# 2016 Challenger Muscle Car Tires **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** dodge, challenger\ **Created:** [March 27, 2017, 1:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266 "2017-03-27T13:53:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hugedata31](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/hugedata31/32/6936_2.png) [@hugedata31](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hugedata31)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 1:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/1 "2017-03-27T13:53:13Z")
Hello, I have a 2016 Challenger R/T with 245/45R20 tires. I would like to ask any of the experts what it would take to change to the classic muscle car tires (i.e. the 60s-70s fat tires with the rounded sidewalls). Will this be possible and what would I need to do to accomplish it? Any help appreciated. Thank you for your time. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 1:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/2 "2017-03-27T13:57:38Z")
Cooker tires sells vintage tires but this idea makes no sense at all. If you just don’t care for the 20 inch wheels look at tire rack for tire and wheel sets. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 2:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/3 "2017-03-27T14:37:52Z")
Depends what kind of clearance you have between the current wheels and the brakes. You’d have to shrink the wheel size in order to get a taller tire without screwing up the speedometer and scraping the fender, but unless the brakes are a lot smaller than the wheels, doing that wouldn’t fit because the brakes would block it. You’d also sacrifice handling because as much as people like to detract from the low-profile tires, the smaller sidewall means less sidewall flex. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 2:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/4 "2017-03-27T14:42:30Z")
Yeah, I doubt you can do this because of the clearance needed for brakes. Tire rack will have info you need. ---
**Author:** ![hugedata31](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/hugedata31/32/6936_2.png) [@hugedata31](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hugedata31)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/5 "2017-03-27T14:53:19Z")
I guess what I am looking for is that vintage drag-racing muscle car look. Something like: I was trying to see what it would take to run them. If it involves changing brakes, that would be ok, but I don’t know where to start. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/6 "2017-03-27T14:53:30Z")
Brakes. That is the simple answer. Brakes have gotten a LOT larger since the 60’s musclecars (Thank Goodness!!!) 20 inch wheels are standard on your car and the R/T has 13.58 inch diameter front rotors - the bigger end of the car. That fact alone means you need at least 17 inch and possibly 18 inch wheels to clear the brakes. In a 17 inch tire you would need a 245/60/17 to get the same diameter so the car wouldn’t look funny and the speedometer was still correct. A further issue is Tire Rack only lists one model of tire in this size as opposed to 20+ in the OEM size. The handling, may be very strange with such a soft sidewall tire when it was designed for a short sidewall tire. Nearly anything can be done but it isn’t practical. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/7 "2017-03-27T14:59:52Z")
> [@hugedata31](#): > > If it involves changing brakes, that would be ok Not if makes the vehicle less safe and possibly have an effect on your vehicle warranty. I don’t know for sure but you could also mess up the ABS system and the other control systems your car has. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 3:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/8 "2017-03-27T15:10:58Z")
> [@hugedata31](#): > > If it involves changing brakes, that would be ok, Like the others said, unless this is going to be a trailer queen and only driven at 5mph around car shows, downsizing the brakes is a very bad idea. Smaller brakes, all other things being equal, means lesser brake performance, and that’s something that should never be done on a car that gets driven at any appreciable speed. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/9 "2017-03-27T19:10:49Z")
Agreed with the others; you will likely be opening up a can of worms. More than likely a 17 or 18 inch wheel would not work over the brakes which are considerably larger. Maybe you could rent for a nominal fee an 18 inch wheel with the same lug bolt spacing from a salvage yard. Remove one of the existing wheels and attempt to install the 18 on your car. I think you will find it will not fit well if at all and that will be the end of that. ---
**Author:** ![ledhed75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@ledhed75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ledhed75)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/10 "2017-03-28T20:52:18Z")
Not to throw gas on a fire, as I agree this tire change is not a wise idea… but I’ve read that the 18 inch spare from a Charger will fit Challengers with 20 inch wheels. Since Dodge didn’t see fit to include a spare with my 20 inch wheel Challenger, I sure hope the 18 inch Charger spare tire I now have in the back fits when I need it! Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/11 "2017-03-28T21:41:12Z")
