285/35ZR-18 too big?

loudog_jon

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Mar 28, 2001

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Florida

May 11, 2004

#1

• May 11, 2004

• #1

i am about to order some nitto 555 285/35ZR-18 tires for my new 18X9.5 wheels, i was curious if this tire was too wide for the front, if i was going to have any clearance problems with rubbing the inner fender?

thanks

 

03-s281

New Member

Jan 20, 2004

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Stangville,TN

May 11, 2004

#2

• May 11, 2004

• #2

loudog_jon said:

i am about to order some nitto 555 285/35ZR-18 tires for my new 18X9.5 wheels, i was curious if this tire was too wide for the front, if i was going to have any clearance problems with rubbing the inner fender?

thanks

Click to expand...

YES. I rub with 255/35/18s on left full lock.

 

jeff1414

New Member

Jun 19, 2003

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Sacramento

May 11, 2004

#3

• May 11, 2004

• #3

Yes to big for the front

 

D

DCBigpimpin

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Jul 9, 2003

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TN

May 11, 2004

#4

• May 11, 2004

• #4

03-s281 said:

YES. I rub with 255/35/18s on left full lock.

Click to expand...

Hey r u on the TN home message board also? I recognize the avatar from another message board. I think I met u and Beech Bend this past Sat.

 

loudog_jon

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Mar 28, 2001

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May 11, 2004

#5

• May 11, 2004

• #5

what is a good size for front tires using 18X9.5 wheels? if stock is 245 and 255's are rubbing, is 245 the widest on the front i can go?

 

xQuickSilverx

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Apr 25, 2004

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Greensboro NC

May 11, 2004

#6

• May 11, 2004

• #6

well I know on the SVT Cobra's they use 275's in the front and on various other mustangs, I would suspect that 275 should fit, without any rubbing issues, maybe use a spacer.

 

SLOW 97

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May 10, 2002

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Arlington Heights,IL

May 11, 2004

#7

• May 11, 2004

• #7

Yep they'll definitely rub. My drag radials used to rub on the fender well and my exhaust and they were only 275's. So i would assume they would rub in the front on your car. But it will depend upon the offset of the wheel you are using. The '03 Cobra wheel looks to have a decent ammount of offset which is why it doesn't rub w/ factory 275's.

 

Firemanz

Only you can prevent Forest Fires!

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Dec 13, 2001

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San Antonio, TX

May 11, 2004

#8

• May 11, 2004

• #8

265/35's front and 295/35's for the rear......

 

P

Phoenix00GT

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Apr 26, 2004

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Bay Area, CA

May 11, 2004

#9

• May 11, 2004

• #9

it depends on the offset of your wheels and how much you've dropped your car.

You shouldn't have any problem with 255s, you might even get away with 275s depending on what wheels you have.

 

DarkHorse02GT

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Feb 12, 2004

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Tuscaloosa/Mobile, AL

May 11, 2004

#10

• May 11, 2004

• #10

my 245's up front dont rub on stock suspension and 18x9 Cobra R's up front... and thewre's plenty of room to go. They dont grab ruts or anything to hard either which can be a problem with big tires up front. Hope you figure it all out

 

loudog_jon

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Mar 28, 2001

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Florida

May 11, 2004

#11

• May 11, 2004

• #11

Firemanz: i didnt think 295's could fit on a 18X9.5

Phoenix00GT: i am putting the 18X9.5 'oo cobra r's on. i've lowered the car with the eibach pro kit

I am wanting to use the widest wheel in the back as possible, and not too far off the back size in the front.

 

Firemanz

Only you can prevent Forest Fires!

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Dec 13, 2001

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May 11, 2004

#12

• May 11, 2004

• #12

loudog_jon said:

Firemanz: i didnt think 295's could fit on a 18X9.5

Click to expand...

Sure they could. Nittos run a little smaller than other brands anyway. But I'm not actually sure they make a 295......

