Mid year wheels and tyres

Bob Goding · 12-16-2006, 08:24 PM

This be the place! I have a '76 2.7,which came with 15 x 6 wheels. The tyre selection when I bought it was a mess with
215/60 both ends[different brands too]
I put some 195/65 on the front and at least it looks better.
I know from what I have read here that 7" rims will fit the front
and there have even been a couple of threads about getting 8'' in the rear .
I also know that the SC came with 6" and 7" and the occasional one I have seen can look a bit spindly! So presumably ,the sevens go on the front OK[or even 8"914] with 8"or better still 9"
in the rear.
But the flatsider wont take the wide rims in the back.
I now have a set of four 7x16 Fuchs which should look good ,but what would be the optimum tyre size on this car? Two of my wheels have tyres 205/55 which would probably suit the rear,
but what do I buy for the other pair?
Is there any disadvantage from using 7"rims in front?
All suggestions appreciated---thanks.
Bob---
This is a speed camera photo from back when I first bought the car! The Ministry of transport would send the proof on request! thats Kmh but I was doing 120 Mph only 20 miles earlier.

Zeke · 12-17-2006, 07:21 AM

Alas, the speed cameras are coming here, too. They won't help the sadass drivers that don't pay attention or can't drive worth a crap to begin with.

As for the tires, why not match sizes equally on 4 15 x 7's? I did on my '71 and was quite happy with the look and the handling. Many others seemed to agree. I looked into various ways to get a bit more meat on the rear, but it was really a lot of trouble for a half inch of tread rubber. I just learned to drive better.

Bob Goding · 12-17-2006, 09:34 AM

Thanks Milt---that sounds logical to me, but 15 x 7 Fuchs are somewhat rare,I found. As I already have the 16 x7's I will try the pair with the 205/55 tyres on each end to see how the clearances are,and maybe have the same size tyres all round.
What I was really asking---are there any negatives with the 'large' tyre on the front?

Bob

Zeke · 12-17-2006, 12:26 PM

My bad. I realize that you did say 16 by 7. Still the logic prevails for me; same size all around. 205/55 is a good choice, IMHO.

Bob Goding · 12-17-2006, 12:34 PM

Thanks Milt--I guess if there were any 'no-no's',somebody would have chimed in!
See how we go.

Bob

Paulporsche · 06:30 PM

I recently went w/ 205/50/16 Fuzion Zri all around on 7s on my lowered 77. I like the look, there is no clearance fit problem, and I like the acceleration of the smaller diameter. The only drawback is the speedo reads optimistically by somewhere between 10 and 15%.

Facey · Facey's Garage

optimisticall is better the pestimistic like my own, caliberated for 15" wheels.... now running 18s.....when reading 60mp/h i am going 17 km/h faster then that.... sux.....

Bob Goding · 12-17-2006, 01:33 PM

Paulporsche--that looks 'right' for me. Maybe I can find a deal on 4 new tyres! Thanks.
Bob

dipso · 12-17-2006, 01:46 PM

I have 205/50/16s all the way around as well. Handles great,tracks great. I haven't had any problems,been this way for years.

sirhc37 · 12-17-2006, 02:27 PM

My car currently has 205/50 16s all the way around... on 16x6 rims. Like you, I just purchased a set of four 16x7s. My current plan is to fit a pair of the new wheels with the 205s, and see how they fit in the rear. If they're close, I'll mount the other two as is and run the 205s all around. If it looks like I can fit a bit more, then I'll play with some 215/50s, or maybe even some 225/45s (if I can find any). I won't be able to start playing with this until March or so, so I'm still in the research mode. Good luck!

RoninLB · 12-17-2006, 03:17 PM

This pic shows 4x6x16 Fuchs running 205/55 S-03s which are larger for the same size than other mfg. + Euro ride height.

I will have 4x7x16s and will definately have to shape the rear wells.

RoninLB · 12-17-2006, 03:24 PM

This is member Mark Wilson pic

Trust Me · Trust Me's Garage

45's on 16's

Bob Goding · 12-17-2006, 04:32 PM

Ronin,thats confused me! red car looks like an SC----flare?----green car, a long bonnet--cant pic the wheel/tyre size tho--- they look different?
Bob

Zeke · 12-17-2006, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob Goding
Ronin,thats confused me! red car looks like an SC----flare?----green car, a long bonnet--cant pic the wheel/tyre size tho--- they look different?
Bob

Yes, it appears to me as well that you are looking at two flared cars, one with 15's and the other with 16's. Both appear to the 7 inches wide.

Bobboloo · Bobboloo's Garage

I used to have a 72'T that had 215/60 all the way around on 7x15 Fuchs. It looked great and no clearance issues.

A 215 profile on a 7" rim looks about like a 195 profile on a 6" rim.

For your 7x16s you might try 215/55/16 in the rear with the 205/55/16 up front. Clearance should be fine, the tire will look correct on the 7" wide rim (as opposed to a 6") and the diameter of the tire is a close match to the original 185/70/15s diameter that came with the car so your speedometer will read correctly and your gearing will be factory spec.

RoninLB · 12-17-2006, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by milt
Yes, it appears to me as well that you are looking at two flared cars, one with 15's and the other with 16's. Both appear to the 7 inches wide.

I have no idea except the green is RS flares. 4x RS would be real nice imo.
I just carried away on what can done to make anything fit. It's really not a big deal for nice work.

I'm w/ Bo's "205/55/16 up front".