Hi all
Here is the situation:
*I have an 86 vert. (16 x 9.5 currently in yokohama 255/50R16's)
*I will never race the car.
*I almost never get above 100mph
*My wife is unhappy with the ride quality (This MAY end up getting me authorization to go to a C5 or C6.... but that's another story)
*I like the look of a lowered car, but in stock form I am at the limit of driveway accessability.
*My old tires are old and cracking on the side walls. I will be replacing them soon.
*I just changed from a 2.73 rear to a 3.07 rear (and adjusted the speedo)

So here is my thought: If I go from 255/50's to 255 65's or maybe even 265/60's I'll be increasing the Outer Diameter of the wheel. The ride should improve and with tire filling the wheel-well more, it should have the visual affect of lowering the car. Since I have just changed rear gearing ratios, I will not mind so much loosing the torque. If I go from 26"OD to 28"OD, I'll gain 1" ground clearance AND 1" apparant chasis-drop.

So my questions to the group are:
*Are there things I should know about changing the OD of my wheels that may not be obvious to a newbie?
*How would you adjust the speedo (new gears, or electricly)?
*And how do I find out the maximum size tire that will fit on the 16x9.5's I have?
*Has anybody done this?

and also,
I have seen numerous questions about the best street/strip tires, but few people have asked, "If ride quality, noise, and wear are the top priorities, which tire would you choose?"

I'm not looking to nickle-and-dime this project, its just that I don't want to race my vert. If l ever get the urge to get seom track time, I'll get a coupe.

 

More tire sidewall will give a softer ride at a given pressure, but the rear spring and shock rates dictate most of the ride quality.
Mike

 

try adjusting the air pressure first

 

Luke, is there a place on your site that will tell me all of the tires that will fit on a 16x9.5 rim? I thought I remembered seeing it, but I can't find it now.