16" original 7 spoke 500 wheels.

[finston]

Is anyone running with original rear 16" wheels on the fronts instead of the 15" - basically the original 7 spoke 500 16" wheels all round.


If so what are they like and what tyres would you recommend.
My 500 has no pas.

Thanks.

[pebbledash]

The last Griff 500's had 16" rimms all round (or at least the one i have seen did) fronts are 225/50 and rears are 245/45. i think without PAS the fronts are 205/55s..

[MCFADDEN]

I am currently deciding whether to put on the front end 16" 7 spoke's on my Non PAS griff 500.

Only concerns are whether I will have to go on a course of steriods to turn the wheel @ low speeds( & the wife )

I have tried my original back ones on 225/55/16 which actually fit although not much clearence, just to see how they were.

Seemed a little heavier on the steering & the nose was sitting a little higher,but i will decide over the next few days.

If I proceed I will probably put 225/45/16's on the front as these have the same diameter as the original set up & should return ride height back to near enough original.

I would have prefered to put a 215 wide tyre on the front ( 205 on the wider 16" wheel might look a bit naff if fit at all), but the diameter's would be too far out .

Any thoughts on this !!!!!!!

[pebbledash]

My 500 was original equipment with 215/55 on the front and 235/45 on the rear if i remember corectly. i will check when I get home. what size tyres are you running at the moment on the back and front?

[MCFADDEN]

Pebbledash - Tyres on mine originally were
Front 205/55/ on 15" x 7J rims,
Rear 225/55 on 16" x 7.5J rims ( my handbook actually states 225/50 for the rears)?

[pebbledash]

225/55 sounds like you have the wrong profile, i would think the 225/50 like the handbook says is the correct one. I think I would go for the 245/45R16 on the back with a 205/50R16 or 215/45R16 or if you want the 225 go for a 225/45R16 these sises should keep the RR about the same (within 1%). hopefuly Shpub may post a comment or two on this thread.

[IPAddis]

I believe the early 500s were specced as 225/55 on the rear and the later ones definately had 245/45 which some people will comment are the absolute maximum for 7.5" wide rims.

[pebbledash]

Mine is a 95 spec 500, (with a serp engine) and its original spec was 215/55 front and 235/45 on the rear.. i will take a squizz at the Bible when i get home. it gives a list of the sizes and dates when used..

[pebbledash]

From the bible it looks like Griffs had 225/50s on the back but some Chimaera variants had 225/55 on the back and 205/60 or 215/50 on the front. the last of the Griffs had 225/45 on the Front and 245/45 on the back.
HTH
Mark

[finston]

I have 205/55/15 on the fronts and 245/45/16 on the back at the moment but I think I'll go for the 225/45/16 fronts and 245/45/16 rears when I get the new wheels.