Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
I'm putting a set of 16" Pumpers on my '86 Daytona to replace the factory crabs. There car isn't here in front of me and I don't exactly remember the tire size. This car has the C/S package and the wider rims. Some Googling suggests the tires are 205/60R15, but that just doesn't sound right to me.
Anyway, going to put the Pumpers on and would like to know what would be a good tire size for an '86 Daytona.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
I would probably go with a 215/50/16, however there are not many choices in that size, so you will probably be stuck going with a 205/55/16 or 225/50/16.
I used to have 225/50/16 tires on my Spirit R/T and I thought they were a tad too tall. On the other hand, I used to have 205/50/16 on my Shelby Lancer and they were a tad too short. That is with both cars using 16"x6" factory lace wheels from a Lebaron GTC.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
Another size would be 245/45/16, but the tire choices are pretty much limited to auto-x tires and you should really have at least a 7.5" width wheel....the diameter is about perfect at 24.6" though.
My advice, try to stay right around 24.7" tire diameter.. the 215/50/16 is 24.5" and will fit your pumpers nicely.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
My opinion is that the only size that both fits the wheel width well enough AND doesnt look too tall, is the 205/50/16s. But, they will probably look a little funny on the car until it's lowered just a bit, at which point they will look awesome.
Not to be contrary with iTurbo's experience with 205/50/16s but they are actually slightly TALLER than the 225/50/15s that were the 'big tire' option on an 86 Daytona C/S. I think they are the best size for a 16x6 rim on an 86 Daytona.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
No problem Vigo, but I will say that my SL was lowered on Eibach's and the 205/50/16 still looked a little 'short' at 24.1" diameter.
I know what you are saying though. 225/50/15 is only 24".....Perhaps 205/50/16 will be just right for you like Vigo said. And there are certainly a lot more tire choices in that size.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
The car will be lowered compared to stock. It now has fully adjustable suspension (coil overs front and rear, adjustable shocks, and adjustable ride height). This is all good info.
Yes, the 205/50R16 looks like it might have some nice summer performance and track tires.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
The stock size for that wheel is 205/55/16, and they will fit an '86 well. 225/50/16 is the same overall diameter, but the 225 really is too wide for the 6" wide wheel. They will fit, but the tire bulges excessively. 205/50/16 is 24" overall diameter, which is pretty close to the 225/50/15 that was originally on your car, so if you're not looking to change the diameter, that might be your best bet.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
I'd stick with the 205. Anything wider than that on a 6" wheel and you really lose steering response, and put the sidewall in a position where it is really not doing it's job properly.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
Thanks y'all. The 205/50R16 is looking pretty good at this point. Now to pick the best 4 Pumpers and get some tires.
Probably this:
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fin...=GAAINT&cs=205
or this:
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fin...=GAAINT&cs=205
for the street.
Thing of going Bridgestone.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
I'm running 225/50/16 on the Ninja's and am very happy with them. better traction during acceleration.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
I'm a huge Bridgestone guy, and have never been impressed with BFGs, but that's just me.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
I've never ran bridgstones, but the bfg G-force t/a kdws has been the best tire I have ever used on my truck for all around performance in all conditions, even snow(aside from dedicated snow tires)
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
The only time 225/50/16s work well on pumpers is when you're going straight. They completely ruin the steering feedback, which doesn't matter if you've never listened to it anyway, but the one time i went from 205/55 to 225/50, it sucked and i went back to 205s. In the end 6" wide wheels just suck but if you're trying to make the best of a bad situation, that's a 205/50. :)
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
The 225s did fine on my Daytona with the Ninja wheels. Sidewalls rolling over, try putting more air pressure in the tires, just because the door jam says 32psi, does not mean that's what is the ideal pressure for every tire. Unless you are running the factory brand, model, and size of tires, then the pressure listed on door jam is just a reference on where to start. I thought my Daytona IROC handled great compared to the same tires in 205 width I oroginally had on the front.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
Quote:
Originally Posted by
HSKR
The 225s did fine on my Daytona with the Ninja wheels. Sidewalls rolling over, try putting more air pressure in the tires, just because the door jam says 32psi, does not mean that's what is the ideal pressure for every tire. Unless you are running the factory brand, model, and size of tires, then the pressure listed on door jam is just a reference on where to start. I thought my Daytona IROC handled great compared to the same tires in 205 width I oroginally had on the front.
225/50/16 was fine on my Spirit R/T. With 16x6 Lebaron GTC lace wheels. Looked much better (I know, looks only account for so much) than 205/50/16. I had the same experience on my Shelby Lancer, although it is a bit smaller of a car so 205/50/16 looked better.
If you have a G-body and 225/50/15 was the stock 'big tire' size, by all means stick with the 205/50/16 size on the pumpers...
Nowadays I'm running 215/45/17 on the Shelby Lancer and the Spirit R/T is currently running 225/35/18. If I were to go with 16" tire/wheels on my Shelby Lancer on GTC wheels I would most definitely go 215/50/16, but it is a bigger car than the G-body.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
It's usually pretty easy to find the tire manufacturer's recommended rim width range for a given size tire. You'll find most manufacturers recommend a 7-9 inch wheel for a 225/50/16.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
The time i did the 205>225>205 thing, i went from an all season 205, to an aggressive 225, back to an all season 205, and the 205 still seemed better.
Tire pressure cant fix everything. It's a step in the right direction, but not as good of a step as having a tire that fits your rim properly, or getting a wider rim.
I think most people dont notice the ways that 225s on 6.0 sucks because they dont actually drive their cars that hard. Back when i did that i was turning the car hard and trail braking into corners frequently to get the car a little more neutral and slide the back a little. It's not that the car wouldnt turn with the 225s, it was that you couldnt tell if it WAS going to turn until you were already committed because the steering response and feedback in transitions was complete dog ----. It made the car no fun to drive hard because every time you tried to turn hard it was basically a leap of faith. Once i went back to 205s it was easy to tell what the car was going to do again and it went back to 'normal'.
99% of people, even among car enthusiasts, don't turn hard on the street. People will deny that, but it's true, and that's why there are so many people who are ok with ruining their steering response.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
So you guys are making suggestions for the 1% ;) Or maybe the suggestions are based on personal preference and not helpful for those of us who are deaf to feedback.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
I'm okay with it because I don't plan on auto crossing my car anytime soon, and while I enjoy taking fast corners, I'm not trying to out do every other car on the road and show off my driving skills in daily driving. And with traction already at a premium for most of us the wider tire on the front will help with straight line acceleration, which is all most of use will ever really be concerned about.
Re: Thoughts on tire size for 16" pumpers on '86 Daytona
Quote:
Originally Posted by
HSKR
I'm okay with it because I don't plan on auto crossing my car anytime soon, and while I enjoy taking fast corners, I'm not trying to out do every other car on the road and show off my driving skills in daily driving. And with traction already at a premium for most of us the wider tire on the front will help with straight line acceleration, which is all most of use will ever really be concerned about.
Understood.
Ideally you would get appropriate sized wheels for the tire you want to use, get the best possible corning and straight line traction, and likely save some weight to boot.