LiquidBlue

Hi Fellow TGO's. Looking for opinions on what the best tire size is for a 1990 16x8 Formula deep dish rim. Maybe 245/50/16 on front and 255/50/16 on back?

Sorry for another tire size post, but all my searches led to people looking for the biggest tire they could fit. I'm just want to improve the stock look and not get into any suspension related issues.

LiquidBlue

255/50ZR16 - BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 Summer
Sec Width : 10.4" on 8" Rim
Tread width: 10"
Diameter: 26.1"
Revs/MI : 798
Weight: 28.1 lbs
Tread depth 10/32


BFGoodrich states: Section width varies approximately 0.2" (5mm) for every 0.5" change in rim width.

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/tire-...ails#techspecs

245/50ZR16 - BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 Summer
Sec Width : 10" on 7.5" rim, ~ 10.2" on 8" rim
Tread width 9.7"
Diameter: 25.7"
Revs/MI : 810
Weight: 26 lbs
Tread depth 10/32


245/50ZR16 - Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500
Sec Width : 10" on 7.5" rim, ~ 10.2" on 8" rim (using BFGoodrich assumptions)
Tread width 8.5"
Diameter: 25.7"
Revs/MI : 812
Weight: 26 lbs
Tread depth 10/32

245/45R16 - Bridgestone Potenza RE-11
Sec Width : 9.6" on 8" rim
Tread width 9.1"
Diameter: 24.7"
Revs/MI : 845
Weight: 25 lbs
Tread depth 9/32



Info source from combination of Tirerack and BFGoodrich.


Aspect ratio calcs: 255mm*.5 = 12.75 cm = 5 inch sidewall height (from rim to tread). Multiply this by 2 and you have ~10 inches of total sidewall plus 16 inch rims = 26 inch tall tire.

245mm: 24.5cm x.5=12.25/2.54 cm/inch=4.8 inches x 2 =9.65 inches plus 16 inches = 25.6 inches.

Sidewall diff = 5-4.8 = .2 inches = 1/5"


Found some old threads:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/whee...-16-tires.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/auto...ear-tires.html

Dmans85

With only going up or down a size you won't feel any discernible difference in suspension or handling. The 255 & 245 is what I and many others have. You have to look hard to see a difference in the two sizes

paul_huryk

Considering the even more dismal tire selection in 255-50-16 (compared to the already in the ******* 245-50-16), I would say go for it.

MoJoe

iTrader: (5)

I had 255/50/16s on my last IROC and liked them very much. Just a little bit bigger and wider. Good looks and good performance.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

It depends on the tire manufacturer and tires are kinda like cloths, some are larger and some are smaller while having the same size marked on them.
So you could have a tire marked with a bigger size but it could be actually smaller than a tire with a smaller size marking an vice-versa.

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

We stood a BFG 245/50/16 and a 255/50/16 next to each other and it was REALLY hard to see a difference unless they were actually butted up against each other. FWIW they were NOT both Drag radials, but they were BFGs.

seanof30306

iTrader: (4)

My car had Michelin Pilot 245/50/16s on the front, and 255/50/16s on the rear when I bought it in 2003, and it still has them on it.

You can see a difference, whether on the car, or off.

After the first year I had it, I noticed the rear tires were wearing more in the center, while the front tires wore evenly.

I got a piece of chalk, and made a number of lines across the tread of the rear tires. Then I drove a few miles down the road, and took a look. The chalk lines were gone in the center of the tires, but still there on the outside, and inside. I let a few pounds of air out of the rear tires, and drove around till all the chalk marks were gone from the tires, then repeated the process until I got even wear across the rear tires.

The tires are old, dry-rotted, and separating now. As a matter of fact, the right rear blew out today. Still, I got great wear out of them in the 20,000 miles, or so I've driven since.

If I were keeping my 16" wheels, I'd run 255/50/16s all around.

And you can find tires. Last time I checked, the BF Goodrich dealer was selling Sport Comp IIs in 255/50/16 for around 140 apiece.

