205-50/15 or 205-60/15 on a Laser

[amcpacer]

I just picked up a low miles 1985 chrysler laser XE with swiss cheese wheels! It needs new tires though. Currently it has 205-60/15. It looks like a 4X4 it rides so high with the tall tires and high suspension. I was considering getting a smaller tire like 205-50/15.

I never race the car at racetracks but do drive very fast around town and highway. Would a smaller tire handle better? Maybe a smaller tire would make the fenders look too big. What would you do?

[turbovanman²]

205/50 would look good, and won't sit like a 4x4.

[contraption22]

205/50/15 will lower the car, but the resultant wheel gap (the space between the body and the tire) will make the car look odd. The right way to do it would be to go with a larger tire/wheel combo, maybe 16's or 17's, with the proper suspension components. This would also give you the ability to get a wider tire than the swiss cheese wheels would allow.

[amcpacer]

I really love the swiss cheese wheel though. It gives me a great 80s feel! I am starting to think the 205-60 might be better and then I could find some Turbo Z air fence skirt rubberized plastic to make the car look less of a AMC eagle 4X4. Maybe it could be lowered with some spring clamps. I think the 205-60 might yield better fuel economy.

[LaserXT1986]

205/50/15 will lower the car, but the resultant wheel gap (the space between the body and the tire) will make the car look odd. The right way to do it would be to go with a larger tire/wheel combo, maybe 16's or 17's, with the proper suspension components. This would also give you the ability to get a wider tire than the swiss cheese wheels would allow.

Actually I disagree Mike, since I have owned 4 Laser XT's and ran 205/50/15 on 3 of them (the 4th one, my project, had 225/50/15's, WAY too big for the 6" wheel). Not that you can tell in my avatar, but in it I am wearing 205/50/15's in that picture, and all the car shows you saw my old Laser at back in the DV-SDAC & Carlisle show days, wore that size as well.

With the 205/50/15, I did not notice any significant wheel gap between the fender and tire, nor did the car look "odd" in any way at all. Just the opposite was true -- it looked rather "balanced" with this size (205/60 looked "too big").

EDIT: The above was all done on an 86 Laser XT with the stock "sport" suspension (and as I said, looked great), I'd assume with an Eibach/Koni setup, the lowering effect would look even better!!

[GLHNSLHT2]

the difference in wheel/tire height is an inch or more between the 2. I run 205/60 15's on my 87 SHelbyZ and like the look. Also with the BFG G-Force sports from tirerack.com it sticks like glue in the corners and on take off. The speedo will be off as well.

[amcpacer]

Such a hard choice. I do not want a wheel gap but want the car lower. I think lowering a car with 205/50-15 would be easier because 205/60/15 may rub the fenders.

[GLHNSLHT2]

I have the 2801 Eibachs on my car and the 205 60's don't rub. The car is just right with the eibachs as far as the suspension geometry. Anylower and you'd hurt the handling.

[Vigo]

205/50r15s will look funny without lowering. if your wheelgap is not funny on 205/50s it means your springs are sagging

but it CAN look good with lowering, dont get me wrong.

[contraption22]

205/50r15s will look funny without lowering. if your wheelgap is not funny on 205/50s it means your springs are sagging

but it CAN look good with lowering, dont get me wrong.

Definitely.

[amcpacer]

Okay I just got a set of Pirelli P3000 205-60-15s. They look great. I still want to lower the car a little bit. I will wait until after winter is over. Maybe the Pirellis will be good in rain and snow.