How big is too big, on tires

[sperold]

I have crawled under the car and noticed that there is not a lot of clearance between the top of the tire and the strut ring that holds the spring. A 70 series tire is 13/16" longer on the tire radius than the 60 series that is the recommended tire. (95 SHO ,215 60 R 16) I am all for a larger diameter tire and I am not worried about the speedometer implications, but I don't want to go too far. My mileage is all highway with 120 miles being the standard haul, so some help on the miles per gallon would be great. Has anyone tried a 70 series tire on these cars?

 

[SHOZ123]

I had 225/60/16s on my '93 and they would occasionally rub on the strut spring base.

 

[sdpatt]

The aspect ratio (series) is not the limiting factor, but rather it is the overall diameter and width that determines what will fit or not. The original diameter equates closely to the 225/55-16 with a tiny bit shorter overall diameter (speedo still accurate), but a wider track. The 225/60-16 is larger overall diameter than the OEM and a wider width, but you will find that the tire rubs inside the fenderwells under the front and probably in the rear when turning or going over bumps. After running a set of 225/60-16s on my Gen I, I must say that the larger diameter looked a bit odd in the fenderwells. Looked almost like the "off road" effect that the "dubs" have on regular passenger cars.

225/55-16 is an excellent upgrade to the OEM size that will fit the stock wheel, strut and fender proportions. There still may be the need to trim some of the plastic rocker molding at the forward radius of the driver side rear wheel well.

 

[1993MTXSHO]

I agree with the above, but if you do not care about appearance then go with a skinnier tire (maybe a 205) because it will weigh less and also improve snow traction (at the loss of dry road traction). The only thing I will have you think about though, is that lowering the rpm's on a sho, may hurt mileage. The car doesn't make much low end power and dropping it lower in its powerband may actually make the engine work harder and therefore decrease gas mileage. This is by no means a fact, but something maybe we can discuss.

 

[AREA 91]

I like 225/50/16 on slicer's. I do agree with Pat that a stock ride height SHO will look high.

 

[expy916]

On my 91 I got some 225-60-16 eagles, and they make the car look beefy/agressive.

 

[sbsho]

ive been running 225 60 16 on my 92 and they work great with no rubing at all. at one point i was using 235 50 16. those tires had a little more grip though

 

[Shopower400]

I run 235/45/17 on my 94 mtx... NO rubbing! Although I'm at a stock ride height now, and that could change depending on how low I want to go... (probably only an inch or so)


For everyday driving the feel is incredible!

 

[THE Shobra]

yeap 245 40? /18 check my sig for correct info one of the best things I did for the money. The best thing was the cobra front brakes.

 

[jthod]

MY '93 has cooper 225/60-16's and they rub over big bumps. I tried them on my '90, and the rubbed on the strut, that is, the lower spring base. so, the far outside tread, not the side wall.

I'm looking at getting either 225 or 235/50-16 when I fianlly get around to some slicers, or hopefully some Gen 3's.