widest tire I can fit on caprice 91 sedan? please help

[DJShyn3]

Hello again

I have a 16x8 wheel and I want to buy some tires for it, but I want to give it a wide mean look, so I am looking for the widest that would fit in those wheels without rubbing my rear wheel fender, because caprice 91 has that fender that comes half way in the rear.
I was thinking on the following:
- 245/55/16 for fronts and 255/55/16 for rear
or
- 245/50/16 for fronts and 255/50/16 for rear

How does the above 2 sound?

thanks

[DJShyn3]

i really need an answer because i might be buying this online. so if anyone can tell me!!

[silicon212]

I might be a little off on this, but with the 'skirt' over the rear wheels, the widest I've safely seen used are 235s, and this was tight.

[DJShyn3]

Originally Posted by silicon212

I might be a little off on this, but with the 'skirt' over the rear wheels, the widest I've safely seen used are 235s, and this was tight.

thanks, you mentioned how you have seen it, so I am guessing you actually have witnessed the 235 on a 91 caprice and there was no room to go any wider? i was hoping to go atleast 245's

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by DJShyn3

thanks, you mentioned how you have seen it, so I am guessing you actually have witnessed the 235 on a 91 caprice and there was no room to go any wider? i was hoping to go atleast 245's

Yeah, I pulled a set of 235s off a '92 in a junkyard - had to take the shock bolts off to get the axle to drop far enough to get the tires off. There's not a lot of room in there.

[DJShyn3]

Originally Posted by silicon212

Yeah, I pulled a set of 235s off a '92 in a junkyard - had to take the shock bolts off to get the axle to drop far enough to get the tires off. There's not a lot of room in there.

but do you think it matters with wheels? wouldnt some wheels allow you to go wider then others?
Currently I have 205/55/16 on my 16x8 wheels, and I noticed I have atleast 2 and half inch space left between the skirt and tire. what would you estimate I can go with 2 and half inch space?

[463]

FYI on my 91 it calls for 225-70-15 on the stock rims. i have now put on 235-75-15 on and they rub on the front if you turn to sharp. in the rear i have to let the air out and fight to get them on and off. the tire is just a punch to big for the car. the speedo is 5.4% slow so when driving 60 mph you are realy going 63.2 mph. thats with the air psi is 32 - 34 psi. http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html here is the link. looks like 245 will be to wide.

[DJShyn3]

Originally Posted by 463

FYI on my 91 it calls for 225-70-15 on the stock rims. i have now put on 235-75-15 on and they rub on the front if you turn to sharp. in the rear i have to let the air out and fight to get them on and off. the tire is just a punch to big for the car. the speedo is 5.4% slow so when driving 60 mph you are realy going 63.2 mph. thats with the air psi is 32 - 34 psi. http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html here is the link. looks like 245 will be to wide.

ok but your 75 profile are way too much rubber, so ofcourse it would rub, I am going to go with 55 series in 16" wheel so looking at the stock tire size which is 225/70/15 would be almost equal to 255/55/16 in diameter and width. not much difference, the wheels i have are 16x8 with 205/55/16 and I measured the rear fender skirt and I have about 2 inches space, so I am thinking I could fit in easily 235 even may be 245/55/16

[dewaynep]

The difference between a 225 and 255 tire is almost 1 1/4" in width. That's a big difference in width. You're correct that the diameter isn't much different.

[DJShyn3]

Originally Posted by dewaynep

The difference between a 225 and 255 tire is almost 1 1/4" in width. That's a big difference in width. You're correct that the diameter isn't much different.

but with the 205/55/16 i have right now there is a 2" space I have in between rear fender and wheel, wouldn't a 255 fit? or 245?