Help me pick wheel and tire size

[turbosax2]

I'm attempting to buy new wheels and tires to replace the stockers. These will be used for all types of driving. I've been going back and forth and back and forth on this decision for months now, and can't seem to decide. I would appreciate any insight that you experienced guys have to give.

At first, I planned on going with 17x9 +35 wheel with a 255/40-17 tire. This has been proven to work on a 2gb suspension. But then I decided I might as well step it up to a 275/40-17 tire, which would require a 17x9 or 17x9.5 wheel in at least a +30 offset (I think). So after abandoning hope for the wheels I like that don't come in suitable offsets, right now I'm looking at SSR Type-C RS 17x9.5 +29 with some 275/40-17 tire.

Does anyone have experience with this size on a 2gb to know if it fits?

The closest I've seen is a 17x9 +27 TDR wheel with Falken 275/40-17 tires - it fits, but as the user says, "the gc coilovers are not on here nor aligned".

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/152854953-post176.html


And after all that...I've found some people saying that 275/40-17 is not a good tire choice and to go with 285/30-18 instead.

So after all being considered, I think I'd still rather stick with 17" wheels for the cheaper cost of wheels/tires and lighter weight. I could be convinced otherwise if the 18" are truly better, though. And I'm trying to keep these as inward as possible in the wheel well - they're not solely being used for autocross. Of course, I'm trying to avoid wheel spacers as well. Oh, and I'm not racing competitively and I'm not particularly worried about any class rules.

Thoughts?

 

[TopGun8818]

I have 225/40/18 on my car. They look nice with my h&r 1.5/1.3 drop but I did require a camber kit for the front and rear. Are you sure we can fit 275's in our cars? I know wider it better but won't that rub or affect steering?

 

[kidtsi]

What about 275/35r17 instead? Thats what i'll run. I"m running 255/40zr17 on a 9.

 

[talonalex92]

I am running 245's on 17x9 Mota wheels. I have no desire to go bigger, or smaller. They fit great and look great as well...275 is a monster tire..I dont like the idea of them, especially on your car.

+30 offset also for me.

 

[turbosax2]

I have 225/40/18 on my car. They look nice with my h&r 1.5/1.3 drop but I did require a camber kit for the front and rear. Are you sure we can fit 275's in our cars? I know wider it better but won't that rub or affect steering?

I am running 245's on 17x9 Mota wheels. I have no desire to go bigger, or smaller. They fit great and look great as well...275 is a monster tire..I dont like the idea of them, especially on your car.

+30 offset also for me.

Pay attention to what forum this is in...

Yes, 275's will fit on the right offset wheel.

What about 275/35r17 instead? Thats what i'll run. I"m running 255/40zr17 on a 9.

Tirerack doesn't have any 275/35-17. There may be some out there, but I certainly don't want to limit myself to one or two tire options.

 

[talonalex92]

I didn't say they wouldn't fit. I just said I feel its a bit excessive on a car such as yours.

 

[romeen]

I didn't say they wouldn't fit. I just said I feel its a bit excessive on a car such as yours.

I think turbosax2 was answering TopGun8818's question.

Are you sure we can fit 275's in our cars?

Eric, just curious what you are planning to do as far as ride height with the wide tires? Are you going to go as low as possible while maintaining clearance/full range or just keep it around stock (or other)?

I'm also looking to eventually go as wide as I can (or near to) to help with my FWD traction issues so I'm very interested in this thread.

 

[Cornfed4G64]

wheel_tire_fitment_FAQ

This may help?

But the guys on there are running a 275/40 tire with a +12 offset and it STICKS OUT!!!

 

[turbosax2]

I think turbosax2 was answering TopGun8818's question.




Eric, just curious what you are planning to do as far as ride height with the wide tires? Are you going to go as low as possible while maintaining clearance/full range or just keep it around stock (or other)?

I'm also looking to eventually go as wide as I can (or near to) to help with my FWD traction issues so I'm very interested in this thread.

Ride height will probably be just a little lower than stock. I have 650/350 springs, hard progressive bump stops, and I'll be adding spacers to tune the bump stops. I have no misinformed wishes that tires of these size will be anywhere near to tucking

wheel_tire_fitment_FAQ

This may help?

But the guys on there are running a 275/40 tire with a +12 offset and it STICKS OUT!!!

I have seen that, thanks. This is why I'm questioning the +29 offset with 275 tires, I'm trying to avoid it sticking out like that. I've done the calculations and the +29 should work (at least with the section width I used for calculations), but it's so close that it could go either way really.

 

[Scott McIntyre]

Eric, I don't know if I'd want to run anything wider than 255's on the street without a widebody kit or fender flares of some kind. I think 17x9 +35 255/40R17 is about the limit with a stock body. Not sure how you'd ever get a 275 or 285 tire to not stick out past the fenders.

For example, my 17x10 +12 275/40R17 stick WAY out from the fenders, yet don't have much inside clearance neither. My rears will occasionally kiss the rear vertical uprights. Any more positive offset and they'd surely rub. That's part of the reason I haven't switched to 295's.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[turbosax2]

Eric, I don't know if I'd want to run anything wider than 255's on the street without a widebody kit or fender flares of some kind.

Why? Is there a reason other than having them not stick out? I've thought about fender flares but it appears there is no bolt-on option. And I don't have the time to do any kind of serious work on the body like that, unfortunately. And there's no helping the rears - it's not like I can hack that part of the body up like I could do in the front.

What tires are in that picture? It's interesting to see how those 275's compare to these. Yours must have a much higher section width.

