245/50/16 Tires

[Firetruck1]

What are you guys doing for 245/50/16 tires? There used to be dozens of offerings in this size 15 or 20 years back. It seems there are only a handful and most ads i see are for old inventory tires. I currently have a set of Falkens that are old enough to have graduated college!

This may be the catalyst for me moving up to some 17 inch wheels.

 

[ssn696]

Sorry to undermine your excuse for 17s, but tirerack.com still has lots of choices in that size. I use 255/50-16. Not so many...

 

[83StreetMachine]

I still have 16s. I just use tirerack.com as well

 

[GuysMonteSS]

I use the same size 245/50-16 tires.
The last set were Cooper Zeon's;
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Cooper&tireModel=Zeon+RS3-G1&partnum=45WR6RS3G1
They are a nice tire,just as good as anything else I've had on the Monte over the last 18 years.
The Riken Raptors were a good tire too,and IIRC,the price was right.
Guy

 

[pontiacgp]

I was looking at the Firestone Indy 500 but they don't come in 245 50 17....the Riken Raptors and Cooper Zeon don't come in that size either...

 

[Streetbu]

245/45/17 is the same diameter and width as a 245/50/16 and also much more common

 

[pagrunt]

Has anyone ever thoughts of creating a tire interchange sticky thread on what would work to on our cars? Be nice to have a quick referance to find what all sizes a direct fit of 26" tall tires.

 

[black_aerocoupe]

I remember when I felt the same way about tire options for 15" stock wheels. 245/50R16 hasn't had a lot of options in a long time either.

A taller tire on an 18" is a very solid option.
16" wheels are almost as bad for width / fitment as 15" wheels.
And 17" wheels are better than 16" for fitment, but the tire options are broader in 18" stuff.
Other than a little speedo gear adjustment, go 18s if you're changing.

 

[ssn696]

195/75R14, 205/75R14 and 215/65R15 were stock sizes back in the day (GNX used 245/50R16). To maintain speedometer accuracy, aim for a 25.7"-26.1" tire, but in the rear, go as big as will fit, but plan to fix your speedometer gears if you care to stay in the realm of posted speed limits.
8" rims typically fit with a 4.5" backspacing (ex: Corvette steel rally rim, correct me if I'm wrong). Section width up to 9.5" typically clears the rear frame rails and probably fits without rubbing up front (depending upon final choice of diameter, etc.)
I pulled data from several brand specification posted on Tire Rack, the actual numbers may vary slightly. I tend to be conservative, so my color coding is intended to guide you towards what is expected to fit without much modification. No warranty implied!
If you choose to use late-model Camaro rims, be aware that the bolt pattern is not precisely 5x4.75" (120.7mm), it's actually 120 mm. Since you have correct for the positive offset in late-model rims, EBay abides with a 1.5" to 2" thick wheel stud-type adapter 5x120 to 5x120.7. Not everyone is willing to use spacer/adapters.

 

[Tuffregal83]

On the rear of my Regal I have
255/50/16 Mickey Thompson ET Street Radial on the front I have Bf Goodrich G-Froce Sport Comp2 225/50/16
They look good