Guys! My 66 Coronet is probably due for new tires but here is my dilemma...

My rims (which are 500's) are still in great shape. Almost new looking. But they are the older 14".

Is there any advantage to swapping out the entire set with 15, 16 or 17"?

Is it only aesthetics?

It is really only street driven, although I am planning on a "first" trip to the drags (a couple miles away... Mason-Dixon) and I probably wouldn't change them out for that.

And besides rubbing the wheel wells is there anything else I need to be concerned with (if I get a convincing reason for bumping them up)?

Thanks!

Tim...

All I know is I put rims on my e-body and it looks awesome 18-8 in the front and 20-10 in the rear /Users/anthonysampson7/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2010/Aug 9, 2010_2/IMG_0695.JPG/Users/anthonysampson7/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2010/Aug 9, 2010_2/IMG_0695.JPG/Users/anthonysampson7/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2010/Aug 7, 2010_2/IMG_0692.JPG

I think 15's are an upgrade over 14's in all respects. Looks, traction at the strip or around corners and tire selection.

Beyond that, it depends on what you want to do with the car. For street and drag strip, 15's are probably best with slicks for the rear if you like. For spirited street driving, there aren't many hi po tires available for 15's anymore.

For high performance street driving and cornering, the good tire selection starts with 17's. 17's and bigger also provide room for big front discs. Its a different look though; I like it but not for everybody.

IMHO, no more than 16" on an A body and no more than 17" on a B or C

E... I think will rule the A opinion

rubbers look nice on our cars... more than that and better use the car on railroads.

just my

235/55-17 is a nice tire size for a B body car. That is a modern tire which is widely available and fairly inexpensive. Factory fitment on a bunch of new cars so you know it will be around for a while. The tire is roughly the same size as the largest optional tire available new from the factory so it will fit without causing too many issues. It is about as large as you can go before you have some rubbing somewhere.

I have 18's all the way around on my van and love the way it looks. Lots more tires sizes and selection coming in that size now a days vs. even 16 or 17". If you decide to go bigger than 15", I'd really think 18" would be the next step. I had 16's and just couldn't find nice wide tires for em in the height I wanted.

Here's an up close copule of pics of the wheels (Centerline Softail's) front and rear.





As for advantages, better handling and braking with a better foot-print and lower sidewall, within reason. Plus you can go big on brakes, etc. I love the pro-touring look myself, but it is not for everyone. Course... my new challenger came with and has 20's on it, so... go figure.

Some cars can pull off the low profile look better than others. I prefer to stick with 15's. Suits the look I'm going for plus decent 16", 17" or greater tires are very expensive compared to 15's. And if you like to light up the back tires, that can be a factor... Also a good variety of drag radials available in 15" tires as well.

I have 16s and I recommend that you do not get 16s.
The tire selection is very limited and seems to be less and less manufacturers are making 16 inch tires.

I have 245/50/16 which is only 25.5 inches tall and really too short of a tire for my B body.

I think you can still get 255/50/16 (26 x 10)which is a little taller and 295/50/16 (27.6 x 11.6) which is pretty tall and wide.

I need new tires as well, and am myself debating buying new wheels instead of new 16 inch tires.

Either do 15s for the stock look or 17s for a more modern look.

I dont understand how I dont know those things. I just didnt want to loist them these are pics of my car