I've seen plenty of pictures of your car and didn't want a street setup like that, but I had no idea your tires are 275's.

 

[TheFallenJosh]

When you get ready to sell those GSX wheels be sure to let me know. I've been looking for some.

 

[turbosax2]

They won't be sold, sorry.

 

[drivemusicnow]

Turbo,

Sorry I can't really help you, but the first thing you need to realize is that one 275 wide tire is not the same width as another 275 wide tire. I have a great picture somewhere of a stack of 255 wide hoosiers that are about 6 inches taller than a stack of 255 wide Azenis, and I know my azenis were wider than than most other street tires in the same size

You can definitely stuff 275s on 9 inch wheels, but I think you might be better served with the 255 wide on the same wheel. You'll end up with a slightly cheaper tire, and while you may lose a bit of grip, you could always make that up by stepping up to an r-compound or true race tire.

The only problems I've heard of for tires "Sticking out" is that A) rocks can come flying up and break your rear view mirrors, an B) some states actually have laws against it.

 

[eclipsegsx1736]

I'd say minimum of 9.5" wheel for a 275/40-17 tire.

I've run a wide variety of 255/40-17 on my 17x9 +35 wheels, and as many have said above, the width from tire to tire varies widely. In fact, the current tires I have on now, Continental slicks (spec GrandAm road race tire, basically a Hoosier R6 with no grooves) in 245/45-17, have the least rear knuckle clearance of any tire I've run, and they're considered a 245. I have MAYBE 3mm of clearance. With a wide 255 street tire, like an Advan Neova or Federal 595RSR, there are only about 3-4 millimetres of clearance to the rear knuckle, and this is on my 99, and supposedly the 97-99 cars have slightly more clearance.

Because this is as little clearance as I'd be comfortable with, I'd say an offset of +25 is the highest you could run on a wide 275/40 tire (+20mm overall width, +10mm on inside, so -10mm on offset required to keep same tire clearance).

 

[eclipsegsx1736]

FYI - here's a pic of my daily driver GSX with that same wheel/tire combination I mentioned above. This car has VERY low front camber (you can see the front tire actually leaning outward) since it's maybe 0.5" lowered from stock, so the fronts could easily tuck more but this gives you an idea of fitment. These Continental 245/45 slicks are more like a typical 265 street tire in width.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[talonalex92]

Eric, what are the benefits you seek of running a 275/285 tire? What are you planning as far as alignment specs? What compound are you after?

 

[TheFallenJosh]

They won't be sold, sorry.

Aw. Ok. Just figured I'd try.

 

[turbosax2]

I'd say minimum of 9.5" wheel for a 275/40-17 tire.

I've run a wide variety of 255/40-17 on my 17x9 +35 wheels, and as many have said above, the width from tire to tire varies widely. In fact, the current tires I have on now, Continental slicks (spec GrandAm road race tire, basically a Hoosier R6 with no grooves) in 245/45-17, have the least rear knuckle clearance of any tire I've run, and they're considered a 245. I have MAYBE 3mm of clearance. With a wide 255 street tire, like an Advan Neova or Federal 595RSR, there are only about 3-4 millimetres of clearance to the rear knuckle, and this is on my 99, and supposedly the 97-99 cars have slightly more clearance.

Because this is as little clearance as I'd be comfortable with, I'd say an offset of +25 is the highest you could run on a wide 275/40 tire (+20mm overall width, +10mm on inside, so -10mm on offset required to keep same tire clearance).

Thanks for sharing your experience with 17x9 +35 wheels. I'm well aware the section width for every tire is different.

Eric, what are the benefits you seek of running a 275/285 tire?

Um, more grip!

What are you planning as far as alignment specs? What compound are you after?

To start with:
Front: -2.6* camber
Rear: -1.7* camber

Performance street tires for now, but with the option to switch to slicks later.

 

[Scott McIntyre]

Why? Is there a reason other than having them not stick out?

For the reason's Greg mentioned above: A) rocks can come flying up and break your rear view mirrors / damage your paint, and B) some states / provinces actually have laws against tires sticking out past the bodywork.

What tires are in that picture?

In that photo they are Kumho V710's. Currently I'm running Goodyear Eagle RS D.O.T., which have an even wider section width in the same 275/40R17 size.

On the street I run 235's on EVO8 enkei's, although someday I'd like to replace them with the previously mentioned 17x9 +35 255/40R17 combo.

 

[greengoblin]

I really think a 17x9 +35 with 255 is the best setup for a car that see a lot of street use.

 

[turbosax2]

I think I've about decided on the 17x9 +35 with 255's. And if I win the lottery, then I can get some dedicated track wheels. And I also think I've decided on Hankook R-S3's. Now time to pick out some nice wheels I can afford.

I appreciate the input guys!

 

[eclipsegsx1736]

And I also think I've decided on Hankook R-S3's.

These are currently the best ≥140UTQG tire on the market. Unfortunately, they're backordered in this size, badly. I've had a set in this size on order for a few months now. Last I heard on a due date is the beginning of June.. I'm running a set of Federal 595 RSR until then, which, for the price, are generally accepted to be the next best thing with the same UTQG rating.

 

[turbosax2]

Not a problem. I'm sure they'll be back in stock by the time I buy wheels.

 

[jtmcinder]

I know I'm late to the party, but are you planning to run these tires in the rain? If so, then StarSpecs are better than R-S3s. Yes, the R-S3 is better when it's dry (and they're a lot better when it's dry and hot), but as soon as it rains, the StarSpecs start winning. Plus, they're in stock.