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/tire-...55/50/16/tires

LiquidBlue

Thanks for insight Sean, hadn't considered the uneven wear issue. I'm nearly ready to press buy button. My mechanic recommended 245 on front and 255 on back. He is concerned the tires will look too square with 255 all the way around, just a cosmetic concern. Its not uncommon for high performance cars to have smaller tires on the front, so I'm leaning this way. The fronts that are on there now (245) have a tendency to hit tie-rods or something at full steering wheel turn (been a long time since I've driven it) so it would alleviate that fear as well.

TallTim

iTrader: (2)

My 255's scrape in front in certain turns. I like the width difference over the 245 but I agree they have a thicker look than I expected esp in front.

LiquidBlue

What brand tires are you running TallTim?

TallTim

iTrader: (2)

BFG gforce sport comp-2 from Tirerack. Tried to find a pic showing how I feel the're oversize but all I can find are pics that make it look nice to me. Hmmm maybe I should reconsider.

Ron U.S.M.C.

If you have staggered wheels then stagger the tires.


This is staggered = 235 in front on a 7in wide wheel
255 in rear on a 8in wide wheel.
The rear tire is 1in. taller then the front.
The dish on the rear wheel is much deeper than the front.


Mine are 15in. but will give you an idea of what they would look like.

LiquidBlue

Just running stock Formula wheels. Now if these guys make something like that, then we're in business:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/auto...d-you-buy.html

This is what my other car came with out of the factory and looks great:
18 x 8.0 front, 18 x 9.0 rear

Tire sizes:
245/40R-18 front
275/35R-18 rear

Ron U.S.M.C.

Yes, 18in. wheels are in a hole different class then the 15in. I'm running.


With the tire selection for them (performance) and the stiff sidewall makes them a top choice for a lot of guys.


I'm going for that "old school" "strait line racing" look.
I do have some "Mickey Thompsons" on though.

The Project

iTrader: (6)

Old pic..16 x 8 front, 16 x 9 rear....BFG 245 front, 255 rear...the 255 did look really nice from the rear.

alicat

I run 245/50/r16, and 255/50/r16 on 16x8 rims off a 93 firebird. They look good and give the car a nice stance. I would love to get some weld drag lites, or center line convo pro's, but neither are available in 16x8, and I don't want to have to get new tires, as they have lots of life left in them.

Alicat.

seanof30306

iTrader: (4)

If I were doing it all over again, I wouldn't run 245s on the front, and 255s on the rear. I'd run 255s all around.

I bought my Jeep Cherokee new in 1996.

At 40,000 miles, I went to Firestone and put a set of tires on it. When I did, I also bought lifetime rotation and balance, and lifetime front end alignment.

There's a 19.95 oil change coupon from Firestone in every Val-Pack. You can also print it out off of their website, or get it on your phone with the Firestone App.

Every 5,000 miles, I grab a coupon, and head to Firestone for an oil change, rotation and balance, and an alignment. The guys there quickly learned I a) always tip, and b) always come back if the balance and alignment aren't right, so they take care of me.

The first set of tires had a 50,000 mile warranty; I got over 60,000 out of them. The second set were 50,000 mile warrantied, too. I'm at 45,000 on them, and they're still going strong.

You will get so much more use out of your tires if you rotate and balance them regularly. I think that more than offsets the minor visual difference between 245s on the front, and 255s on the rear. If it was 245s on the front, and 275s on the rear, it's be different.

I just wish I'd put lifetime brakes on my Jeep, too.

Brian Laycox

Cars look ridiculous when the tires are wider than the body and stick out past the fender's edge. I mean, I've only seen that on cars driven by hillfolk. Just the other day someone reamed me out because I was asking if anyone had gone down a size from 245/50 to 235/55. They acted like I murdered my family. What difference could it really make on a daily driver? If I want to spin out with a 245, I could do it with a 255 or a 235. I feel like people are sabotaging everybody elses interests. One guy said a 245 would be good for something like a Mazda Miata. 245 was stock from the factory dude! Chill! I bet his wife enjoys his tiny ****. I'm looking to keep mine stock across the board. I'll upgrade as needed but so far everything works as it should. I just thought I'd chime in on this old post to let people know that it's ok to alter your tire size, but do it to a point where its still safe and it looks good to you. I get more compliments on my stock 3rd Gen Formula than anything I've ever driven. Kids and grandparents alike.

