You finally completed the restoration of your 1960's muscle car.
Should you stick with the OEM recommended tire size and wheel diameter, or do you want to enhance the appearance of your vehicle by installing 20 inch wheels? The first thing you need to consider is tire clearance; that is once you get past the sticker shock.
If you install over-sized wheels but maintain the outside diameter of your tires, you will most likely be okay.
If you purchase tires that are 3 inches taller, that's a whole other story.
The tale goes like this; the car looks cool in the garage, customers in the showroom gawk, the mechanics gather around and stare, then it's time to hit the streets.
As you make the initial turn out of the dealership your, hot of the shelf, left front tire gains a new groove in the side-wall when it contacts the fender well.
If the driveway didn't get the best of your new tires, the first bump in the road will.
Load up the family in the back seat, find the first railroad crossing, and both rear tires are gouged.
To avoid the obvious clearance problems, car owners will often purchase a low profile tire to mount on the taller wheels.
This solves the tire interference issue but destroys the handling characteristics of the car.
Travelling down a straight and flat road you may be okay, although the ride will be a little rougher.
A two inch tall tire will accentuate the effect of every bump in the road.
A conventional sidewall helps to cushion or absorb the energy caused from imperfections in the road.
If the ride wasn't bad enough, try taking the next high speed corner and see what happens.
Again, conventional tire sidewalls are designed to be forgiving so the tread can remain in contact with the road.
Some well engineered low profile tires react well but lower cost, super low profile tires loose grip when cornering at high speeds.
The list of pros is a short one; at best your new 20 inch, polished chrome wheels, will make your car look a little better, although that is a matter of opinion and personal taste.
It will however; make you stand out in a crowd.
So if it is a unique look you are after then by all means, mount some 24 inch wheels with low rider tires on your Classic 57 Chevy.
Good luck in your search for your new set of 20 inch wheels!
Should you stick with the OEM recommended tire size and wheel diameter, or do you want to enhance the appearance of your vehicle by installing 20 inch wheels? The first thing you need to consider is tire clearance; that is once you get past the sticker shock.
If you install over-sized wheels but maintain the outside diameter of your tires, you will most likely be okay.
If you purchase tires that are 3 inches taller, that's a whole other story.
The tale goes like this; the car looks cool in the garage, customers in the showroom gawk, the mechanics gather around and stare, then it's time to hit the streets.
As you make the initial turn out of the dealership your, hot of the shelf, left front tire gains a new groove in the side-wall when it contacts the fender well.
If the driveway didn't get the best of your new tires, the first bump in the road will.
Load up the family in the back seat, find the first railroad crossing, and both rear tires are gouged.
To avoid the obvious clearance problems, car owners will often purchase a low profile tire to mount on the taller wheels.
This solves the tire interference issue but destroys the handling characteristics of the car.
Travelling down a straight and flat road you may be okay, although the ride will be a little rougher.
A two inch tall tire will accentuate the effect of every bump in the road.
A conventional sidewall helps to cushion or absorb the energy caused from imperfections in the road.
If the ride wasn't bad enough, try taking the next high speed corner and see what happens.
Again, conventional tire sidewalls are designed to be forgiving so the tread can remain in contact with the road.
Some well engineered low profile tires react well but lower cost, super low profile tires loose grip when cornering at high speeds.
The list of pros is a short one; at best your new 20 inch, polished chrome wheels, will make your car look a little better, although that is a matter of opinion and personal taste.
It will however; make you stand out in a crowd.
So if it is a unique look you are after then by all means, mount some 24 inch wheels with low rider tires on your Classic 57 Chevy.
Good luck in your search for your new set of 20 inch wheels!
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