Real quick.. another tires question

I don't see why 255s wouldn't fit, but then again, I'm not the one spending the money.

I believe I have 255/45/ZR17's w/ aftermarket 17x9" wheels (245/45/17, 17x8" is the stock size) on my car right now. I'd go look, but I'm lazy and it's dark. ;-) I know the wheels are 17x9 though.

In any event... if you go smaller up front, you lose the possibility of rotating the tires if you're into that sort of thing. Also, ask around for handling pros and cons to that kind of a swap on a Mustang. I know other cars come OEM like this, but I don't know what it does on Mustang suspension, if anything.

Also, when you start talking a 255mm (about 10") wide tire on a 7" rim, there's probably a good amount of sidewall flex (not to mention it has a 6" sidewall that'll be at an angle). While that's probably great for straight line traction (at least in the rear, up front it's more rolling resistance), it'll make the car wallow like a pig through the turns. Wide, sticky tires and wide rims with low sidewall heights do wonders in the twisties, but increasing the sidewall size and angle will probably just allow the car to actually roll laterally on the side of the tire.

What are you trying to accomplish? Filling out the wheel wells? Handling on the twisties? Going fast in a straight line?

JS

I'm trying to go fast in a straight line. That's all. I never hit the twisties.. I don't ever take corners fast... not until I get the GT Bullit suspension package that JD Adams recommends anyway. I have 7 inch wide rims... I think it'll fit, but it'll be close.. I'm more worried about will it stuck out from the sides of my car.. or will it touch the inside edges of the wheel-wells at all? You think I should maybe go with 245/60R-15's & see how they work.. and if I like 'em then try 255/60R-15's? I wouldn't mind doing that at all... if you thought it wasn't a totally retarded idea.

-Mike

resistance),

I have a 97 convert. and it's got 245/45/17's on it with an 8" wheel (if i'm not mistaken). They fit well under the wheel wells. I hope that was some help. Call your local ford dealer and ask the maintenance guy if he thinks they'll fit, he should know. cobraboy 97convert. with a couple of goodies

I've got H&R Sports springs in the rear with adjustable LCAs. The springs take me 1.5" down and I have gone another 1.5" lower by cranking the adjustables. I have BFGs (275/40/17) on all corners (H&R Super Sports w/1.75" Drop in front) and if I turn hard into a bump, like a driveway, going like over

25mph I get a slight rub on the front wheel well. I can't see any wear anywhere. My rims are 03 Cobra's and I'm not sure of the offset (+ or -) I don't think your outside diameter for your tire can be more than mine so you should be fine.

snipped-for-privacy@recorddeal.com wrote:

I have 245/45/17's on 17 x 9 wheels on my '94. Clearance is not an issue. I'm certain that I could install 274/40/17's on the rear.

It isn't what we think...it is what you think. For me, tires that come to the edge of the wheel well are damn sexy! LOL. Sitting behind the ass end of a Mustang and seeing tires that fill out the car is awesome. Actually, that goes for any sports car. That is one thing that turns me off with the 6 cylinder Mustangs. Even the 4 banger Fox bodies. The first thing I did with my 88 was put new tires on the back so that it filled the ass end out like it should be.

Don Manning

Yeah I know exactly how you feel... if I see a car where the rear tires fills out the ass end as much as possible... I drool. It looks so good.. I got a response from Summit & he confirmed that the tires WILL fit my rims & that i need to measure the wheel-wells to make sure the tires will not stick out & will fit.

-Mike

I'm pretty sure I'll be safe with 255/60R-15.. they're S speed rated (up to

113mph).. so I'm fine with that... not like I'll hit over 100mph in 1/4 mile anyway. I don't care about rotating tires.. so I'll be running smaller tires on the front, but biggo fatties on the rear.. which I consider 255 to be fairly large... :). I've got 205/65-15's on all 4 right now... payday is friday & i'll be ordering these tires from SummitRacing.com. Best prices I've found on 'em so far... depends on their shipping though. Thanks to everybody for their help & feedback.. it's really appreciated.

-Mike

Sorry.. up to 112 mph. Still, enough.

-Mike

Like Don said... it's all in what you want, I was just trying to give you the heads-up in case you were just going with the "wider is better" thing thinking it would absolutely help performance. It may help handing, or it may hinder it, but if *you* aren't concerned, then it doesn't matter.

I don't think the 255's will stick out. I think it could depend on the offset of the wheels and such. I have 255's and they fill up the wheel well quite nicely without sticking out. In the front, with the wheel dead straight, they come just about to the edge of the fender, but they's legally tucked in there. (In PA, it's illegal to be out past the fender) The rear, like someone else mentioned, could easily handle 275's... lots of room in the back of these cars.

Good luck and let us know how it all works out. I like the Radial T/A's for looks... hard to get a good quality old-school raised-white-letter tire anymore.

JS

Yeah I know.. and I appreciate it a lot. You've looked after my back quite a few times & I appreciate ya very much. I've been looking around quite a bit & I don't think 255's will stick out either.. I don't think they'll be a problem at all. Going to buy them as soon as money permits (payday coming up) and I will be sure to let RAMFM know how they work out.

I was kinda wondering what you meant when you said "they's legally tucked in there".. didn't know it was illegal in PA lol.. I don't like tires sticking out of the wheel wells.. looks like crap to me.

Can't wait to get something on this car... I went ahead & put the wheels on the car.. 205/65R-15 on all 4 right now. My old 17" wheels had 225/60R-17 I believe. I can check later. I'm lazy =). Mighta been 235.

-Mike

245/60R-15's

This would be considered open wheels. Several states have open wheel laws which require the installation of mud-flaps to prevent rocks and what not getting thrown backwards into someone's windshield.

Oklahoma is a *no open wheel state*. It is one of those things that only gets enforced when a cop is looking for something to get you on.

Don Manning

Ah I see... makes sense. More power to the police. Like they don't have enough already (sometimes officers like to abuse their power...). *sigh*. I've just had a recent encounter with a bad officer. All of the rest have always been doing nothing but their job the rest of the times I've talked to cops.. 99% of the time I wasn't in trouble talking to them :P.

-Mike