15 inch wheels
Question about wheel size
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, Texas
Originally Posted by AeroPA
My door sticker says 215/70 OR 215/75 X14. I've noticed some speedo error with the 215/70, if those roadside radar trailers are accurate. I've also noticed the scarcity of 215/70 tires. Good thread, looks like I'll have more options to look at for tires now, need new ones soon.
94, those wheels look good on that 'star.
94, those wheels look good on that 'star.
So to avoid buying new rims, I called goodyear and they were selling Aquathread 3 for $55.00 each that were 215/70R14 so I got them and they work good and make no road noise. Saved me $250.00 by not converting to 15" rims.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA, area
205's
A while back I asked about replacing 215's with 205's if I could find some with enough load-carrying capacity. I felt advantages might be a few more RPM's, since the gearing ('91 3.0) seems to be too tall anyway, and maybe a little reduction in ride height would improve handling. Speedo changes would not be an issue because I govern my speed by the flow of traffic anyway, no wide open roads here in NorCal any more.
Now I see DigitaLink has done it!
Ray Mac
Now I see DigitaLink has done it!
Ray Mac
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: Petaluma, Ca.
cheap 15" rims
I paid $35 apiece for 15" ranger rims with Yokohama avids {top rated touring tires] from Tire Rack. Total cost: $400.00-cheap, including rims. Ranger rims are everywhere, in tire shops and wrecking yards. Look great too.
Beaned
Beaned
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Bellevue, NE
I went to sams club and got the 225-70 14 Goodyear Regattas. At the time (Feb 2001) they cost $298, mounted/balanced/75000 mile road hazard warranty. they seem to do quite well in wet/snow/icey conditions.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 758
Likes: 0
From: Northern PA
I just ordered a set of wheels from Summit. Got US Wheels Daytona Black steel wheels. 15 X7, and I'll put 215/65-15 on them.
Good idea, Beaned. Did you notice any ride improvement, or is it about the same?
Good idea, Beaned. Did you notice any ride improvement, or is it about the same?
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,062
Likes: 35
From: Central Oregon
I went the other way 15" down to 14" with 70 series tires. Change the speedo gear to fix speedometer. I still get 23-24 mpg with the 4.0. I did this at 27000miles to make it handle better and it was a major inprovement, have 230000miles now and still like the van.
New User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
I have -91 Eddie Bauer. Did not find any good winter-tires (required to use in dec-feb here). Now it has Jeep Grand Wagoneer 16" steel wheels with 235/55-16 tires. On speed calibration points (found on some roads) the sign says 59km/h when speedo says 61km/h.
And before buying check offset of the wheels. If it is not enough the wheels make contact with lower A-arm. Specially in 4x4 models
And before buying check offset of the wheels. If it is not enough the wheels make contact with lower A-arm. Specially in 4x4 models
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New User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Those are the same wheels I want for my '93 Aerostar, black too! I love the simple utilitarian look. I want a 15 by 7, but which bolt pattern do I go with? You stepped down to a 65R, but could I stick with a 215/70?
Matt
Matt
Originally Posted by AeroPA
I just ordered a set of wheels from Summit. Got US Wheels Daytona Black steel wheels. 15 X7, and I'll put 215/65-15 on them.
Good idea, Beaned. Did you notice any ride improvement, or is it about the same?
Good idea, Beaned. Did you notice any ride improvement, or is it about the same?
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 758
Likes: 0
From: Northern PA
Here's a link to a really good tire size converter. It will tell you how much difference there is in sizes, and how much speedo error you're likely to encounter.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
I like the way the new sheels look; they seem to suit the van. I used stainless steel trim rings, too. Kinda makes them look like the anthracite custom wheels with the bright outer rim. They looked good without the trim rings; I think it's a matter of personal taste.
I forgot which bolt pattern they are, I'll have to dig out the box label I saved for reference.