> [@ledhed75](#): > > …I sure hope the 18 inch Charger spare tire I now have in the back fits when I need it! Are you saying you haven’t tried it??? ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 9:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/12 "2017-03-28T21:45:11Z")
> [@insightful](#): > > > [@ledhed75](#): > > > > …I sure hope the 18 inch Charger spare tire I now have in the back fits when I need it! > > Are you saying you haven’t tried it??? I’d certainly try it BEFORE i needed it… ---
**Author:** ![ledhed75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@ledhed75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ledhed75)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 9:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/13 "2017-03-28T21:59:53Z")
Well, like I said I read that it would work fine. But you make an interesting point…I’ll give it a try soon. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/14 "2017-03-29T21:29:56Z")
the front rotors are 345mm. the rear rotors are 320mm. about an inch. but, the front calipers are much larger than the tiny rear calipers so I imagine you could fit smaller rims on the rear. how much? not a lot. I bet some rod shops could put on smaller rotors and make up the caliper mounting brackets to match. but why? ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/15 "2017-03-30T15:14:24Z")
Were I running a hot rod shop, there’s no way I’d take on the liability from downgrading some guy’s brakes. Were I hit by the guy who had a hot rod shop downgrade his brakes, you’d better believe I’d be going after both the guy and the shop, and I’d be looking to max out the shop’s liability coverage. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/16 "2017-03-30T15:27:04Z")
Agree. I don’t think there’s the opposite of ‘resto-mod’… ---
**Author:** ![hugedata31](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/hugedata31/32/6936_2.png) [@hugedata31](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hugedata31)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 4:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/17 "2017-03-30T16:48:44Z")
Actually I just found out that Mopar did exactly what I am looking for: ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/1/1942bd1143b2356b785721e7af107b22e5c1beac.jpg) Unfortunately I don’t have $109K to buy a new car. Perhaps I can figure out what they changed. (article) > **[New Mopar Challenger Drag Pak Comes With Two Flavors Of Hemi Insanity](https://jalopnik.com/new-dodge-challenger-drag-pak-comes-with-two-flavors-of-1719935429)** > > And we mean “insanity” in a good way. How can you not, with looks like that and your choice of a big naturally aspirated V8 or Mopar’s first-ever supercharged V8? Too bad there’s only going to be 60 of them. “The Mopar Drag Pak is equipped with 15-inch front and rear lightweight wheels displaying the unique Mopar logo. Mounted on those wheels will be Hoosier drag radials with front tires that measure 28 inches in diameter by 4.5 inches wide, and rear tires that are 30 inches in diameter by 9 inches wide. The car will also feature slotted front and rear brake rotors, with race-specific calipers and master cylinder.” ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/18 "2017-03-30T17:28:22Z")
Have you posted this on a Mopar forum? Somebody there may have done something like this. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 5:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/19 "2017-03-30T17:56:49Z")
That thing looks tough. I certainly want one. However, converting a stock car to that look will take boatloads of cash. Did you see everything that’s different to support the purpose? I realize all you may want is the LOOK and not the performance but achieving that will just compromise the existing performance of your car which is far more universally applicable to everyday use. Big fat tires without all the other supporting add-ons will just look good but actually compromise the car’s performance- perhaps when you most need it (like taking a slick off ramp too quickly). I have/had drag cars. For the most part, they stink in everyday street driving…but they do look awesome… ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266/20 "2017-03-30T18:51:06Z")
> [@hugedata31](#): > > The car will also feature slotted front and rear brake rotors, with race-specific calipers and master cylinder." Well, there’s a clue. Upgraded brakes. So the size of the brakes is smaller, but the actual parts are higher-grade than stock. Note that they don’t talk about pads, though. If they upgraded to pure racing _pads,_ that’s also a problem because racing brake pads suck on the street - they need to be hot in order to be effective, and unless you’re trying to get arrested, you won’t be driving aggressively enough on the street to get the brakes heated up sufficiently. They may have done something like Porterfield’s R4/S pad, which is a hybrid between a street and a race pad, but you can’t tell from the article. At any rate, the cost of R&D to make that thing work is spread across 6 million bucks worth of sales - and it’s a fairly safe bet they aren’t using standard bolt-on parts here, which means you’d actually spend even more than you’d think trying to replicate it. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2016-challenger-muscle-car-tires/102266.md?page=2)