This thing may be rolling in it’s beginning stages here come spring. So the question may be a bit premature but been trying to figure it out.
1992 Mustang LX will have the factory Pony 5 spoke 16” wheels (yes, I realize this kills tire options).
So if I stay with the factory 225/50/16 I can get Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 which is a heck of a tire considering the size.

Or if I go a bit wider to the 255/50/16 the only street tire available is the BF Goodrich Sport Comp 2.

Which is a really good tire as well though just not sure it is what the Michelin is.

I am keeping this build as stock looking as possible.

Personally I would take the Goodrich over the Michelin regardless or the width. But I am no Michelin fan boy.

Just based on my personal experience with the Pilot Sport AS3+, I'd have no problem going with the AS4.

But, I'm running them on a 4400lb SUV. That said, they've been great in all conditions.

Talking tire options. I've got 15x10 wheels (currently wearing an old set of Hoosiers) on the 7, and there's only 1 or 2 road legal options.
So, I'll be on the hunt for some minilight style wheels for it in something like a 15x7 or 16x7 when the time comes.

I think you should look up the 225/50/16 circumference & find a 255 tire with the same circumference. Also the rims may be too narrow for a 255 tire.

Circumference difference is about 4.5" & diameter diff is about 1.5"

back in the day i did 245s on the stock wheels

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How much HP & Torque? Stick or auto?

I like the Michelin Pilot Sport series of tires. Unless you are going to road track your Mustang and need the extra width, I would be inclined get the Michelin in the stock size. Do you want to use the car for more than just a summer cruzer?

For each model in the sizes listed.
The Michelin is XL load rating, weighs 23 pounds, for rim width 6-8" and by name can be used all seasons.
The BFG is SL load rating, weighs 29 pounds, for rim width 6.5-9.5" and indicates summer tire.

There are size differences to factor, not just width.

The diameter change will affect the performance as much or more than the difference in width.

If it were me, I'd go back in time.

Hows about a reto set of Mickey Thompsons SR series, narrow front and fat rears on some kool MT 5 spokes, a set of electronic exhaust dumps a Joe Dirt Mullet hair piece and crank up Lynard Skynard

Wooooo Dogggie, go on and let the smoke out!

Link

quote:

Originally posted by Anush:
I think you should look up the 225/50/16 circumference & find a 255 tire with the same circumference. Also the rims may be too narrow for a 255 tire.

Circumference difference is about 4.5" & diameter diff is about 1.5"

I don’t believe there is such a thing at least in 16” tires.
I have not seen anything less than a 50 series tire in a 255 width.

quote:

Originally posted by Sig209:
back in the day i did 245s on the stock wheels

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I have 245s on it currently would like a touch wider if I could. Still gives the same predicament as Michelin doesn’t make anything in that size either. One does gain a few more All season tires but not much.

quote:

Originally posted by Shaql:
How much HP & Torque? Stick or auto?

Stick of course! The goal is 400hp but reality will likely be that I will really only want to push the motor to around 350 to keep it fairly reliable.

quote:

Originally posted by 2012BOSS302:
I like the Michelin Pilot Sport series of tires. Unless you are going to road track your Mustang and need the extra width, I would be inclined get the Michelin in the stock size. Do you want to use the car for more than just a summer cruzer?

It will mostly be a summer cruiser with lots of spirited driving out on out twisty country roads.
I do however want to do some autocross and a couple of road courses but nothing to any note just some fun.

Main reason for the wider tire is the look. The 225s just look so small.
I am trying to keep the stock appearance as much as possible granted it it noticeable lower (about 2” on UPR branded, built by Eibach 4 cylinder specific springs). I just like the look of a wider tire in the rear.
If I stepped up to 17s or 18s it would be easier but the only wheels I would really want to do is BBS RKs or LMs but will likely never have the extra cash for those as one would also have to do an SN95 Cobra front and rear brake conversion as well.

Honestly, I’ll probably never out drive the BFGoodrich tires to notice the difference from the Michelin.

255/50 R16 are available in TOyo & BFgoodrich, not to mention dragstrip slicks

quote:

Originally posted by ChuckFinley:
255/50 R16 are available in TOyo & BFgoodrich, not to mention dragstrip slicks

All the Toyos are track tires. Get a little rain on my way back from down by the river and you’ll either be attending my funeral or visiting in the hospital.
Maybe some day I’ll have a track only car.

quote:

It will mostly be a summer cruiser with lots of spirited driving out on out twisty country roads.

My 91 was stock and the only car I've owned that would swap ends for no reason.
Not screwing around just taking the corners normal and off across the field I'd go backwards through fences and whatnot.
If it was wet out it wouldn't take off straight from a light, just crab sideways towards the car next to you.
My K5 with a spool in the rear diff did that pretty bad too.

It was a quick lil straight liner though.

OK, I'm going to throw this out there. Look at the General G-MAX AS-05.

They have the 224/50ZR16. They are Ultra High Performance (all season) tires.

I just got a set of 225/45R17 for my Subaru WRX. I have been planning on getting them to replace the worn Pirelli P7 Cinturato that were on it. They were a summer only Ultra High Performance tire, and I wanted a good All Season tire to replace them on the stock rim.

