What's the best looking tire size one can put on 16" pony wheels?

Thanks

 

Of course the wider thetire the better looking (and meanier looking too :angry: ) and the shorter (profile) looks better too. The only thing is shorter tires means if you drive the car on streets that have a lot of potholes you can damage the rim (like in NYC). And the wider the tire then the better traction in good weather, BUT, poorer traction in wet and snow. Because the tire has a wider footprint it has the tendency to hydroplane in rain and "snowshoe" in the snow . Thinner tires, whereas, will "CUT" thru the snow and have less distance across its tread pattern to drive out standing water in the rain.

Definitely go with an aqua tread pattern on the Mustang because of the tendency to powerslide and powerglide in rain. (Because Mustangs have more power than most cars). I happen to think the Pirelli tires are the best, but, also have used B.F. Goodrich, Michelin, and Falkens with pretty good results.

I now have 17" rims with 255/45/17's on front and 275/45/17's on rear, BUT, when I had 16" rims, I only fit 255/50/16's all around. I also have a convertible, which has the smallest rear inner wheel well on the foxes. The Hatchback has the most room.

Remember that when you begin changing the tire heights on the rear from stock, you will get different Speedometer readings from stock :scratch: .

Good Luck!

 

I am with JR333

 

Also some things to remeber. Tires have minimum and maximum rim widths as well as load ratings. Important stuff unless you like to gamble.

IIRC the stock pony wheel is 16 x 7, so that limits the useful tire size you can put on there. Also the stock size was 225/55R16 in a Z rating and 30 psi front to rear.

My personal preference is for Michelein Pilot Sport A/S's, very kick **** all season tires.

 

The optimal tire size for the 7" rim is either a 225/55 16 or a 225/50 16...you "can" put a 245/50 16 on it and it looks good and beefier than stock and will not cause you any problems but it is not the optimal tire for handling as it bulges in the sidewall area ....now this can be changed depending on tire brand...some brands are wider than others...for example, you can install a 245/50 Kumho ECSTA Supra 712 and won't have very much in the way of sidewall bulge and therefore better handling compared to a Goodyear Gatorback which is wider and would bulge....so there is room to play if you do your research on tires

 

Yes, best corny example I can think of is to take a telephone book and stand it on end. Dont flex it and push down. It suppports the load real nice, but put a bend in it and press down, see the flex in the sidewall.

Course you can do this with anything, but straws dont illuistrate it as well.

Thats what happens when you put a tire that is either to wide or at the narrow end of the approved rim widths.

I cant qoute a general range becuase the sidewall has so much to do with the rim width range of tires.