The Thunderbird Super Coupe is an excellent handling car but how low can you go? Many club members have asked what
are the best tires and size for my SC. I know that I've heard about 10 different answers to this question so I will try to give you some info
about lowering and choosing a tire size for you SC.
The stock tire size and rim for the SC is 225/60/16 (26.61" tall) on 16x7 inch rims. This provides acceptable handling
but as we all know the car looks so much better when the wheel actually fits in the wheel well. FoMoCo choose a tire size that is 26.61" tall
with a 7.30" tread width.
Eibach springs are the late model T-Bird springs
that I have chosen for discussion . These spring will lower your Thunderbird
SC approximately 1.50" and are progressive rate springs. These springs
will work with any of the most popular tire sizes (225/60/16, 225/55/16,
245/50/16, 255/50/16). Tire sizes that are for 17" and 18" rims
will not provide greater overall tire height equal to or greater than the
stock tire height of 26.61", but will provide a wider tread width than stock.
This brings us to the dilemma of how low can
you go? I will give you some tire sizes and let you decide for yourself.
Stock riding height is about 7.00" (taken from the side valance). 225/60/16
is 26.61" tall with a 7.30" tread width so if you choose any
of these tire sizes you will be lowering you car accordingly... The tire
size 225/55/16 is 25.75" tall with a 8.20" tread width, while
the tire size 245/50/16 is 25.67" tall with a 8.90"tread width
and the tire size 255/50/16 is 26.06" tall with a 9.30" tread
width. If you subtract half the difference in tire height from the stock
tire high you will see the reduction in vehicle high as a result of changing
tire sizes. 225/55/16 is a tire height reduction of 0.86", 245/50/16
is a tire height reduction of 0.94", 255/50/16 is a tire height reduction
of 0.55". Slight variations in sectional width and tread width can
happen between tire manufactures. This information is intended as a reference only.
If you added the Eibach springs and the below tire sizes you would reduce your 7.00" ride height to the following...
Tire Size
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Eibach Springs+Tire Height Reduction=Total Ride Height Drop
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Stock Ride Height-Total Ride Height Drop
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Final Ride Height
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225/60/16
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1.50"+0.00"=1.50"
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7.00" -1.50"
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5.50"
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225/55/16
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1.50"+0.43"=1.93"
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7.00"-1.93"
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5.07"
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245/50/16
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1.50"+0.47"=1.97"
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7.00"-1.97"
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5.03"
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255/50/16
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1.50"+0.27"=1.77"
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7.00"-1.77"
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5.23"
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