Oh, yeah; one thing I did notice lately. With 7 people in the van, I get very slight rear tire rub if I go over roads with much irregularity in them. Looks like it's time for some air shocks, too. That's the easy fix for those times when I want to carry a full load.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
I like the way the new sheels look; they seem to suit the van. I used stainless steel trim rings, too. Kinda makes them look like the anthracite custom wheels with the bright outer rim. They looked good without the trim rings; I think it's a matter of personal taste.
I forgot which bolt pattern they are, I'll have to dig out the box label I saved for reference.
Oh, yeah; one thing I did notice lately. With 7 people in the van, I get very slight rear tire rub if I go over roads with much irregularity in them. Looks like it's time for some air shocks, too. That's the easy fix for those times when I want to carry a full load.
Last edited by AeroPA; Jan 2, 2006 at 09:18 AM.
New User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Chattanooga, Tn
I wanted to respond to this since I have an 88 Aero that had the 215 70X14 and I changed to a set of wheels from an 89 Ford Crown VIc, these are the aluminum wheels with center chrome cap, and the size on them is 215 70X15, seems to have had negligable effects if any on speedo, what counts is revs per mile, may be a tiny bit different but anyway these are Great wheels with just the right offset, slightly wider than the others and the van handles great
and looks super good with them on it...these are available at most salvage yards for around 50 bucks, I bought all 4 with two good tires and two almost
slick, then found a couple more tires, sure beats the looks of the stock metal
wheels with the hard to find tires. Mercury has the same wheels with just the mercury emblem in center chrome cap. I'll try to get a photo up to photo bucket and get you a link to see them. But I really like them.
According to the size chart,it affects it more than I thought, 29 less revs per mile or 3.9% slower....speedo shows 60....actually doing 62.3....I can live with that...I just set the cruise on 68...where normally I run 70. LOL
This vehicle came with factory tow package and the 4.11 locker rears so it
can use a little up gearing...
and looks super good with them on it...these are available at most salvage yards for around 50 bucks, I bought all 4 with two good tires and two almost
slick, then found a couple more tires, sure beats the looks of the stock metal
wheels with the hard to find tires. Mercury has the same wheels with just the mercury emblem in center chrome cap. I'll try to get a photo up to photo bucket and get you a link to see them. But I really like them.
According to the size chart,it affects it more than I thought, 29 less revs per mile or 3.9% slower....speedo shows 60....actually doing 62.3....I can live with that...I just set the cruise on 68...where normally I run 70. LOL
This vehicle came with factory tow package and the 4.11 locker rears so it
can use a little up gearing...
Last edited by ricardo288; Jan 2, 2006 at 11:24 AM.
New User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Chattanooga, Tn
I was using the tire size calculator in the post above me, going from a
215 70X14 to a 215 70X15 is 751 revs per mile on the 14" vs 780 revs per mile on the 15 or according to the chart...29 revs difference slower
for the bigger tire makes the speedo read 60 and you are running 62.3
mph...it says 3.9% difference....don't know didn't manually go thru.
It sounds a little fast to me...but what counts is revs per mile. Going to
bigger tire always covers more ground with same rpm on engine so
speedo is slower than actual speed.. correct me if I am wrong, just
going by the chart provided.
215 70X14 to a 215 70X15 is 751 revs per mile on the 14" vs 780 revs per mile on the 15 or according to the chart...29 revs difference slower
for the bigger tire makes the speedo read 60 and you are running 62.3
mph...it says 3.9% difference....don't know didn't manually go thru.
It sounds a little fast to me...but what counts is revs per mile. Going to
bigger tire always covers more ground with same rpm on engine so
speedo is slower than actual speed.. correct me if I am wrong, just
going by the chart provided.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA, area
Well if that's what the chart says, you must be right about the amount of difference.
My personal opinion is that from the specs I've seen, Aerostar gearing is already pretty tall, and lugging the engine too much would be easy to do, especially on a 3.0. Or if it kicked out of lockup, you wouldn't be saving anything.
Ray Mac
My personal opinion is that from the specs I've seen, Aerostar gearing is already pretty tall, and lugging the engine too much would be easy to do, especially on a 3.0. Or if it kicked out of lockup, you wouldn't be saving anything.
Ray Mac