TallTim

iTrader: (2)

-1 for reviving the old thread but +2 for the tiny **** comment (humor welcomed/needed on Mondays) and the formula comment...

Brian Laycox

HahHa, anytime. It's the least I can do :-)

I'm also sporting black and BFG Gforce Comp 2 tires as of 3pm today. My old tires were original...30 years old! They came on the car when I bought it in October. What a rough ride on that dry rubber! Aside from my loose drivers window and t-top creaking, I


could tell the BFGs are much softer and fresh feeling. Have a good day....car brother from another mother lol

seanof30306

iTrader: (4)

[QUOTE=Brian Laycox;6300023I get more compliments on my stock 3rd Gen Formula than anything I've ever driven. Kids and grandparents alike.[/QUOTE]

Firebird Formulas ... Same as Trans Ams, except for guys who aren't desperately insecure girly-men with micro-penises

Denis.V

Hi,

I'm in process of buying new tires with my tax devolution.

Alternatives are:

235/55/16 with white letters (classic cars style). Mastercraft Avenger or Cooper Cobra

255/50/16 I'll need paint the letters with white paint

245/50/16: I don't like the size. They seems a bit litlle wheel for the "wheel bay" on Firebird fenders.

My goal is to improve the car's look with this next tire replacement.

In my old Lumina, I replaced the stock 225/55/16 for new Dunlop 235/60/16 and the best look for this car was great.


At this moment, I continue searching about the best tire sizes for the best possible look for this Pontiac.

Evilokc

I have 235/70/r15 and thwy look good. I like some sidewall. Im looking for a sportier tire abd may go to a 65 series but it will depend on the tire. Dont want a low profile.

LiquidBlue

This is what I ended up doing. Happy I did. Looks good. Ended up going with the Firestones, I like the look up the treads - makes the car look like it ready to eat road.

1986BANDIT

thats a real nice formi,one of my favorite third gens.........heres mine,im going back to the ws6 trans am rims soon,just thought id give these a go for a bit

Brian Laycox

Hey sweet! Looks real nice! Check Hawks for oem style wheels when you're ready to switch. They have every style at a decent price, I thought.

1986BANDIT

its nothing compared to your car but ill get there,i just wish the people who own these cars would leave them the hell alone and maintain them instead of changing stuff.you either have to go stock or resto-mod and im somewhere in between.i used to have an 87 IROC (L98-AUTO)and my neighbor had a black formi 5.0/5 speed (banshee nose version).i loved his car and we would swap sometimes,i didn't want to give it back,it just seemed more nimble,quicker,funner.that iroc was no slouch either.this is my 5th 3rd gen. i started with the 1982 iron duke 4 speed base camaro(stolen then torched)i loved that car too,slow but fun with the stick.then an 83 v6 auto...idk why but i hated it,then an 84 berlinneta 5.0/auto i bought with 40,000 km .i drove that car for 10 years and thought i would have it till death(then kids happened)then the iroc which was a beater .i took a break for 10 years then just grabbed this t/a 2 years ago.

seanof30306

iTrader: (4)

The difference between 245/50 16s and 255/50-16s

If I was still running the factory wheels, I would find two more matching front wheels so all four were the same and run 255/50-16s all the way around. Having the car square and rotating the tires properly every 5,000 miles will net you significantly better tire wear

seanof30306

iTrader: (4)

http://www.rimsntires.com/specspro.jsp

Drew

iTrader: (58)

You'll see more difference between 245/50s of different brands/models than you'll see between a 245/50 and 255/50. The size difference is really marginal. If you have the exact same make/model of tire you could probably quantify the difference and see the difference. But you could have a Kumho 255 that looks skinnier than a BFG 245. You gain a bit of tread width with a 255, but you also end up with a taller, more flexible sidewall. How that effects handling and performance is up to you to decide, I'd consider it a wash.

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

This^^

1986BANDIT

new(TO ME) crosslace /gta rims.they need a polish and some new rubber but i like the look much better.i also have a proper wrap around spoiler i need to install as well.