new tires rubbing in front

[DAVES96]

My 96 is lowered and had 215/60/16's all the way around it and I installed some 245/50/16's yesterday.

Now the front tires are rubbing during tight turns. The wheels are stock. I think its hitting the front stabilizer bar.

What should I do? Get 225/50's for the front or just get a 8mm (5/16) wheel spacer?

I'm thinking about getting 1.25" spacers for the rear.

thanks for your replies!

 

[Mindstatic Pro]

You should be able to run whatever the stock size was. Im not sure what that is though. My 99 had 17's from the factory. I can tell you that those were 245/45's. If your planning on sticking with the factory rims I would just go back to the factory tire size.

EDIT: Try to stay away from the spacers. Ive heard to many sad stories to advocate their use.

 

[DAVES96]

You should be able to run whatever the stock size was. Im not sure what that is though. My 99 had 17's from the factory. I can tell you that those were 245/45's. If your planning on sticking with the factory rims I would just go back to the factory tire size.

EDIT: Try to stay away from the spacers. Ive heard to many sad stories to advocate their use.

The stock 225/55/16's are pretty narrow for a mustang. I'm wondering if the 99 + allow wider tires in the front then the older models?

 

[04DarkShadowGT]

I dont know what to tell you, the backspacing of the wheel may be pusing it too far in for a 245 tire.

The 245/50/16 is actually shorter than the 215/60/16 so height shouldnt be an issue.

 

[Mindstatic Pro]

^^^ Actually the 245/55's are a bit taller than the 215/60's

245/55/16 = 27.57 inches
215/60/16 = 26.16 inches

The series # ***/55/** is actually a % of the width of the tread ie..

245/55/16 = the sidewall height is 55% of the 245 width

215/60/16 = the sidewall height is 60% of the 215 width

since the width of tread is smaller, even though the series is taller it is not larger in overall diameter 55% of 245 > 60% of 215

here is a simple calculator u can use to compute overall tire diameter and compare different tire sizes. It will also tell you how far off your speedo will be with different tire sizes.

http://www.net-comber.com/tirecalc.html

I would stay with the factory tire size however, if you wanted some more tread, switch to a 235/50 or try the 245/45's. This calculator I have provided should be of some help.

 

[DAVES96]

^^^ Actually the 245/55's are a bit taller than the 215/60's

245/55/16 = 27.57 inches
215/60/16 = 26.16 inches

The series # ***/55/** is actually a % of the width of the tread ie..

245/55/16 = the sidewall height is 55% of the 245 width

215/60/16 = the sidewall height is 60% of the 215 width

since the width of tread is smaller, even though the series is taller it is not larger in overall diameter 55% of 245 > 60% of 215

here is a simple calculator u can use to compute overall tire diameter and compare different tire sizes. It will also tell you how far off your speedo will be with different tire sizes.

http://www.net-comber.com/tirecalc.html

I would stay with the factory tire size however, if you wanted some more tread, switch to a 235/50 or try the 245/45's. This calculator I have provided should be of some help.

its not a 55 series, its a 50 series 245/50/16

 

[04DarkShadowGT]

^^^ Actually the 245/55's are a bit taller than the 215/60's

245/55/16 = 27.57 inches
215/60/16 = 26.16 inches

The series # ***/55/** is actually a % of the width of the tread ie..

245/55/16 = the sidewall height is 55% of the 245 width

215/60/16 = the sidewall height is 60% of the 215 width

since the width of tread is smaller, even though the series is taller it is not larger in overall diameter 55% of 245 > 60% of 215

here is a simple calculator u can use to compute overall tire diameter and compare different tire sizes. It will also tell you how far off your speedo will be with different tire sizes.

http://www.net-comber.com/tirecalc.html

I would stay with the factory tire size however, if you wanted some more tread, switch to a 235/50 or try the 245/45's. This calculator I have provided should be of some help.

Go read the original post again my friend. A 245/55 is taller but thats not what he has.

 

[Mindstatic Pro]

Ah, my bad. 245/50 = 25.65 in and 215/60 = 26.16 in

If you think that the tire is rubbing the sway bar then the tire is to wide, especially since the overall diameter is smaller. You could either stick with the 245's and get a smaller series or step down to 235's and stick with the 50 series. Hell I dont know.....

 

[CRZYHRSGT]

I'm a little torn...I would like to say that the offset is different on the wheels between the '96 and '99+. Even if they have the same +30mm offset (30mm between the center of the wheel and the hub mounting surface) it is going to be different between a 16 x 7.5 and a 17 x 8. But this only accounts for 1/2 inch. Does anyone know if there's a dimensional difference between SN95 and '99+ stabilizer bars?

One thing I would suggest is to keep away from the spacers. The only ones I would trust are the ones that bolt on to your hub and have new studs pressed in to them fror your wheel. I don't believe they make these skinny enough for the fronts, tho. Even if they did, I still wouldn't trust them on front suspension, putting into account all the stress and constant changes in geometry that the front wheels go thru..

 

[DAVES96]

Thanks for your replies everyone. I should have mentioned that the wheels are 01's. here's a pic.

 

[DAVES96]

one more try..

 

[DAVES96]

For some reason I cant send a picture? I give up.