The stock wheel/tire diameter for a 96 4th gen is 25.2
It's a 215/60/15 tire. I am thinking about getting a 225/50/15 tire.
Do you think it would be beneficial or count against me?
The new diameter would be 23.9

 

1/4 mile time would be the same, trap speed would drop, top speed would drop, gas mileage would drop, mileage put on your odometer would increase, and 225-50-15 would look rediculously small. Bad idea.

 

No reason to put a smaller tire on a 5spd. It will make your first gear even more useless than it already is. Now if you had an auto, a smaller tire might help "some" in the 1/4.

 

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