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biggest tire size stock suspension?? by jetfighterv
Started on: 01-07-2019 08:41 AM
Replies: 16 (649 views)
Last post by: olejoedad on 03-19-2019 11:54 AM
jetfighterv
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Report this Post01-07-2019 08:41 AM Click Here to See the Profile for jetfightervSend a Private Message to jetfightervEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
how big have you all been able to go on your fieros front size and rear without any modifications and dont have any rubbing issues
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Blacktree
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Report this Post01-07-2019 10:25 AM Click Here to See the Profile for BlacktreeClick Here to visit Blacktree's HomePageSend a Private Message to BlacktreeEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I've never tried wide tires on the front. But I once used 245/60/R14 tires on the rear, for an event. There were no fitment issues, although the tire did come pretty close to the spring perch on the strut. That was an '87 Fiero rear suspension, mostly stock.
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thesameguy
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Report this Post01-07-2019 10:40 AM Click Here to See the Profile for thesameguySend a Private Message to thesameguyEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
My '87 had 265/50-15 on it when I got it.



But, we probably need to know what you mean by "big" - are you talking sidewall or section? And on stock wheels or aftermarket? What ID?
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Blacktree
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Report this Post01-07-2019 11:06 AM Click Here to See the Profile for BlacktreeClick Here to visit Blacktree's HomePageSend a Private Message to BlacktreeEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Your '87 Fiero has an '88 cradle swap? That's an important thing to mention, since the '88 suspension is different from the other years.

[This message has been edited by Blacktree (edited 01-07-2019).]

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Will
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Report this Post01-07-2019 11:10 AM Click Here to See the Profile for WillSend a Private Message to WillEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by thesameguy:

My '87 had 265/50-15 on it when I got it.



But, we probably need to know what you mean by "big" - are you talking sidewall or section? And on stock wheels or aftermarket? What ID?



That's an '88.

Were those 15x8.5 wheels? I've had 16x8 wheels that just barely cleared the strut boss on the hub carrier of my '87. I thought the '88 had about 1/2" more clearance to the strut boss.

I have 285/30-18's on 18x9.5 wheels on my '87 GT. I have coil overs, though. The 285/30-18 is a pretty short tire. I don't know if it would fit under the stock spring perch or not.
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thesameguy
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Report this Post01-07-2019 11:47 AM Click Here to See the Profile for thesameguySend a Private Message to thesameguyEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Nope, that's an '87. '88 cradle swap, stock '87 15x7 wheels.
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Will
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Report this Post01-07-2019 04:06 PM Click Here to See the Profile for WillSend a Private Message to WillEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
That's '88 suspension

I guess there is a good bit of sidewall bow visible.

[This message has been edited by Will (edited 01-07-2019).]

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thesameguy
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Report this Post01-07-2019 04:13 PM Click Here to See the Profile for thesameguySend a Private Message to thesameguyEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I was impressed someone could convince a tire shop to put 265s on a 7" wheel, but they were there. The car was quite squirmy too, which was not confidence inspiring. The picture does not adequately capture the bow in the sidewall, but when you consider it's a 10.5" wide tire on a 7" wide wheel, it doesn't take much imagination.

[This message has been edited by thesameguy (edited 01-07-2019).]

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Spadesluck
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Report this Post01-07-2019 04:32 PM Click Here to See the Profile for SpadesluckSend a Private Message to SpadesluckEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by thesameguy:

I was impressed someone could convince a tire shop to put 265s on a 7" wheel, but they were there. The car was quite squirmy too, which was not confidence inspiring. The picture does not adequately capture the bow in the sidewall, but when you consider it's a 10.5" wide tire on a 7" wide wheel, it doesn't take much imagination.



