15" to 16" rims tyres question

[davidindevon]

On my Chim the front rims/tyres are 215/50 on 15" x 7J rims. Tyres at end of life.

I have a pair of 16" x 7.5J rims for the front. Is 225/50 an appropriate choice of tyre size?

Also, anyone recommend a source of rack stops if needed?
Thanks.

[sixor8]

on 16" rims at the front, 225/50 x 16 would be too big. I'd expect them to catch on the chassis on lock. Presuming you are using wheels destined for the rear of the car, I'd suggest 215/45 x 16 or 205/50 x 16.

On 500 engine cars with PAS, 225/50 x 15 tyres were fitted to the front, but they only just cleared the chassis in my experience. You can use this website to calculate the diameters of different tyre combinations:

https://alloywheels.com/tyreCalculatorResults2

The offset on the rear wheels is ET +33. the offset for the front is +25. Other users have done this, but you may need a spacer and longer wheel bolts. In fact, the very last Griffs and Chimaeras had 16" all round but I'm not sure if they were the same offset all round.

[981Boxess]

225/45ZR16 is what was usually fitted and I did need rack stops in my case, with Estorils.

[davidindevon]

Thanks to both.
Hmmm, As a 5 litre with PAS it came standard with 215/50 on 15" x 7J Estorils.
205/50 on 15" or 16" would be narrower than standard factory fit.

Is it the increase in diameter from 15" to 16" that causes the problem of snagging the chassis? Rather than tyre width ? Or the 8mm difference in ET? Prefer to avoid spacers and longer bolts.
Is 205 too narrow on 7.5J rim ? (Thinking of rim damage and roll off)

Availability is very limited in some sizes and last I tried, I couldn't get 215/50 at the tyre depot which was another reason for putting 16" rims on the front.

Rubber is expensive and want to avoid an unnecessary waste of beer money (Got to get priorities right!) so. . . . .
if availability is good, is 215/45 x 16" my safe bet?