I know there are a lot of threads on tires, but each car is unique. I am posting a picture of the junk tires I have on now and would like opinions on the looks (smaller front, bigger back etc) before I spend more $. The fronts are extremely tight to the front fender, so I'm thinking I should go down one diameter on the front at a minimum. There will be 15" Crager SS's for wheels. These wheels are also 15".
I think you are on the right path. The diameter on the backs is pretty good. Fronts might be 1.5 to 2 inches too tall. Might be tempted to cut a 1/2 coil yet too.
I think it really boils down to the "look" that you're after. What do you like most? Classic sporty looking w/ white letters showing? Big-n-littles? Despite the 15" being too small to really pull it off correctly.. pro-touring/lowered look? From what you have now I would be VERY careful not to get the diameters too far down just for the sake of creating more clearance. Nothing under 27" for the rears(I'd be looking at 28" or more with that rear gap) and barely anything smaller than that 27" size for the fronts too. Use a staggered rim width setup to ease up clearance in the front if need be but just be damned sure to fill those wheel well gaps out with a taller tire. Really regardless of the look and wheels/tires you end up with here that would look best IMHO. PS. I too think the ride height could be adjusted down just a tad more as well.
A 27" tire up front is insane. You want a 25" tire up front, and a 25-1/2 to 26" tire on the rear. 215/60-15 and 235/60-15 comes to mind. If you like the same size all around, a 225/60-15 works well, but make sure you have the right back-spacing on your wheels.
I like your cars profile; I intend to go with 225 or 235/60/15 front, 245 or 255/60/15 rear. The Mustang II suspension drops the front end significantly.
Sigh... yeah, Larry.. as usual my ideas and eyes are crappy and I have absolutely rotten taste in all things car related. My 225/70/14 fronts(26.4" massive diameter) and 235/70/14 rears(27" ridiculously massive diameter) look very very bad. You make the typically convincing argument and now I'm going in the totally opposite direction and will be lopping 2" off the diameter so I can see the wheel wells again. This one ^^^ is horrible and after looking at it for a few minutes it's obvious you're right as rain. Needs far less tire height and way more wheel opening showing. And maybe if I raise it back up from the lowered ride height I can see even more open air between those 25" tires and the fender lip too. Don't know what the hell was I thinking?
I am right. Maverick/Comet wheel arches are far too small for tires of 27 or 28 inch diameters -- especially on the front (I realize that tall rear tires on drag cars are beneficial for racing gear ratios). It looks like something that should be in the circus. I have 26-inch tires on the rear of my car and they fill the wheel opening quite nicely. Any taller and the car will sit too high as well. This is not about insulting your "taste", but rather about expressing an educated opinion. So don't get butt-hurt. I still like you.
lol.. I was being sarcastically funny. you have not even close to the correct mainstream popular opinion on such things to hurt my feelings or my butt. Though it strikes me as a bit odd that my butt should be included in a tire size discussion. I would sooner take lessons on how to tune an engine.. or carb.. from you than let you pick my tire sizes based on your vast knowledge of these specific cars. I know I know.. 18's with 26" and 27" tire heights look downright horrible on these cars too. COULDN'T WAIT.. kinda dark out right now but here's my MASSIVE MEATS.
You're crazy. There is nothing "tiny" about a 26-inch tall tire on a Maverick. Yeah, the new Camaros and Challengers come from the factory with 20s...they also have huge wheel arches. Considering how short the stock tire size was on Mavericks, a 25-1/2" to 26" is quite large. Of course you can open up the wheel arches like GRABBERGT did and in that case, it works, but most people won't be doing that. I may not know as much about engines as you, but I have lots of experience with tire sizes on these cars. And it's not only about looks, but handling, and the impracticality of tires that rub on the car. Sure, you can raise the car like a 4x4 and eliminate that problem, but that's absurd. Tall sidewalls handle like crap, and excessively short. "rubberband" sidewalls are the other extreme of absurd.
yeah.. crazy like a fox brother! The offset and total rim width is the key to making taller tires fit on these cars. Mine is lowered quite substantially and there is absolutely NO TIRE RUB. You can bounce the front end as hard as you want with fully locked sterring in both directions and the tire doesn't touch. It's damned close.. but still no cigar for you my man. scs will have absolutely no issues whatsoever with his taller ride height.
I know.. I tend to take as good as I get though. errr.. wait.. that sounds bad when we're talking about butts. lol If you noticed above.. I actually felt guilty for tearing into you and getting too personal about such trivial things so I edited and deleted the worst of my previous response. You must have copied and been typing while I did it though.. no harm no foul.. everyone has the right to an opinion. Even if it's WRONG like yours often are.
After all that...... I did ask for opinions! The picture I started with has 28" tires on the Rear and 26.85" tires on the Front. I will definitely consider downsizing a little on the front. Can anyone add what offset to get with new rims?
