15" vs 16"
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 97
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From: Central Iowa
Car: 1987 Formula T-top
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 5-speed
15" vs 16"
I have an '87 Formula with the WS6 package. I am thinking about going to a 15" wheel and tire cause I like the look of having a little more sidewall and white letters better then a huge wheel with no sidewall. Anyway I was wondering how much cornering performace I will loose. I don't race the car any, but I do like the feel of the steering (very crisp) and I don't want to loose it. Do you think I will even notice on the street?
Lattter
Bob
Lattter
Bob
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,756
Likes: 560
From: Cincinnati, OH
Car: '90 RS
Engine: 377 LSX
Transmission: Magnum T56
Your striaght line traction will improve but you may feel a little difference when cornering. You typically loose tire width when you go to a wider wheel but the difference will be nothing to cry about. When I went from the small stock 15's to 17's the difference was night and day and the car felt like I could corner it into anything with ease. You will have larger than stock tires on your 15's I would assume so you shouldn't be to much at a loss. What about some bigger rubber for your 16's instead. Best of both worlds there.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 97
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From: Central Iowa
Car: 1987 Formula T-top
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 5-speed
I was going to stick with a tire that had about the same heigth. Right now I have 245/50/16 on the car which is about 25.7" tall. I an thinking about going with something like a 275/60/15 which is about 25.9" tall. What I'm concerned about is that since I'll be adding a full inch of sidewall there will likely be more sidwall deflection, and I'm afraid it will make the car feel sloppy even on the street.
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Joined: May 2003
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From: North AL
Car: 89 S10 Blazer
Engine: 4.3
Transmission: 700R4
i have 235/60/15's currently on mine...they are 26.1 diameter...they handle okay , soon i will have 17" wheels and tires...a 275/60/15 is a big tire..i have had them on a few full size trucks..they would be way to big to run front and rear on a 3rd gen. ...another option is to run a 235/60/15 in front and a 295/50/15 on rear ...they are the same diameter but the 295/50 is alot wider
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Moving to non emission state
Car: 86 Camaro
Engine: L98 350 bore .060 out, Carb power
Transmission: slusher 700 beatbox
when you go to 15s you can put massive tires on the rears. i got a 295/50/15 rear. i could care less about serious cornering, im not street racing the car anymore...learned my lesson. with a 17 you will handle cornors better, but 15s give the better ride and like i said before, much larger tires 