Anybody running 255/50-16 on stock pony rims?

[G.I.Slow]

I have been searching around the site looking to see if anybody is running the MT ET Street radial on their stock pony rims. I found a few people that said that a 255/50-16 would be the biggest but in the same thread someone else will say that is too big. Summit catalog says that the BFG 255/50-16 will fit rim widths between 7.0-9.0. Would it be safe for me to say that the same size tire from a different MFG. should fit also? MT ad says an 8.0 rim width but it doesn't give a range like BFG. So, If you have a 255/50-16 on a pony I would to see some pictures. Thanks in advance.

Sean

 

[1SLO306]

i am running 245/50/16 on my ponys but thier street tire. thats ass wide as i will go untill i get a wider rim.

 

[notchback]

i have them on a pony...i can get you a pic tomorrow

they measure out to 26X10.5X 16 right?

you have to reverse the quads end for end to keep them, or just remove them, but i like them on

if i don't get you the pic e-mail me...cuz i just forgot

 

[G.I.Slow]

Notch, thanks alot. I am guessing that there is no problems with the tire on the 7.0 inch stock pony then. Other then flipping the quad shock, did you have to roll the wheel well lip any? Thanks again. I was thinking that there would be alot of people running this tire size since it is the only size I see for the 16" wheel.

edit: I forgot to say that it does measure something like 26x10.3x16


Sean

 

[Black1987Stang]

Im running 255-50-16 in my rear, theyre BFG Pro Comp t/a's with no problems on stock ponies

 

[LXSTASY]

I have the Nittos 245-50-16. They are wide on the pony rim. I've seen and heard that a 255 could be done, but you might compromise some higher speed handling (aka, turns on the parkway) with the wider tire on the smaller rim. If the car is a weekend car then go for it, if its a DD the Nittos are a better bet because they last longer and are a 245 tire. They work well on the street too if they are heated. I've launched pretty hard on the street with them, and they worked. They hooked enough for me to blow my tranny.

 

[Daniel50]

here's a dumb question but what do you sacrifice by taking the quads off and what the widest you can go after they are gone?

 

[G.I.Slow]

here's a dumb question but what do you sacrifice by taking the quads off and what the widest you can go after they are gone?

Most people say you get wheel hop once you take the quad shocks off and I think people go as wide as 275's with no quad shock. I have also heard that the exhaust pipes can rub the tire once you get to the point to where you have to remove quad shocks.

Sean

 

[Daniel50]

will my 245's rub my tailpipes if i get a little crazy around a turn and i already have wheel hop lol.

 

[LXSTASY]

If you have a good set of aftermarket control arms, you can remove the quad shocks with not problem.

 

[IntenseBlue]

My buddy Andy has a set of 295/50/16s on his STOCK Pony wheels and has no problems with them at all.

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

Man 295's on a 7 inch wheel? Wow, those sidewalls gotta be rolled like crazy? I have 245's on my 95, and I wouldn't want any wider on there personally. I have 245/40/18 and 285/35/18's on 9 inch wide wheels (Y2K Cobra R) and they both look like a good fit. Been too lazy, and now have a broken hand, so I can't mount them on the car. 255's should fit on the stock ponies, but it may affect some of your cornering. FWIW, it probably won't be too noticable.

 

[IntenseBlue]

Man 295's on a 7 inch wheel? Wow, those sidewalls gotta be rolled like crazy? I have 245's on my 95, and I wouldn't want any wider on there personally. I have 245/40/18 and 285/35/18's on 9 inch wide wheels (Y2K Cobra R) and they both look like a good fit. Been too lazy, and now have a broken hand, so I can't mount them on the car. 255's should fit on the stock ponies, but it may affect some of your cornering. FWIW, it probably won't be too noticable.

It's not that bad actually. When he first put them on I was like man those are wide. I asked him if they were 275s. "Nope, 295/50s." I thought surely not but I went and looked at them and they were 295/50/16s. I asked him if the rims were widened and he said no, he had just bought them off of a stocker. The tire looked good on there. Too wide for an autocross suspension, but they were definately streetable. The only time they rubbed is if you hit a speedbump or something and that was because the height of the tires.

 

[notchback]

sorry bro i forgot....pic tomorrow i promise.

w/ the quads off or reversed you can get 11" wide

after that need diff backspacing or spacers

 

[STANGateURlilSS]

275s fit on a fox body on a stock bullet just fine.. have many freinds running them.. 275/50/15.. with there stupid quad shocks..

 

[Michael Yount]

You can mount that tire on a pony rim - but it's far from optimal. If the wheel is too narrow for the tire, then the sidewall isn't supported the way it should be. The result is that all the tread isn't on the ground -- the outer edges tend to be pulled 'up' -- and when lateral loads are applied (cornering) the tire will roll onto it's shoulder more easily. Often defeats the purpose of going to a wider tire -- when you can't use all the rubber because the wheel won't support it.

General rule of thumb is don't go more than 2" wider on the section width of the tire than the wheel width. The section width is the first number in the size -- 225, 255, etc. -- in mm. Divide it by 25.4 to convert it to inches, and then subtract 2" from it -- that'll give you the minimum width wheel you need. 255/25.4=10.03" -- about 10". 10" - 2" = 8" -- you need a minimum of an 8" wide wheel for a 255 section tire if you want to optimize things. Pony's are only 7" wide -- hence the factory 225 section tire size.

Don't misunderstand -- it'll mount up just fine; but the narrow wheel won't support the tire the way it should be supported.

 

[G.I.Slow]

sorry bro i forgot....pic tomorrow i promise.

No problem man. Thanks for the help.

Thanks to all, I am convinced that this is the tire I need since I want to keep the stock rims for as long as I can. I like the "stock look". A friend of mine has these tires and was almost going to return them until he saw this thread. Thanks Again.

Sean

 

[G.I.Slow]

Don't misunderstand -- it'll mount up just fine; but the narrow wheel won't support the tire the way it should be supported.

I have seen the info you provided and that was the basis of my question. The thing that is throwing me off is the BFG Ad that says a 255/50-16 tire will fit on rims 7.0 to 9.0 inches. I think there has to be some safety margin built in to that manufacturer spec., just for them to be on the safe side.

Thanks,
Sean

 

[Michael Yount]

Sean - my older brother has been in the wheel/tire business for 35 years - he owns his own business and has been a Goodrich/Michelin dealer for years. I've picked up a few things over the years. If you twisted his arm he'd put a 245 on a 7" rim for you -- with a stearn warning that it's not gonna take full advantage of the tire. If you insisted on a 255, he'd insist that you buy them/have them mounted by someone else.