September 28, 2005, 11:10:57 AM
Yup the 245's are a little to big if you lowered the car. I know I have that problem now. I also hit the fender lip if I hit a bump too hard.

Not sure on the 235's. I have also run 205/55R16 real small close to the ground watch for small animals.
225/50R16 are a little better.
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: Tbird232ci on September 28, 2005, 11:24:57 AM
Quote from: oldraven
as the 245's tend to wander every time you find a rut in the road.

my 225's wander too

Slamedcat...your signature has me rolling dude, i cant breath, oh got thats funny
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: bduly on September 28, 2005, 12:07:11 PM
I've got 245-45-17s on the front of my lowered bird. No tire rubbing issues. I had crazy wondering with spoogeho tires, where the tire would catch every groove in the road, but I got new tires (Riken) and they have zero wondering effect. That's just what I'm running. Goodluck.
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: Tbird232ci on September 28, 2005, 12:25:15 PM
you have the mustang control arms though
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: bduly on September 28, 2005, 12:29:00 PM
True, I forgot....but I was running 235-45-17 before the mustang control arms without rubbing. Thanks for the reminder.
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: Funky Cricket on September 28, 2005, 12:43:11 PM
oh man that sig is just tooooo funny.
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: CougarSE on September 28, 2005, 01:29:20 PM
Tire rack doesn't have 255/45 r16s but i like the idea of 245 50s

What about the Sumitomo HTR Z (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Sumitomo&tireModel=HTR+Z&partnum=45WR6HTRZ&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=1).  There cheap and thats what I want for the $300 cat!
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: oldraven on September 28, 2005, 01:37:39 PM
Looks like a nice tire. :) But if you would like to try the bigger rears, why not just go somewhere else? I got my Toyo's through a local dealer for $800 ($680US).
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: Haystack on September 28, 2005, 01:42:29 PM
kinda pointless to go that much bigger imho. I would just get wider tires of the same size. At least with the wider tires there wil be more traction. Maybe slightly bigger in back and smaller up front.
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: slamedcat on September 28, 2005, 01:43:56 PM
As bad as it sounds you may try your local walmart or sam's club.
They have a huge selection of special order tires. That where I got my G Force T/A tires from. They were right around $107 a tire. That was about 2 years ago so the price may have changed.
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: Chuck W on September 28, 2005, 01:47:19 PM
On a 7" wide wheel...no wider than 245...

You will get wander and float on anything less than a V-rated tire...the sidewalls are just too soft, and it will be worse if you go too wide.

I'm a big fan of the Sumitomo tires (going to get a set for the Z-7 here soon, but if you live in a place that gets any snow, and you plan on driving that car in the snow....look at another one of the Sumitomo HTR all-season performance tires, such as the HTR+.
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: oldraven on September 28, 2005, 03:09:38 PM
That's it. I'm doin' it! 255's on the back, just to prove Chuck wrong (for once). It's the front end that won't stay put. Now what to do with the current rears?  :hick:
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: hundred_dollar_5.0_t-bird on September 28, 2005, 03:28:10 PM
you need to burn the current rears off get someone to take pictures and post them in the "Burn your tires" thread
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: Chuck W on September 28, 2005, 03:32:00 PM
The front wander will depend on tires and alignment.  Most wide stiff tires are going to seek out the ruts and follow them. 

The float I was talking about in my previous post is the sidewall squirm you get from the lower speed-rated tires.  I hate having to allow the tires to take a set when cornering.  Squirmy tires suck.
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: Tbird232ci on September 28, 2005, 03:36:48 PM
Quote from: Haystack
kinda pointless to go that much bigger imho. I would just get wider tires of the same size. At least with the wider tires there wil be more traction. Maybe slightly bigger in back and smaller up front.

wider tires of the same size...the more i repeat it...the less sense it makes

i guess you dont understand how tire sizes work

we'll use 225/60/15 as an example

the first number, 225, is the width of the tread in millimeters

the second number, is the sidewall size, and its a percentage, so the sidewall size is 60% of the tread width, 225, to 60% of 225 is the sidewall heigh

15 is the wheel diameter

if you increase the tread width to say 245, the sidewall will also get to be talled, because it would then be 60% of 245, so you would need to lower the percentage to get it as close to the overall diameter, to not throw your speedometer off too badly
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: nirvanagod on September 28, 2005, 03:39:19 PM
Quote from: Chuck W
depend on tires and alignment.


Speaking of tires and alignment. Does anyone know what the alignment specs ought to be on these cars. I'm gonna be needing to pick up tires soon and i'll most likely get the frontend aligned in the process. Only problem is, I can't seem to terribly many places that can get the alignment right.
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: Chuck W on September 28, 2005, 03:53:10 PM
CC plates?

As much positive caster as you can get.  No more than -1* neg camber (any more and you'll chew up tires).  1/16" toe-in is good for most folks.  1/16" toe out makes the car "turn-in" quicker, but can make the car a bit touchy at higher speeds.

If no CC plates, I'd run the 1/16" toe in and stll keep the camber to -3/4 to -1* max for street use.
Title: Re: Want new tires, what size to get?
Post by: fordman3 on October 05, 2005, 07:44:57 PM
Hey guys,
I don't know if this question is still being investigated, but I know that I've put 225/55R16's on the front of my '83 Cougar (with 16" TC snowflakes) and the inner sidewalls are only clearing the front struts by a couple hairs.  I've debated putting spacers on the front but would rather not.  I'm putting 245/50R16's on the back, which are the same height as the 225/55's, just because they look so cool.  They should actually probably have been pitched (they're probably at around 50% or less tread), but a guy at work told me he'd let me have them for $10, so I took them.  It doesn't appear that anything wider than a 225/55 on a snowflake rim will fit the front without spacers.  That wheel has a very deep offset.  Just my $0.02.  Oh, there's an ad at work on the board for a set of 225/50R16 Falken's (tread %?, but I think it said they are pretty new) for $250 OBO.  Just thought I'd throw that out there.  I'm in Marshall, IL.

Fordman3