Wider or Skinnier tire on 7 in. for better handling?

[cantvalve16]

On a regular old 7 in. wide rim, what is the ideal contact patch width for best handling with street tires?
I have 15x7 wheels on my '64 Ranchero and want to put the best handling and driving tire size I can on those wheels. What is the best size to go with for front and rear?
I drive the car daily and want the best size for the type of surface street driving I do the most.
Thinking it would be the best route to run a 225/50-60 on the front. That would make the contact patch about even with the width of the wheel. Am I thinking in the right direction?

I would like to put the widest rear tire I can on the rear. Probably a 245 if I can make it fit.

What is the best way to go with these wheels and where are the holes in my thinking?

[silver69camaro]

The "best" tire can't really be choosen, but wider is generally better for maximum grip, provided a good front/rear balance is maintained..

One thing to note: if the tire is too wide for the wheel, it will soften steering response and sidewall deflection will increase. When a tire manufacturer recommends a 8 to 9.5in rim for specific tire, I will opt for the 9.5.

[cantvalve16]

That is the kind of response I was looking for. Thanks for the advise. Any other suggestions? What about sidewall height?

[Rhino]

less sidewall usually means less deflection. Tire composition also makes a huge difference as well. Even with the same size tire, you can have large changes in performance characteristics.
In some instances, a little more deflection can be seen as a benefit, in others a hindrance. It's relatively safe to assume that you want less deflection, although there are way too many variables to make that an absolute statement. Since you stated it's a DD, most of your driving time you'll only notice a subtle difference between many tires. It's typically when you start pushing a little harder that those differences become quite apparent.

In regards to the contact patch, I would agree with you. You rarely want a contact patch wider than the wheels themselves.

[cantvalve16]

Do the same rules apply for the rear tires? I always see the rear tires wider than the wheel and while I like the look, I am curious about the pros and cons.

[68Formula]

My understanding is that with a wider tire:wheel you can run a little more pressure for straight line traction.