Want new tires, what size to get?

Topic: Want new tires, what size to get? (Read 2466 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Want new tires, what size to get?

Reply #15 – 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:

Re: Want new tires, what size to get?

Reply #16 – 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

Re: Want new tires, what size to get?

Reply #17 – 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.

Re: Want new tires, what size to get?

Reply #18 – 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

Re: Want new tires, what size to get?

Reply #19 – 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.

Re: Want new tires, what size to get?

Reply #20 – 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.

Re: Want new tires, what size to get?

Reply #21 – 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