You want 245/45/17's.
WARNING RANT FOLLOWS!
BTW: Since you're smart enough to know about tirerack and tire specs look at MULTIPLE tires for the "specs". Tire sizes are like pants/dress sizes - part of it is PURE AND TOTAL BS!
Let me say this again:
In *REAL-LIFE* THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "STANDARD" TIRE DIMENSIONS FOR *ANY* TIRE SIZE - PERIOD!
So, the 25.5 "spec" you found for a 225 60 15:
o Varies from one tire make to another
o Is NOT accurate, even to 0.1"
o Is often something based on "typical" values
o Varies with TEMP, WEAR, TOLERANCES, RIM SELECTION.
BTW: Last night, I bought *front* Blizzaks for my Stang so that when I drive it that ~once a week in the winter, my front tires ate not like skis. I have Blizzaks for the rear. But, they no longer offer 225 60 15's in the WS50's. I need 245/45/17 on the front because of my brakes. I have ABS on may Stang, so I need to have *all* 4 tires within ~3% of each other (in *real life*, not by some BS specs people pull out of their rear-end). So, I'm very PO'd that I didn't find the spec for my rear tires.
FWIW: You can get 245/45/17 WS50's for a very cheap closeout price on tirerack! You can save ~$100 over the newer LM25 replacement Blizzaks.
Okay, I guess enough bitching about asking WHY it's so *****ing hard for tire companies to meet "specs". Well, for now at least.
Oh yea, I have RE720 245/45/17's as my summer tires (replaced by the RE750). It's WIDER than a "typical" 245/45/17. That's *very* important when *stuffing* tires in the very small tire wells of an *86*.
Last: That's why many tires shops REQUIRE many cars to get ALL FOUR TIRES AT ONCE! It's a *safety requirement* on cars with ABS/TC/etc.
WARNING RANT FOLLOWS!
BTW: Since you're smart enough to know about tirerack and tire specs look at MULTIPLE tires for the "specs". Tire sizes are like pants/dress sizes - part of it is PURE AND TOTAL BS!
Let me say this again:
In *REAL-LIFE* THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "STANDARD" TIRE DIMENSIONS FOR *ANY* TIRE SIZE - PERIOD!
So, the 25.5 "spec" you found for a 225 60 15:
o Varies from one tire make to another
o Is NOT accurate, even to 0.1"
o Is often something based on "typical" values
o Varies with TEMP, WEAR, TOLERANCES, RIM SELECTION.
BTW: Last night, I bought *front* Blizzaks for my Stang so that when I drive it that ~once a week in the winter, my front tires ate not like skis. I have Blizzaks for the rear. But, they no longer offer 225 60 15's in the WS50's. I need 245/45/17 on the front because of my brakes. I have ABS on may Stang, so I need to have *all* 4 tires within ~3% of each other (in *real life*, not by some BS specs people pull out of their rear-end). So, I'm very PO'd that I didn't find the spec for my rear tires.
FWIW: You can get 245/45/17 WS50's for a very cheap closeout price on tirerack! You can save ~$100 over the newer LM25 replacement Blizzaks.
Okay, I guess enough bitching about asking WHY it's so *****ing hard for tire companies to meet "specs". Well, for now at least.
Oh yea, I have RE720 245/45/17's as my summer tires (replaced by the RE750). It's WIDER than a "typical" 245/45/17. That's *very* important when *stuffing* tires in the very small tire wells of an *86*.
Last: That's why many tires shops REQUIRE many cars to get ALL FOUR TIRES AT ONCE! It's a *safety requirement* on cars with ABS/TC/etc.
There was never an optional 17" wheel on any Fox Mustang. The only Fox that got 17's was the '93 Cobra. In 1987, all you could get were 15's.
With that said, a tire that would give to a diamter similar to stock is 245/45/17
However, on my '88 with 17's i run a 235/45/17 for a little bit more clearance
Same here on the 235s/275s. Had 245s on the front but they rubbed at full turn like Anaconda was describing (although mine was enough to worry about)
**Should probably mention I did have to take the lip down on the inside of the fender so it wouldn't gouge the 275s but thats it, still running my quad shocks even tho I probably don't need to but they don't hit so why mess with them.
**Should probably mention I did have to take the lip down on the inside of the fender so it wouldn't gouge the 275s but thats it, still running my quad shocks even tho I probably don't need to but they don't hit so why mess with them.
I'd actually take both sizes suggested by tirerack for your application. I believe their optional 17" listing is simply based on +1'ing the stock 16" pony tire being 225/55/16 (+10/-10/+1).
Assuming a 17x7.5(93 Cobra)-17x8 Wheel
87-90 Mustang 235/45/17F & 245/45/17R
91-93 Mustang (due to the enlarged wheel wells) 245/45/17 all around. *Bonus you can rotate the tires
Now the reason to have 235s on the front of your 87 is like other have mentioned, to avoid rubbing issues (may still rub a bit at full lock, hard cornering or depending on the suspension setup). You could also throw a set of rack limiters on, but that would be annoying if you have to park the car in tight spaces frequently.
Personally I think anything wider than a 245 on an 8" width rim looks too bulgy on the sidewalls. A lot of people that run 255 and 275s on the rears of Foxes have 9" wide rims (i.e. Cobra Rs, 03 Cobras).
Ive got 4 lug 17" saleen wheels on my 91 and ive got 275s and 245s up front with no problem, the rear get nowhere near the lip and it sags in the back from my stereo, they rub the quad shock enough to take paint off them but not often. Was wondering if lowering the front an inch to make it sit level would be a problem with 245s if any of you have done it. Thanks.
I'm not sure what your sound setup weighs, or what springs/shocks you have, but it seems like the ones in the rear are due for a change. Unless you have some crazy/heavy sub system back there, I can't see the added weight making a 1" difference with fresh suspension components.
Since you do have a system back there, I'd look into getting a set of 4 lowering springs that are slightly lower for the fronts (i.e. 1"F & 7/8"R or something like that). Given you have a 91 (enlarged wheel wells) 245s shouldn't rub in the front on an 8" rim, but maybe a teeny bit on a 9" (and quite possibly no rub at all, either). Unfortunately, there are many suspension/wheel combinations, 87-90fenders vs 91+, and varying levels of body stress between different Foxes that you aren't going to get a 100% answer until you try it. Simply put some people wouldn't rub with 245s up front, and some would, even though they both have 5.0L Foxes.