Low profile tires on stock 16" rims (???)

[stang_monkey]

I've got a lowered (about 2" drop) 96 GT with stock 16" 5 star pony rims.

I'm wondering how low profile tires like 225/40-16 (vs stock 225/55-16) would handle. I'm not a quarter mile guy and I'm not hoping to look cool -- I just like tight handling and less sidewall would help.

The other option is to get a set of 18x9.5 Cobra R rims. That's about $1500 all told. Low profiles for the 16 inch rims would be like $400, leaving enough money left over for a headswap.

So the question is, how much of a skidpad and slalom difference would there be between the stock tires, low profiles on stock rims, and wider low profiles on Cobra R's?

Since I'm running 4.10's with a SpeedCal, the diameter change isn't a problem in any case.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[stang_monkey]

<bump>

 

[Phoenix00GT]

You'll get better skidpad and slolam number with a bigger lighter wheel (to a point 18"s is about as big as you should go on a Mustang and still be gaining performance) and putting wider low profile tires on that than getting thinner tires on smaller wheels. You will notice a HUGE difference with the bigger wheels...not quite as much of a difference with low profiles on the 16s.

 

[JonJon]

wider tires will give you a lot more lateral g stickiness
My car grips a lot nicer and I feel more confident with my 17x9" rims versus my stock 16" rims.

 

[JoeySperz]

I would definitely increase the wheel size rather than throwing on low profiles on a 16". It will throw off your speedometer if you decrease profile without increasing wheel size.

 

[Rio96]

slightly OT, but,
I own a base, no spoiler, 96 GT.
What size tires were original?
Rio