Q: Can I put smaller wheels on my car than the 17-inch ones that came with it? I’d like to put fatter tires on it but I don’t think they’d clear the wheel arches. I know that I need to put a taller tire on a smaller wheel to keep the speedometer calibrated, but what’s the best way to find out what I can do? — Keith in Osterville, Mass.
A: You should be able to put 16 or possibly 15-inch wheels on the car, depending upon the overall size of your wheel openings. Since there are hundreds of aftermarket wheel manufacturers, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find something you like. If you go with wider tires, you’ll have to make sure the wheels can safely fit them to prevent the beads from failing in tight corners. The tires themselves will most likely be 60 series to equalize the diameters with the 50 or 45-series tires you now have.
You should go to a wheel retailer to order the correct wheels for your car unless you can get a chart online that lists what will fit.