tires and shocks

[nightrider2]

ok probably a stupid question but i'm an onder hood guy...supension and tires...i have no clue...now i saw the stick on tire size but i want to know if a 235/60r16 would go on a stock rim and what /60 or /55 accually means...also with lowering springs what would be a decent set of shocks...sensatrack, yes/no??? o yea!!!!! and how much heavier duty would i have to go if i swaped out the 3.4 for a 4.3vortech?

[V6Bob]

Re: tires and shocks

ok probably a stupid question but i'm an onder hood guy...supension and tires...i have no clue...now i saw the stick on tire size but i want to know if a 235/60r16 would go on a stock rim and what /60 or /55 accually means...also with lowering springs what would be a decent set of shocks...sensatrack, yes/no??? o yea!!!!! and how much heavier duty would i have to go if i swaped out the 3.4 for a 4.3vortech?

60 or 55 is the percent that the sidewall is of the tread width.

For a 235/60 that means the sidewall is 60% of 235mm or 141 mm high.

That's a bit bigger diameter tire than any stock fbody size, because the sidewall is higher than any stock fbody size. It will fit on the wheel, but it might rub somewhere. Your speedo will read slower than you're actually going.

Why don't you want to use a stock size? Makes life easier.

If you're not replacing the shocks yourself, the added cost of Bilsteins over Sensatrack is worth it.

If you don't know anything about suspension, lowering springs may not be a good idea. They screw up the suspension geometry, and you need some knowledge to fix it. Shocks become trickier also.

[nightrider2]

Re: tires and shocks

well if accually been under there quite abit as of late(both tie rod ends failed) and as far as lowering i can fix it i just would need to know what to do

[T-Mill]

Re: tires and shocks

fixing the geometry isn't something that you can just explain... this is one of the areas where every car is going to be slightly different. I've seen cars lowered and the rear axle shifts to the right. It could require shims for a proper alignment. Your best bet would either be to have someone else do the lowering springs, or have someone help you who knows what they're doing.
Sensatracs are good, but they won't last nearly as long as Bilsteins, and they aren't quite as good either.

[Trotter]

Re: tires and shocks

i have 245/55/16 on my stock rims

[crushedout]

Re: tires and shocks

If you put a 235/60r16 you will rub your front fender well when you turn. I rubbed when I had 225/60r16 and your adding 6mm more than I did. Thats 12mm more than factory. I now have 245/50 and no problems.