Wheel Size Recommendations

[68SPRINT]

I am fitting a front disc conversion kit to my 67 390 fastback so I have got to replace the original styled steel wheels for some bigger ones. I have decided to go for 16" x 7 polished Torque Thrusts. However, I am undecided on the tyre size. I am thinking of going 225 50 15 all round. Is this a good choice?? Or is going for 245 50 15 on the back a better option?

Any help appreciated.

 

[bnickel]

245/50-16 all around will be closer to the original tire size.

 

[65 fastback]

... I have decided to go for 16" x 7 polished Torque Thrusts. ...I am thinking of going 225 50 15 all round. Is this a good choice....

I think you are going to have quite a bit of troble fitting a 15" tire on a 16" wheel.

A couple more things to consider:
- I would go to an 8" wide rim, 245's will not fit on 7" rims
- Also, I would consider going to a 17" tall wheel, 16" rims align the rim with the top control arm. With a 17" rim the rim sits above the control arm and allows more backspacing of the wheel. There is also a much better tire selection with 17" tires.

If you are staying with 16" rims, I would go with:
16" X 8" with 4.5" backspacing and 225/50/16 front, 245/50/16 rear (you are probably going to have to grind or roll your rear wheel well lips a little to fit the 245's with this set up)

If you go to 17" rims, you could go with:
17" X 8" with 4.75 backspacing and 225/45/17 front, 245/50/16 rear (Edit: I mean 245/45/17's - Thanks for the catch CarFreak)
There are some people even running 235/40/17 front and 255/40/17 rear with some minor wheel well lip grinding.

Hope that helps some,
Tim

 

[CarFreakGT]

I am fitting a front disc conversion kit to my 67 390 fastback so I have got to replace the original styled steel wheels for some bigger ones. I have decided to go for 16" x 7 polished Torque Thrusts. However, I am undecided on the tyre size. I am thinking of going 225 50 15 all round. Is this a good choice?? Or is going for 245 50 15 on the back a better option?

Any help appreciated.

I think you'll have a little trouble fitting 225/245 50 15 tires on 16" wheels. Just giving you a little s**t.

You could do either. It's a matter of personal preference if you want larger on the rear. Personally, that's what I like. I actually went to the MCA show here in Louisville today, and both combos were pretty common. Now, all of those were w/ 15" wheels. I don't know if the 16" would be different w/ regards to clearance issues, or if you will have any difficulty finding those sizes for 16".

Good luck!

 

[CarFreakGT]

Damn, 65, you beat me to the punch!

 

[CarFreakGT]

I think you are going to have quite a bit of troble fitting a 15" tire on a 16" wheel.

If you go to 17" rims, you could go with:
17" X 8" with 4.75 backspacing and 225/45/17 front, 245/50/16 rear
There are some people even running 235/40/17 front and 255/40/17 rear with some minor wheel well lip grinding.

Hope that helps some,
Tim

What, is this contagious?

 

[mittjere85]

I have 245s on a 7in rim right now it just depends on the tire look into the suggested wheel sizes on different tires before you buy them though because some of them won't fit.

 

[enferno]

another thing to consider is that it's getting more and more difficult to find decent tires for 15" rims

i have 15x8.5" in the rear of my car, and almost nobody makes anything larger than a 225 tread width for 15" rims, at least not in ultra high performance tires