Taller tires for 03 GM

[JavaMan]

I'm wanting to get taller tires for my 2003 Grand Marquis. Keeping stock rims, same size front/rear, looking at the 215/70R16. It's a 27.9 inch tire, versus the original 26.6. I'm figuring the extra 1.3inch would still fit well in the wheel wells, but wanted to know if anyone has tried this tire already. How did it work, any scrubbing or was modification needed?

[Arquemann]

I remember seeing someone on crownvicnet saying that 29" tires fit, without rubbing, but it was on a P71 Vic, so it's a bit taller. I'd say the 27,9" tires will fit fine.

[sly]

+1 should be no issue except speedo not reading correctly. With that size change, it should read about 3mph slow at 60mph.

[Tiggie]

Too skinny!

Maybe try a 235/65r16. 28" tall, and just slightly wider than stock. 225/65r16 would be okay too.

[JavaMan]

Too skinny!

Maybe try a 235/65r16. 28" tall, and just slightly wider than stock. 225/65r16 would be okay too.

Plenty of research shows that a narrower tire gets more traction in wet, snowy, or icy conditions, The opposite, wider tires with flat tread get a better grip in dry pavement conditions. Hence why many race cars have wide tires. Tire width selection is always making a compromise between dry traction and wet/snow/ice traction. Research also shows that drivers tend to underestimate dry traction, and overestimate wet or icy traction, causing accidents.
It's not like I'm going to a 155, the 215 is only 4% narrower than the stock 225. In my area, we have wet/snow conditions 135 days per year on average. I am often out in the morning before it dries up for the day. So I am making my compromise towards better traction in wet/snow.
I have been fine the past two winters with all-season tires, even with this year having more snow then average, so a set of winter tires may not be worth the cost. In my current set, the fronts got a rounded inner shoulder and need to be replaced, the rear are at 6/32 so it's almost replacement time. I am switching to all-weather tires, the Nokian One, which are all-season with three-peak mountain snowflake rating.
I've read about people switching to narrower taller tires for better fuel efficiency, so I just wanted to make sure I would not run into clearance issues with these.

[sly]

+1 it'll be fine.

Depending on the tire and tread design, it may look a little stretched, but yeah... it's not gonna look like a stanced out truck tire. It should be fine.

[tbear853]

I run P235/55-17 on 7x17 Sport wheels on a 2001, they are 27.2" tall, there is plenty room for more. I considered 235/60-17 rubber, they are 28.1" tall ... but the 235/55-17 have my speedometer "dead on balls accurate" (it's a technical term).