Suggestions...need help on tires sizes.

[Doomed]

Heys guys,

              so i've been pulling out my hair trying to figure out my tire sizes. I have looked through the tire threads so many times that my focus is gone and I need outside perspective.

I'm going to be running American Racing TTII's 17x8 fronts, and 17x9.5 rears. My car is a 74 'Cuda with a CAP suspension with rack'n'pinion, Magnumforce drop spindles, and Wilwoods in the front, the rear has leafs and Wilwoods.

The car is obviously geared more torwards the g-machine side of things, but I don't overly like the rubber band look.

I would like to put 255/45/zr17's in the front and 275/50/zr17 in the rear, but no one makes these sizes together in a specific tire - the closest I found is Nitto 255/50/r17 and 275/50/r17 -http://www.nittotire.com/#index%2Etire%2Ent450%2Esizes

There is pleanty of better tires in 40 series, but they give me little tire rake. Is he 40's too small of a sidewall?

Opinions?

Thanks,
Kyle.

[73Chally]

I think the 40 sidewall will be way to short for 17" tires.  If you need a matched set I would go with the 50's.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Has your rear suspension been modified? There is no way a 9.5" wheel will fit unless you moved the springs inward.

[Doomed]

Has your rear suspension been modified? There is no way a 9.5" wheel will fit unless you moved the springs inward.

As of yet there is no mods to the rear end. I do have a Dr. Diff relo kit just in case, but after some research it looks like I can fit the 9.5's in with some longer studs and spacers. When my car gets out of the body shop, I can do some measuring. Goodiesgotcuda fit 295/45/18x9 in the rear with no mods.

Kyle.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Kyle,

  Do you know the backspacing of the rims, both front and back?

[Doomed]

Kyle,

  Do you know the backspacing of the rims, both front and back?

Fronts 17x8 - 4.75 bs Back 17x9.5 - 6.375 bs

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Fronts 17x8 - 4.75 bs Back 17x9.5 - 6.375 bs

Kyle,


  I'm really not sure about the front, but the back is WAY too much backspacing for a stock setup. Jeez, I would hate to see you use spacers.   

[Doomed]

Kyle,


  I'm really not sure about the front, but the back is WAY too much backspacing for a stock setup. Jeez, I would hate to see you use spacers.  

  I know that Mike Tyler has 17x8 with a 4.75 bs and a 275/40 tire on his front  - so I should have no issues there, and if the backs don't fit I do have that relo kit on hand. Why so worried about those spacers? My biggest worry is what tires can I get away with - there just are no performance tires available in the sizes I prefer and I'm unsure of the 40 series, even with my car lowered.

Kyle.

[HP2]

Tried looking at truck or SUV sizes? They often times are available with more sidewall than equivent car sizes. Just be careful with them or you may end up with a highboy. Its kind of funny how the overall radius doesn't change froma   comparable 15" combo, but the change in wheel radius really make a big difference.

[Doomed]

Tried looking at truck or SUV sizes? They often times are available with more sidewall than equivent car sizes. Just be careful with them or you may end up with a highboy. Its kind of funny how the overall radius doesn't change froma   comparable 15" combo, but the change in wheel radius really make a big difference.

I've looked at a wack of stuff and usually I find one size, but not the other. Maybe i've overlooked something. That's why i'm trying to see if anyone is running 40's and see if they look and perform alright.

Kyle.

[flores_57]

Hey Doomed; got your E-mail,sorry it's taken a bit gett'n  back to you. I'm running 17x9.5 in the rears with 275/40/17 & 17x8 with 245/45/17 in the front with no mods done to the suspension,other than typical swap. No rubbing what so ever in the front & rear. Hope this helps in deciding which route to take!

[Doomed]

Hey Doomed; got your E-mail,sorry it's taken a bit gett'n  back to you. I'm running 17x9.5 in the rears with 275/40/17 & 17x8 with 245/45/17 in the front with no mods done to the suspension,other than typical swap. No rubbing what so ever in the front & rear. Hope this helps in deciding which route to take!

Awesome, thanks so much - this is the info. i've been hoping for. Do you have any more pix of your car?

Kyle.