correct tire replacement size and brand ???

[gblue]

Aloha...I see some people have used front 225/55/16 rear 245/50/16....
   orig. size was 255/60 and 225/60.....can I find these orig. sizes
   in a good tire or should I put on BFG kdw like Mike has?

[jbottini]

quote:Originally posted by gblue
   
Aloha...I see some people have used front 225/55/16 rear 245/50/16....
   orig. size was 255/60 and 225/60.....can I find these orig. sizes
   in a good tire or should I put on BFG kdw like Mike has?
   

   gregg, your preference for what level of tire you want and whatyou are willing to pay. Try several of the tire wholesalers, but they don't necessarily off all sizes in all brands on internet, may require phone calls.

[cobham cobra]

Hi Greg,
   I have Kumho tyres on my '91 MkIV, they work well and are not too expensive. I'm not sure if you can get them where you are though ? have a look at http://www.kumhotyre.co.uk/Motorsports/index.html
   John.

[jbottini]

Gregg, Cobhams comments reminded me to tell you I used Dunlop SP8000's which may be overkill, but look terrific and give great handling and ride. Jim

[gblue]

...my question was more about the size that matters....is Mikes
    front 225/55/16 and rear 245/50/16 ok?  I'm going with the bfg's
   
   thanks

[jbottini]

quote:Originally posted by gblue
   
...my question was more about the size that matters....is Mikes
    front 225/55/16 and rear 245/50/16 ok?  I'm going with the bfg's
   
   thanks
   

   Gregg, you might want to look at a good tire site to see how they might effect things like speedo and handling as you are changing the contact patch ratio front to rear, from what the car was designed for. That being said, the 427's came with 15' bias plys and different sizes front and rear as well

[gblue]

how do the 225/55/16 and rear 245/50/16 affect the stance of the car as they are about 2 inches smaller in diameter......

[AC Ace Bristol]

gblue or is it bglue
   
   Of Course SIZE MATTERS ask any woman .....and who the Hell is the BFG  "Big Friendly Giant"
   
   Seriously, check back over the past 7 / 8 months of forum and you can get loads of detail re tyre sizes, makes etc etc from members who have been there, tried it and given sound advise.
   
   Good Luck with your encounter with BFG !!
   
   Keith

[jbottini]

Greg, You have answered part of the question stance, but the more inportant is you'll have different sidewall ratio's that may effect handling via deflection etc. You should talk to an rxpert...I'm not one though. Jim

[linklaw]

I installed Big Friendly Giants (BF Goodrich) in the same sizes as the original gatorbacks that were on my car. I got them from Tire Rack last summer. Tire Rack's web site will let you search by tire size so that you can find a matching set with different sized fronts and rears. If I recall, there are only two or three sets available in the original sizes. Our brothers across the pond apparently have some different options available to them as I recall reading about Michelin vintage tires and maybe Avons available in the UK. The new tires do make a world of difference in the way the car rides and handles. John  AK1103

[mike stephenson]

The 225/55/16 front tires are 1/2inch taller than the stock 225/50/16. I put the 55 series tire on because I liked the look of more sidewall on the car. The rear 245/50/16 tires are 1/4inch shorter and slightly narrower than the stock 255/50/16. bf goodrich does not make a 255/50/16 in the kdw series so I went slightly smaller on the rear. I could have put the bf goodrich gforce sport tire on the car in 255/50/16, but the kdw is a much better tire. I got the look I wanted and terrific handling with the kdw tires