 

03poontanggt

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Feb 23, 2004

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fresno ca

May 11, 2004

#13

• May 11, 2004

• #13

My buddy has that size and he rubs in the front, but it is cool in the rear. I have 245/40zr/18 and I don't rub at all. If your not hell bent on rotating them get the big ones for the rear and the 245/40zr/18 for the front

 

B

Bullitt_#1346

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Apr 13, 2002

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Atlanta

May 12, 2004

#14

• May 12, 2004

• #14

I had 285/35/18 tires on all four wheels for a while with no problems. I think it depends on whether you have lowered your car and how much. I have 275/40/17 tires on there now with no problems.

 

Defleshed

Satanic Mechanic

Nov 30, 2003

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In Torment, In Hell

May 12, 2004

#15

• May 12, 2004

• #15

dont get wheels any bigger than 8.5 for the fronts.

 

DJsZincGT

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#16

• May 12, 2004

• #16

Defleshed said:

dont get wheels any bigger than 8.5 for the fronts.

Click to expand...

What is your basis for this statement? I have Ford Racing 2000 Cobra R's which are 18x9.5 with 275/35/18's on all four corners and I have absolutely no issues with them at all. I also have the Ford Racing "C" springs with no isolators and I still have no issues.

What you have to pay attention to when buying a wheel and tire package is the offset of the wheel and the width and aspect ratio of the tire compared to the stock tires. Your offset will determine how wide you can go with your wheels and tires. The aspect ratio determines the circumference of the tire based on the width of the tire.

So take my 275/35/18's for example:

Width is 275mm
Aspect Ratio is 35% of the width (in other words the sidewall height is 35% of the width in mm)

From this data you can figure your circumference.

275 X 0.35 = 96.25mm
Convert 96.25mm to inches because your wheel size is in inches (18 for this example)
96.25mm = 3.789 in.
Figure your radius from the center of the wheel to the outer edge of the tire
9 + 3.789 = 12.789

Circumference equals 2 X Pi X radius = 2 X Pi X 12.789 = 80.355 in.
Stock circumference is 80.679 in.

Ideal tire size is 275/35/18 because no other tire size will get a circumference this close to the stock circumference.

 

Zinc03GT

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Apr 21, 2004

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Mass

May 12, 2004

#17

• May 12, 2004

• #17

All that math is wonderful, but you're not accounting for the width of the tire when you talk about circumference. Sure, 275/35/18 might fit in the wheel well, but when you turn the wheel it could rub due to width...for instance, a tire (imaginary if needed) sized 315/30/18 would have close to the same circumference as the 275/35/18, but it would rub terribly when turning. Not saying 275s don't work up front, but your equstion is more for tire height than width.

 

E

el_kid_1

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Puerto Rico

May 12, 2004

#18

• May 12, 2004

• #18

Firemanz said:

Sure they could. Nittos run a little smaller than other brands anyway. But I'm not actually sure they make a 295......

Click to expand...

I'm running BFG D/R 295/35/18 on 9" Roush Wheels with no problems....they look bad ass!

 

Firemanz

Only you can prevent Forest Fires!

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Dec 13, 2001

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San Antonio, TX

May 12, 2004

#19

• May 12, 2004

• #19

el_kid_1 said:

I'm running BFG D/R 295/35/18 on 9" Roush Wheels with no problems....they look bad ass!

Click to expand...

Looks good bro. How come they aren't 10" wide rims for the rear?

 

babino

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May 20, 2002

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May 12, 2004

#20

• May 12, 2004

• #20

275's max

I have 275/35/18 up front on 18x9's and they barely rub in reverse with the wheel fully cranked. If I were to do it again I'd go with 265's up front - and that is just to make the front look a little smaller compared to my 295/35's in the rear. It doesn't rub enough for me to be concerned at all. Oh, BTW I'm lowered with Steeda Sport Springs too approx. 1.25" front and 1" rear and they're still settling a little. Good luck.