Thinking about decreasing to 16" tires on my 03 GT

[coolvirus]

Hi guys,

I love my 03 GT and I love the way the stock 17" wheels look but I'm getting sick and tired of hitting any little (or big) pothole and getting bubbles on the sidewalls. There is no way to repair this and pretty much a new tire has to be purchased.

I've had this happened to me 4 times already since I bought the car 3 years ago and these tires are not cheap.

These tires are so low-profile and there's so little rubber that any pothole you hit, damages the tire and here in NYC, there's PLENTY of them.

I just came back from Sears because I had to buy a new tire and even with the road hazzard, I paid good money after they pro-rated the old tire.

I'm very frustrated to say the least. Do you guys think it'd be a good idea to go with 16" tires (and rims) on the GT? Has anyone "downgraded" (if you know what I mean). Would it affect anything in the car? Suspension, ride quality, etc? Also, would it look any different than a non-GT cruiser? Those come with 16" tires right?

Thank you in advance for any advice on this.

[rszappa1]

your ridr will improve with very little handling feel...

[Mr.2U]

I understand your issues, i switched to 18's because
i'm a cornering fanatic. but it does beat you up.

My friend at work has a stock n/a with 16's that are
alittle oversize, when we go to lunch in his car, i
can't believe how soft his ride is, you'd think i
was in a camry!!. His side walls have to be 4 inches tall.

if your not a big corner freak, it's not a bad idea, you
can get good money for your gt set.

if you've invested in sway bars, springs and such.
then you are more of a corner person then you think.

another thought is a rear sway bar would keep your
car flatter in the turns and maybe make up for the taller
side wall play. so maybe promise yourself a rear sway bar
if you go to 16's.

[quicksilverdon]

Many GT owners run 16 or even 15" wheels in winter, so not an issue.
I'm surpised you haven't bent or cracked a wheel yet.
I suspect if you get decent tires with the 16" wheels, you'll hardly feel the difference.
Just a caution - I've read the steel 15" fit, but 16" painted stock alloy wheels have clearance issues with the GT calipers.

[coolvirus]

Actually I have bent a rim already and was "lucky" enough (if you could call it that) to find a used one for $200 as opposed to paying $600 for a new one from the dealer!!

I'm wondering how different my GT will look with 16" wheels after been used to seeing it with 17" for 3 years now. I guess it's all a matter of time before getting used to it.

What is the widest 16" tire and rim that I can install on the GT without any modifications?

Can you guys give me some recommendations on a good but very affordable set of 16" tires and rims?

Thanks.

[bobs turbo pt]

watch ebay

[Big Jon]

I mounted 16"x7" chrome smoothies on my 03 GT not for ride quality, I just love the look. I allso added Mopar stage 1 sway bars, rear lowering springs & a strut brace. I put the 17s on my 02 Classic.

[SteelBlueGT]

Just my 02cents but my ride is so much better with Tokico shocks and struts, larger rear sway bar, strut tower bar, and Yokohama 215's unidirectrional all weathers . Ride is excellent and potholes of normal size are absorbed by the stock springs and struts/shocks. So far 26,000 miles and little wear and no bubles. I do rotate tires ever 6,000 and rebalance ever 18,000 miles cause it is free at America's/Discount Tires. If you are concerned about the ride quality do NOT replace your stock springs with lowering ones or go to a lower aspect ratio tire. [8)]

[coolvirus]

I'm not really concerned about ride quality. I'm concerned about spending so much money in replacing these low profile tires because they get damaged so easily.

[lakersfan1]

Like I've said before, 50 series are not 'low profile'. They are medium profile at best. Bubbling on tires is not normal, regardless of the profile. Blame the tires, not the wheels. Change brands. Goodyear Eagles aren't what they used to be 15 years ago. Nowadays they'll put the 'Eagle' moniker on a turd and sell it for $150 a pop. Look at the 215/50/17 for your tires. They will give a little more sidewall height, and are cheaper than the 205/50/17. Your speedo will only change about 1 MPH .... negligable. You should be able to find an amicable set of 215/50/17 for $85-$100 a pop. And keep in mind most every tire store will match web prices. Even Discount Tire will match thier own online prices from Discount Tire Direct.