[venum14]

Great question and the replies are bound to cause a heated debate!

I would have to say that your decision depends on the look you desire and the performance you expect from the wheel/tire combination. Speaking from my experience, I started out with 17” wheels on my Cobra in 1994. With my cars unique suspension and large brakes, I could not find a 15” wheel (pin drive) or a street legal high performance tire to meet my needs.

I went with 17” P & S Engineering wheels and Michelin’s Pilots sized at 275 and 335. The looks, ride and handling were very good but deep down inside I felt I lost the ‘vintage’ look and feel of the car. Larger wheels result with a modern wheel/tire appearance. In my opinion, you end up with a “black rubber band stretched over a rim look.” From the side view of the car and with the Cobra’s large rear wheel openings, 17’s look a little off…

Fast forward to the present day of the numerous wheel and tire combinations… Bob from Vintage Wheel built me a custom set of 15” wheels last December and they are fitted with a set of Avons. Yes, they are quite a bit narrower than the 17’s at 245 and 295 but the diameter of the wheel and tire look awesome! The larger tire diameters fill the wheel openings, traction is improved and the new wheel/tire combination is the best thing I have done on the car in years. I debated about this investment for over six months. If the Avons were not available I probably would have stayed with the 17” setup. The bottom line, the Avons provide the best of everything: looks, traction and they are a 100% street legal radial.

Tire and wheel upgrade- Priceless $$$
Time spent in the dog house- Two weeks!

Good luck,
Jeff