215/50VR16's fit on slicer ok?

[FordLover]

My dad's cougar is going to get new tires shortly, and there is still decent tread left on his stock firestone firehawk GTA 02's.
I'm thinking they'd make decent tires to use at the track or a road course, so I don't tear up my good (expensive) street tires.
the wheels they are coming off of is a 16x7, so I don't imagine the slicer will be an issue.
-Martin

 

[DHMag]

they fit fine. the only set back is speedo error.

 

[pjtoledo]

According to Tire Rack specs, the recommended wheels sizes are 6.5 to 7.5" Slicers are only 6". The load rating is only 89. SHOs need a load rating of 92 or 93. Anybody have the owners manual handy? It's that safety thing again, keeps getting in the way of us having fun.

Perry Toledo,Ohio

 

[sho_dwn]

I thought the slicers were 16x6.6? I have 215/45 on mine and love them.

 

[pjtoledo]

sho_dwn:
I thought the slicers were 16x6.6? I have 215/45 on mine and love them.

You have 215-45/16 tires on a SHO? I hate to rain on somebody's parade, but typical load ratings for that size are only 86. Regular GEN I Taurus are 89, SHOs are 92 or 93. It's that safety thing again....sure can ruin the fun.

Perry Toledo,Ohio

 

[wuzzzer]

Alrighty, here's a little wheel/tire fitment 101 for y'all. wink

The stock tire is 215/60/16. The stock wheels are 16"x6" for slicers, 16"x6.5" on Gen 3 wheels. Ok, now that we have that established...

If you keep the first number the same (215) you could change the second number (60) to basically anything you want to and it would fit.
Now, just because something will fit doesn't mean it's a good idea to use that tire.

So, what happens as you make the second number smaller? For example, 215/55 or 215/50. Well, for one the tire gets shorter. Which results in more gap between the tire and fenderwell. But, it also is similar to changing the car's gear ratios slightly and will make the car accelerate slightly better.
And, what happens as you make the second number larger? For example 215/65 or 215/70. Well, there will be less gap between the tire and fenderwell. But, just as using a shorter tire will make the car accelerate better/, a taller tire will make the car accelerate poorer.

 

[pjtoledo]

wuzzzer:
Alrighty, here's a little wheel/tire fitment 101 for y'all. wink

The stock tire is 215/60/16. The stock wheels are 16"x6" for slicers, 16"x6.5" on Gen 3 wheels. Ok, now that we have that established...

If you keep the first number the same (215) you could change the second number (60) to basically anything you want to and it would fit.
Now, just because something will fit doesn't mean it's a good idea to use that tire.

So, what happens as you make the second number smaller? For example, 215/55 or 215/50. Well, for one the tire gets shorter. Which results in more gap between the tire and fenderwell. But, it also is similar to changing the car's gear ratios slightly and will make the car accelerate slightly better.
And, what happens as you make the second number larger? For example 215/65 or 215/70. Well, there will be less gap between the tire and fenderwell. But, just as using a shorter tire will make the car accelerate better/, a taller tire will make the car accelerate poorer.

I'll add a bit to this,, As a general rule, (assuming the section width remains constant) the taller the aspect ratio, the higher the load rating. Short sidewall tires,,lower ratios,,can have subtantially lower load ratings. Yes I know the tread may be the same width, but the people that design, manufacture, and test the tires say it is so. I don't want to tell anybody what looks good (or not) on their cars, and I sure as **** don't want to read about you in the paper.

Perry Toledo,Ohio