Best tire setup for 87 GT (Stock Wheels) (Page 1/3)
AmphotEric MAY 06, 02:20 PM
My 87 GT is in desperate need of new tires, and the previous owner had a square setup of 205/60/r15 (stock wheels). If I want to get the best handling out of the car, so I’m unsure if I should switch to staggered, or run squared to keep the balance. I see a lot of people running 225/60/15 rear + 215/60/15 front, and I’m wondering if that is the best combination for the best handling/ride feel?

If I try to go this setup, I can only find two tire options (atleast in Canada)- Uniroyal Tiger Paws or BF Goodrich Radial TAs. Are there any other tires in the above spec that someone could recommend? Additionally, is there a better fitting tire spec that’ll be best for performance/handling?
Skybax MAY 06, 03:46 PM
Welcome!

On stock GT wheels its best to run the manufacturer recommended sizes of 205/60/15 front and 215/60/15 rear.

(for a variety of reasons... Oversize = overall diameter effecting speedometer, exceeding recommended rim width, rubbing, looking silly, etc)

As far as tire brands/models go, that is going to vary depending a personal taste, purpose/use, price, etc. I personally don't like BF Radial T/A's on a Fiero because they are T-Rated and overpriced due to classic car world demand. On stock GT wheels I would recommend at least an H-Rated tire. Its also wise to use a softer compound (more grip) especially if its a weekend hobby car, because the years/age you get out of the tire is more important than the miles, so harder/higher mileage tires are a poor choice for a weekend hobby car that only sees an average of 500 to 2000 miles per year/season. In summary, best to use the stock staggard sizes with an H-Rated tire that has a softer compound (lower tread wear rating).

Its getting more difficult to find a good stock staggered set for the Fiero with those specs, here is my post last year on what I ended up with...
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/...HTML/099929.html#p12

[This message has been edited by Skybax (edited 05-06-2022).]

olejoedad MAY 06, 04:14 PM
I ran 215 front and 225 rear on stock 15 inch wheels for decades.

Speedo error was minimal.

If you want better handling, purchase the Fiero Store front and rear sway bar set as well, they are matched as a set to work well in reducing push and making the car more neutral.
AmphotEric MAY 06, 04:52 PM

quote
Originally posted by Skybax:

Welcome!

On stock GT wheels its best to run the manufacturer recommended sizes of 205/60/15 front and 215/60/15 rear.

(for a variety of reasons... Oversize = overall diameter effecting speedometer, exceeding recommended rim width, rubbing, looking silly, etc)

As far as tire brands/models go, that is going to vary depending a personal taste, purpose/use, price, etc. I personally don't like BF Radial T/A's on a Fiero because they are T-Rated and overpriced due to classic car world demand. On stock GT wheels I would recommend at least an H-Rated tire. Its also wise to use a softer compound (more grip) especially if its a weekend hobby car, because the years/age you get out of the tire is more important than the miles, so harder/higher mileage tires are a poor choice for a weekend hobby car that only sees an average of 500 to 2000 miles per year/season. In summary, best to use the stock staggard sizes with an H-Rated tire that has a softer compound (lower tread wear rating).

Its getting more difficult to find a good stock staggered set for the Fiero with those specs, here is my post last year on what I ended up with...
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/...HTML/099929.html#p12





I hope I'm doing this right, I'm unfamiliar with using the forum so I'm not entirely sure how to reply lol

I believe because I'd be keeping the same Aspect ratio & wheel size, the speedometer will be minimally effected (if at all). I'm my experience with other vehicles, going wider (as long as your wheels can support it) gives you better handling & grip on the road due to a greater contact surface with the road. Have you ever run this spec on your fiero? Is the difference in handling negligible?

I have many more options if I search for the spec you described, but I think I'm pretty set on going slightly larger, as the only negative I see is the lack of options + impact on my wallet.
hunter29 MAY 06, 07:55 PM
I kept stock size tires and am happy. Driving on the street you don’t get to many opportunities to push the car hard so I don’t worry about it.

Bigger wider tires is more mass and just taxes horse power and brakes.
Xenoblast MAY 06, 08:55 PM
Dont use square, my previous owner did that aswell and it sometimes caused me to slip a little in the rear when it rained, scary. I run stock tire sizes with ohtsu fp0612s and couldnt be happier.
Kevin87FieroGT MAY 07, 09:43 AM
I’ve run 205/60-15 front and 215/60-15 rear on stock ‘87 GT wheels as well as 215/60-15 on all four corners. Though the 205/60-15 on front work ok in the parking lot, the 215/60-15 in front work much better on the twisting mountain roads. For the rear the 215/60-15 are fine and grip well.

Currently I have the 205’s on the front and soon will need tires. My plan for replacement will be 215’s on all 4 corners again. The 215/60-15 are available from a number of manufactures, just takes a little searching and possibly some compromise as to the manufacturer you might choose.

I currently have BFG T/A’s and they are ok, pricey, but ok. There are better newer style tire choices available. I’ll withhold from recommending another choice for now as I haven’t looked at the market place for the last 6-9 months, but Discount Tire and Tire Rack both had a selection at that time.
Kevin87FieroGT MAY 07, 09:46 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kevin87FieroGT:

I’ve run 205/60-15 front and 215/60-15 rear on stock ‘87 GT wheels as well as 215/60-15 on all four corners. Though the 205/60-15 on front work ok in the parking lot, the 215/60-15 in front work much better on the twisting mountain roads. For the rear the 215/60-15 are fine and grip well.

Currently I have the 205’s on the front and soon will need tires. My plan for replacement will be 215’s on all 4 corners again. The 215/60-15 are available from a number of manufactures, just takes a little searching and possibly some compromise as to the manufacturer you might choose.

I currently have BFG T/A’s and they are ok, pricey, but ok. There are better newer style tire choices available. I’ll withhold from recommending another choice for now as I haven’t looked at the market place for the last 6-9 months, but Discount Tire and Tire Rack both had a selection at that time. Buy “H” rated tires if you can find them, slightly stronger sidewall than the “T” rated.

Kevin87FieroGT MAY 07, 09:51 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kevin87FieroGT:

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kevin87FieroGT:

I’ve run 205/60-15 front and 215/60-15 rear on stock ‘87 GT wheels as well as 215/60-15 on all four corners. Though the 205/60-15 on front work ok in the parking lot, the 215/60-15 in front work much better on the twisting mountain roads. For the rear the 215/60-15 are fine and grip well.

Currently I have the 205’s on the front and soon will need tires. My plan for replacement will be 215’s on all 4 corners again. The 215/60-15 are available from a number of manufactures, just takes a little searching and possibly some compromise as to the manufacturer you might choose.

I currently have BFG T/A’s and they are ok, pricey, but ok. There are better newer style tire choices available. I’ll withhold from recommending another choice for now as I haven’t looked at the market place for the last 6-9 months, but Discount Tire and Tire Rack both had a selection at that time. Buy “H” rated tires if you can find them, slightly stronger sidewall than the “S or T” rated standard find out there.
olejoedad MAY 07, 09:51 AM
Hi Kevin.

225/60/15 on the rear pairs very well with 215/60/15 on front.

I've run that combo for years.