Wheel Decisions

[Chlngrcrzy]

Awesome.  You guys continue to get this sorted out, because i am almost ready to go and buy my wheels and tires.   

[challenger_affair]

That's still a pretty tall tire for the front. It could cause issues with the tire rubbing on the frame at full lock. Plus it will effect how much you can lower the car, I had to remove my fender braces even with my 275/40/17's.

The 9" rim isn't a problem at all. I've been running mine for years now with a 17x9 in the front with no issues.

Switching from drums to disks will widen the track in the front by about a 1/4" if I remember right. With a 17x9" and 5" of backspace and a 255 it probably won't make much of a difference. With a 275 you'll be very close to the frame at full lock with the drums, and very close to the fender with full compression (turning into driveways etc) with the disks. The other way to do it would just be to run a small spacer with the drums, then remove it when you switch to the disks. Might not be needed if you don't get any frame rub with the drums.

 

Thanks for all your explanations, there are a lot of questions but this does really help!     Its so hard to know what variables are critical.  I was assuming a 9" rim might be part of a fittment problem but maybe not...  Comparing 255/45/17 to 275/40/17, the 255 is actually taller by about 0.4", but the 275 is wider by about 0.8"   

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tirecalc.php?tires=275-40r17-255-45r17 

Is removal of fender braces necessary with the 255's? 

As for the width of the brakes, is that generally true of any conversion kit?

I put 17" AR Torque Thrust II's on my '71 with Nitto 255-50's on the front and 275-50's on the back with a stock rear end, XHD leaf springs.

Nice looking setup!  Have you been able to road test the fitments?  Any mods to the front end?

[dfrazz]

The front is stock with all new suspension parts (Bilstein shocks, Moog rubber, anti-sway bar) and converted from power drums to discs on all 4 corners.  I have not road tested as I am waiting for my new engine.  Once I do, I will let you know.

[challenger_affair]

On Amazon I see Firestone and Nitto make a 275/45R17, which is a 26.74" tall tire.  Based on your comments above, sounds like its still too much for up front, but might be a safer bet for 'plug and play' to a stock e body rear. 

 

I just want to point out I was wrong about the availability of a 275/45/17 ...  Not sure what I was doing trying to figure this out at 1:12 am 

[72bluNblu]

 

Thanks for all your explanations, there are a lot of questions but this does really help!     Its so hard to know what variables are critical.  I was assuming a 9" rim might be part of a fittment problem but maybe not...  Comparing 255/45/17 to 275/40/17, the 255 is actually taller by about 0.4", but the 275 is wider by about 0.8"   

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tirecalc.php?tires=275-40r17-255-45r17 

Is removal of fender braces necessary with the 255's? 

As for the width of the brakes, is that generally true of any conversion kit?

The 9" rim itself isn't part of the fitment issue if the backspace is right.

As far as the 255's, it depends on how much you've lowered your car. The fender braces have less clearance out at the edge of the fender, so the 255's will help with that, but they're taller too, so they may still get in the way if you're lowered enough.

As for changing the track width, pretty much all the conversions change it by some amount. But that amount depends on which conversion you use, it can range anywhere from 0" offset all the way up to a 1/2".

[calicuda70]

I put 17" AR Torque Thrust II's on my '71 with Nitto 255-50's on the front and 275-50's on the back with a stock rear end, XHD leaf springs.

dfrazz

how wide are your rear wheels have the same on my challenger but have a smaller tire im running a 9.5 17 on a stock suspension set up with hotchkis leafs

james