91 GRAND MARQUIS...WHICH tire size 14 or 15 inch, sway bar bushings and shocks?

[stinkydogfilms]

Hi,
Time to replace the tires, shocks and both the sway bar bushings and sway bar links.
I want to have the 91 Grand Marquis GS handle better. I am NOT CONCERNED too much about a smooth ride. Handling is more important to me.
I am looking for better acceleration using lower profile tires on 14 x 7 inch old school Ford plain Jane stock rims or possibly using 15 x 7(8) old school plain Jane Ford school rims. Any recomendations on tire brand and size also recommendations on brand of shocks and sway bar parts. Are Bilstein shocks worth it? Are Energy Suspension parts available at a local parts store like NAPA or Oreilly? For tires should I buy from Pep Boys, Discount Tire or any recommendations.

Thanks in advance.

[Lincolnmania]

i would go with 16" steelies and 225/60/16 tires..............handling is much better and the tires are cheaper in 16" nowadays.

i order energy suspension bushings from my local autozone

check out tirerack.com for tires......not a fan of pep boys tires, if you like spirited driving, get at least a h rated tire, they have thicker sidewalls and the car will handle like it's on rails if all is tight and it's aligned properly

[stinkydogfilms]

added pics of some different rims..What do you think?

Thanks Lincolnmania,
Anyone please comment.
Will a 16 inch tire and rim make the car sit taller? I prefer it to be lower. Lower equals better handling, right? A shorter tire should equal quicker acceleration too. Is this right also? About the addco swaybars, Are they an easy swap in? Will a rear sway bar need brackets to be added to the frame? What size upgrade for the front and rear swaybar?
What is the stock size front sway bar on the 91 GS civillian?

Do the 16 inch tires you recommended rub up front? At the moment 16's are out of my budget for rims. I already have the following I could use.


What would look best?
1969 Mach 1 14x7 in 12 slot chrome steel
Dukes of Hazard 14 x 7 magnesium
1978 15 x 7(maybe 6.5) Cougar steel aluminium polycast
1969-70 Mustang torino 14 x 7 steel 5 slots
14 x 7 Mustang deep dish stock steel
15 x 7 1970 Boss 302 deep dish stock steel
15 x 7 and 15 x 8 and 15 x 10 inch Globe wheels from Australian Falcons
These are the options I am looking at. No budget to buy 16 inch rims.
Any comments/tips on changing the shocks?

[sly]

16 inch wheel with thinner tires will make it lower. the stock tires have a LOT of sidewall. If you want performance on those tires, I would suggest going no thinner than 3 inch sidewalls. This will make the overall tire about 22-24 inches tall (stock tires about 26-27 tall) so divide the difference by two and that's how much drop you'll get. Also know that changing the overall tire height will make the speedometer not read correctly. You'll have to change the driven speedometer gear in the transmission to compensate for this. and most 16s will not rub unless the offset is obnoxious. later models come with 16x7 wheels stock. with proper offsets you can run 18x8 up front no problem and not rub (even wider in the rear). Not sure what that offset is, but I know others on here will know.

as for what looks best... that's very subjective. Personally I like the turbines (not pictured) or that first wheel pictured. also, boxes look nice with the 5-spoke rally style wheels. But really, you need to go with what you like because you're the one that will live with it.