That is well beyond the limits of a 7" rim for sure. lol
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fieroguru
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Report this Post01-07-2019 10:40 PM Click Here to See the Profile for fieroguruSend a Private Message to fieroguruEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I ran 245/45/16 tires on all 4 corners of my 88. No coilovers and no rubbing.
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cvxjet
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Report this Post01-07-2019 11:40 PM Click Here to See the Profile for cvxjetSend a Private Message to cvxjetEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Years and years ago (Oh god....40 years ago...I'm old as dirt!) I had a Mercury Comet GT (Same as a Maverick) and first put 235/60s and 245/60s on cross-wire ET wheels which were 14 x 6.75" wide....I could drive down a street and wiggle the steering wheel and feel the car squirming on those poor sidewalls....When parked, I could push the rear sideways a full INCH!

Later I found some Appliance Wire mags wheels (Gorgeous!) that were 14 x 8.......If I wiggled the steering wheel I would get a headache from slamming my head into the side glass- The car just TURNED- Instantly!

The front 235/60-14s actually measured out to 252 mm Section width and the diameter/ sidewall ended up slightly less....So the tire was basically a 55 series tire......Wheel width can make a huge difference in tire/suspension/handling performance.....
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Report this Post03-14-2019 02:52 PM Click Here to See the Profile for WillSend a Private Message to WillEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by fieroguru:

I ran 245/45/16 tires on all 4 corners of my 88. No coilovers and no rubbing.


I've also run 245/50 & 255/50 on 16x8's on my '87.

I currently have 18x9.5 C5 Corvette rear wheels with 1" bolt circle adapters and 285/30-18s, although I do have coil overs on the rear.
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fieroguru
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Report this Post03-14-2019 05:20 PM Click Here to See the Profile for fieroguruSend a Private Message to fieroguruEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Will:
I've also run 245/50 & 255/50 on 16x8's on my '87.

I currently have 18x9.5 C5 Corvette rear wheels with 1" bolt circle adapters and 285/30-18s, although I do have coil overs on the rear.


I am also running 18x9.5 wheels and 285/30/18s with coilovers on my 88!
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hnthomps
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Report this Post03-15-2019 12:12 PM Click Here to See the Profile for hnthompsSend a Private Message to hnthompsEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Factory tires for the 87 and 88 Meras utilized 245 x 50 x 15 for the front and 265 x 50 x 15 for the rears. I have not been able to locate the correct front tires recently so I use the 265s on the front also with decent results. There is some inner fender rubbing with sharp turns at low speeds (thing parking lots) but it is not bad.

Nelson
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Dennis LaGrua
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Report this Post03-19-2019 09:04 AM Click Here to See the Profile for Dennis LaGruaSend a Private Message to Dennis LaGruaEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I run 225 x 45 x 17 rear and 205 x 45 x17 front on aftermarket rims with the same offset (35mm) as stock but with 1/2" wider rim width. Point is when putting larger tires on a Fiero, rim width, wheel offset, tire width. and tire diameter must all be considered. With an auto shift points can change as well. . In the case of the rear tires, if you are running an engine with OBDII the speedometer and shift points (autos) for larger tires is easy to correct in the software. Not so easy to correct with the stock Fiero setup. I believe that the tires I chose had a very close OD to stock, but adjustments in the PCM on my set up were needed due to the 3800 swap PCM originally calibrated to a different tire size. So if you decide to upsize tires plan to also address the adjustments necessary.

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Will
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Report this Post03-19-2019 11:08 AM Click Here to See the Profile for WillSend a Private Message to WillEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by hnthomps:

Factory tires for the 87 and 88 Meras utilized 245 x 50 x 15 for the front and 265 x 50 x 15 for the rears. I have not been able to locate the correct front tires recently so I use the 265s on the front also with decent results. There is some inner fender rubbing with sharp turns at low speeds (thing parking lots) but it is not bad.

Nelson


Those are pretty tall... no wonder Meras always looked too high.
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olejoedad
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Report this Post03-19-2019 11:54 AM Click Here to See the Profile for olejoedadSend a Private Message to olejoedadEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
My son runs 235-50-17 front and 255-45-18 rear on a lowered 88.
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