New to me and a wheel and tire question

[Blind Lemon]

Been mostly lurking for a few years wishing to find what I found......... locally known car. Its a 1974 2.7 with SC flairs. PO had kept it tagged, but is really set up for AX. It has 15 inch wheels with Hoosier 225/45zr15s all around. It's very "zippy" and fun to drive, but, I need to get some dedicated street tires and new rims as I want to keep the Hoosiers mounted on the 15s. It sets a little lower than 24".

In light of the "limited" availability of 15s and even to a certain extent 16s I am wondering if I should go straight to 17s? I have done searches and read most of post and that is pretty much my conclusion.

Opinions.

As far as tires go I am looking at the Dunlop Direzza ZII Star Spec and the Hankook Ventus R-S3. Sizes? Thats a hole'nuther post.

This will be a weekend very sunny day car.

Bob

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by Blind Lemon

Been mostly lurking for a few years wishing to find what I found......... locally known car. Its a 1974 2.7 with SC flairs. PO had kept it tagged, but is really set up for AX. It has 15 inch wheels with Hoosier 225/45zr15s all around. It's very "zippy" and fun to drive, but, I need to get some dedicated street tires and new rims as I want to keep the Hoosiers mounted on the 15s. It sets a little lower than 24".

In light of the "limited" availability of 15s and even to a certain extent 16s I am wondering if I should go straight to 17s? I have done searches and read most of post and that is pretty much my conclusion.

Opinions.

As far as tires go I am looking at the Dunlop Direzza ZII Star Spec and the Hankook Ventus R-S3. Sizes? Thats a hole'nuther post.

This will be a weekend very sunny day car.

Bob

Part of the 'zippy' feel of the car comes from the short OD, l/w wheels and tires on the car, If it were mine i'd keep 15s, 7ET23.3 front and 8ET10.6 rear, use 205/55 or 205/50 fronts and 225/50 or 225/45 rears

the shorter and lighter the zippier

maybe 16s in 7ET23.3 8ET10.6 or 9ET15 w/ 245/45 or 225/45 x16 rears and 205 50 or 205/55 fronts these are just a bit taller and heavier

[Blind Lemon]

I do want to keep the short Hoosiers for AX and maybe some track time, but was hoping for some taller tires for the street and highway driving.

And thanks BV.

Bob

[brianlay]

I also run the Hoosier 15s for AX.
I recently put the Bridgestone RE-11s on 7/8-16s. Excellent street tire IMO

[wildthing]

Originally Posted by brianlay

I also run the Hoosier 15s for AX.
I recently put the Bridgestone RE-11s on 7/8-16s. Excellent street tire IMO

OT: are your RE-11s the same as the new ones on TireRack.com with 200 tread wear rating?

I have older RE-11s going on 3 years with 180 tread wear. Wondering if I should get RE-11s again (moving me down a class in AX, not that I care) or go with the S-02s with rating of 140.

[brianlay]

Yes the 200 TW
I gave no experience with the 140s, so really can't compare.