What is the widest street tire anyone is using for daily/street driving on a 16 x 8 wheel. I currently run the 245-50-16 Kumho ecstas. Real good tire, last long and has good traction in the rain. But it leaves a lot to be desired, especially in the rear wheel wells. If there are people running a little bit wider tires on this size wheel...could I see pictures. I understand that safety becomes a bit of an issue if you get to wide on this size of wheel, but I'm just looking for options.

Cory

 

Problem is there isn't much available any wider than 255 for a 16" wheel, at least not in "high performance" street tires that match the stock tire diameter. You may find some "track only" road race or auto-X tires, or even the old stock of BFG Radial T/A's in 265/50-16 (larger than stock diameter). But the Radial T/A is a mediocre "all season" tire.

 

Thanks Injuneer. You input is always great. What is a common 255 size tire that people run all year round? Does it fill the wheel well noticeably from the 245's that I have?

 

A 255/50-16 is not that much larger than a 245/50-16. In theory about 0.4" wider and 0.4" larger in diameter. But the actual width will vary depending on the manufacturer and specific model of the tire. Some 255's may not be any wider at all than some wide 245's. But the 255 will always have the larger diameter.

 

Wide is to wide... what tall is to tall.



Damn, I'm so philosophical.

 

With radial tires, I've seen people go to 29" on the outside diameter. Someone actually posted pictures of it - try a "search". Many of us run 28" slicks with minimum problems, but growth at the top end can be a problem. Going up on diameter will reduce performance, because its just like swapping in lower numerical gears. Switching from a stock 245/50-16 to a 28" tire will feel like swapping 3.42 gears out for a set of 3.08's. Also absobs a lot more of the energy bringing a 28" tire up to speed rather than a 25.65" tire.