Safe tire sizes

After nearly wrapping the TC around a power pole on saturday night, I convinced Ange that it's time for some new tyres. So I've been looking around. Shite, these tires are hard to find. I realize that I'm destined to spend a fortune on shoes, so I may as well get what I want.

I'm wondering what the exact rim width is for the snowflakes, and if anyone knows the actual O.D. of our tyres. From what I gather, it should be somewhere around 26.9", but I may be wrong on that. I've found a few 245/50R16's and Toyo offers the Proxes T1-S in 245/55ZR16, which has a 26.6" O.D. Am I out of my mind, or on the right track?

And I did check the Tech. and FAQ sections first this time, but to no avail.

Thanks guys.

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I'd like to think my life has a soundtrack, and it sounds just like the white album.

1987 Turbo Coupe, 5-spd. Burgundy, k&n drop in, 3" d.p., 2.5" duals. Going into hibernation.

http://www.cardomain.com/id/oldraven

CAW!!

245x50x16 work. I think the rim width is 7.5 but you can check at the tirerack.com to make sure and find a lot of good info.

What do you want the tires to do- what weather conditions? The wider sizes aren't going to work well in snow and some, even with good wet ratings, aren't worth a s..t in rain, ask me how I know.

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NATO Member. it's not a vice, it's an obsession
Letting the cat out of the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back in.
88 TC X 2, 86 SVO, mods list at
http://www.turbotbird.com/showroom/pd_88tc.htm

have you tried www.tirerack.com ?

they let you choose the car, then they let you pick from tire sizes that fit

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86 TC, 73 Austin Mini, 72 Austin Mini Van

Click here to beat a ricer.

Well, I'm not interested in the least about winter traction, because if I drive this thing up here in the winter, I deserve to have it wrapped around a pole. Strictly summer tyres for a strictly summer car. That's what the truck is for.

I'm looking for superior dry grip (which is why I'm leaning toward 245s), and good (at least decent, which I don't have with my current bald tires) wet traction.

The Toyo Proxes T1-S sound like the exact tyre I'm looking for. http://www.toyocanada.com/products/ProxesT1S.html

I've had excellent wet and dry performance with Kumho 712's on the Mustang.

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Ed Meinel
88 TC: stock
88 TC: twins!
99 Mustang GT vert: modded
92 Cougar 25th Anniversary 5.0 HO stock
www.turbotbird.com/showroom/EdMl_88TC.html

I do believe that the snowflake rim width is 7". 245s will fit, but if you are looking for cornering traction, the 245 is too wide a tire for the 7 inch rim. The 245s make for good traction going in a straight line though, if that is your goal. 245/50/16 will get you really close to the stock height of the 225/60/16. If you are gonna spend a lot of money on tires, why not upgrade to a 17" wheel? Centerline has some really cool stuff or you could just get a mustang knock-off. Either way, you could get an 8 inch rim for the 245 series tire and have handling superiority out the ying-yang.

I only wish I could upgrade my rims. The only reason I'm able to get tyres is because I need them. We have a deal, Ange and I, that if anything goes or is in need of replacement on our daily drivers then we can do it. I also told her that if I replace anything on the TC, it'll be with an upgraded from stock part, and she's fine with that too. Unless I decide to do a lot of curb jumping (which I won't) then rims are not in the books. Remember, I'm only 24. I don't get the big paycheques yet. [Image: wink.gif]

So, since I'm a fan of lateral excelleration, I should try to find a 235/55 instead?

I bought some tires from
Tire Rack , and they are working well on my TC, I bought the original size tire.

The tires I got are Sumitomo 225/60R/16 V rated.

Check Tire Rack for the original size and it will give this tire. Smooth ride and about 80,000 miles depending on the burnout.

Mark




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'88 TC, Black, 154K
Coming Soon - K&N filters, Gillis Valve, and who knows what else....

Accomplished -

New - Sumitomo Tires 225/60VR16 and they grab.

If you like laterial Gs then get wider tires.
235x55 were a big improvment over the stock size and these 245x50 as at least as big an improvement over the 235s

Pete, is that with the snowflakes or your aftermarket rims? 245s act like they have too much side wall and they will roll in severe cornering. I think the 235s are more adapt to the 7 inch rim, don't you?