Because I plan on getting a set a Method Race MR503 wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Max Performance Summer tire.

I have a set of Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 on Sparco Terra Wheels for winter.

I wanted a set a all season tires, so that if I had a flat, be it summer or winter, and the budget didn't allow a new set of tires (have to replace all four (4) at the same time) that I could throw the stock wheels on with good all season tires.

Well, I ended up getting the General G-MAX AS-05's sooner than expected, as I hit something on the road at 50 MPH and had a catastrophic blowout.

I have lived with them for over a month and have driven with them in 100° F, down to so far the coldest is 40° F, in blinding downpour and they have performed better than expected.

They have great steering response, feel well planted, ride smooth (even with my messed up factory rims, previously owner curbrashed every wheel, including the spare multiple times) with low noise.

My only real problem with them is after setting as little as 10 hours, they feel like they have flat spots for the first 2 or 3 miles, and the warmer it is, the faster that goes away.

The bonus is, they are right up there in Performance with the B.F. Goodrich G-Force AS but cost less. Sure there are things the B.F Goodrich does better, but the General G-MAX AS-05 does things better also, tradeoffs.

Price was a top priority, because after I get my new Wheels and tires, they will spend their life in storage, until I have a flat.


ARman

quote:

Originally posted by powermad:

quote:

It will mostly be a summer cruiser with lots of spirited driving out on out twisty country roads.

My 91 was stock and the only car I've owned that would swap ends for no reason.
Not screwing around just taking the corners normal and off across the field I'd go backwards through fences and whatnot.
If it was wet out it wouldn't take off straight from a light, just crab sideways towards the car next to you.
My K5 with a spool in the rear diff did that pretty bad too.

It was a quick lil straight liner though.

There were a number of reasons for that Foxbodys weigh nearly nothing, the backend of a hatchback weighs, next to nothing, and if you have a notchback the rear end weighs less than nothing.
The body flexed with little to no torque applied to the wheels (convertible models and specially) the suspension components weren’t much to speak on, and back then tire technology/compounds are nothing like they are now, and tires were skinny.
Some came with a thin rear sway bar some did not and very few came with a LSD.

I’ve already completely redone the suspension. Koni shocks, UPR 4 cylinder specific lowering springs, caster camber plates, tubular upper and lower control arms, much thicker front and rear sway bars.
Still need to buy a Maximum Motorsports 4 point K member brace.
Still need to get full length subframe connectors and torque box reinforcements welded in.

If I can find a decent Thunderbird Turbo Coupe 8.8 rear ended as it has disc brakes and also is about an inch wider than the Mustang 8.8s.

So hope to have a decent car for the turns.

quote:

The goal is 400hp but reality will likely be that I will really only want to push the motor to around 350

That's a lot of ponies for 225s. If you're as "spirited" as I was with my '67, go with the 255s.

Currently my tuned GTI (~315hp lowered 1.5" with a 25mm AS bar in the rear) wears 225/40 18 AS3+ and has for 9 months now. I know the GTI is quite different from the 'stang but power wise they have been awesome in the dry and I drive quite spirited <<cough fast cough>>, I can break them loose when I want to but in the corners they stick very well. They have been better in the wet than the originals which were damned near dangerous as they like to pretend they were a swamp boat when it rained and during the snow/ice we had earlier in the year they proved how much an all season they were not. I would assume the AS4 would be better and worst than the above.

that being said for your application I would go wider with less side wall if at all possible...

After driving a dual purpose street/Time trials car for a while, I look to grippy tires that still work in the wet. I don't need them to work in the cold or snow, that's what the truck is for.

For your purpose, look at the Dunlop Direzza ZIII in whatever size you think will work for your wheels.

This is a great resource:
https://grassrootsmotorsports....k-tire-buyers-guide/

I would certainly go with a GOOD tire in a narrower size than an all-season tire in a wide size. If you want the best combo of performance and looks, you need new wheels, but you know that already.

quote:

Originally posted by DoctorSolo:
After driving a dual purpose street/Time trials car for a while, I look to grippy tires that still work in the wet. I don't need them to work in the cold or snow, that's what the truck is for.

For your purpose, look at the Dunlop Direzza ZIII in whatever size you think will work for your wheels.

This is a great resource:
https://grassrootsmotorsports....k-tire-buyers-guide/

I would certainly go with a GOOD tire in a narrower size than an all-season tire in a wide size. If you want the best combo of performance and looks, you need new wheels, but you know that already.

Our thought process is the same. Not worried about cold or snow. But it is wet here often and it can be beautiful as could be and 20 minutes later wet as could be.

I was reading about those Dunlop’s the other night.

And yes I realize I need different wheels.
They do make a 17x8 and 17x9 Pony replica.
I’d run a staggered 275/40/17 and 245/45/17 setup.

But wheels just aren’t in the budget for quite some time. I am probably in LaLa land anyway thinking I’ll have the turbo swap done by the summer next year anywhoo.

Another thought is narrower tires tend to resist hydroplaning better.

Keep working on that LX!! It's good for you.