Ok, my 71 Comet GT is out of the paint shop and I am putting it back together. The black on black on black is looking good. I want to put Magnum 500's on it so it can look pretty original. I must decide what size of wheels and tires! My mechanic is begging me not to put 15" rims on it, but 16" or 17" He says it will look far better and I will have a better choice of tires for these sizes, too. Plenty of you have already done this, so what is the magic answer. I suspect the discussion will help me finalize my decision.
I agree with your mechanic. I actually found there was not much selection in 16s compared to 15s and 17s so I went with 17s. 255/50R17 in back and 225/45/17 up front. These wheels are a little thicker on the rim part and so they don't have as big of an opening visually speaking compared to many of the 17s. So I got the lower profile tire but the inside makes it look a little more like a 16" wheel. The 17" magnums may have the same look What look do you want to achieve? Old school? G-machine? Stock? Post a pick of that black beauty
I have installed the Patriot chrome sidepipes on my 71 Comet GT. I want it to look like the BearCat I bought brand new in 72. I am thinking that the 16" or 17" wheels will raise the car a bit so that the sidepipes will not drag on speedbumps and cats?
Your front tires are too short. You should have put 50s on the front and 45s on the rear. You got it backwards. Actually, a 225/45-17 front and a 245/40-17 rear makes a good combination. I love your wheels.
I really like the look of a 17" but the ride is rougher with the short side wall and I don't know how your roads are but the wide front tires on beat down roads like here in Nova Scotia makes for horrible handling but that just my view I like the look of more tire on a 15" rim but both ways it will look good!
I wanted to retain just a lil' bit of a raked look in the wheels and tires. This is a street strip based car so the 50s in the back made more sense to me. The 255/50R17 is the same width and diameter as a 255/60R15. So I am very happy with these. Maybe you like it better with the lowered stance
Looks much better lowered. In the first pic, there was to much space between the top of the tire and the top of the wheel arch of the fender.
15-inch Magnums would look very good, and 17s would look even better. Of course the 17s are crazy expensive. With 17s, I suggest a 225/45 front, and a 255/40 rear because they are pretty much the same diameter, with a difference in width.
What is the absolute LARGEST width of a tire you can put in the back? Axle bumper and leaf springs are removed...
295 with a shortened rear end housing? Dont mind doing a fender lip roll... but you're thinkin 275 is max?
