45 Series or 55 series tires

otis · Oct 30, 2008

I am looking at replacing my tires with Goodyear Eagle Gt all seasons, and I am wondering if I should stick with the stock 17 235-55 series height, or if changing to a 45 series tire (245-45) will look better in the wheel openings? I do find our stock wheels skinny and tall however our openings are so big (compared to the sn95s) that I am worried if I change to a 45 series tire while maintaining my stock 17 inch rims the car will look funny. I would love to upgrade to 18 inch wheels in the future but the funds just aren't available right now and I do need tires. Any suggestions or comments?

gmantheman · Oct 31, 2008

I made the mistake of getting 245/45/17. I think there is too much wheel gap. Are going to use these tires just for the winter or all season? If all season, I think there are other tires that would be better than the Goodyear. BFG KDWS is one that comes to mind.

08blueskunk · Oct 31, 2008

235/55= HEIGHT OF 129MM
245/45= HEIGHT OF 110MM (THIS IS ABOUT AN 3/4 OF AN INCH DIFFERENCE THAN STOCK)
OR...TRY THIS...
255/45= HEIGHT OF 114MM (THIS IS JUST OVER 1/2 INCH THAN STOCK)

I AM THINKING ABOUT DOING THE 255/45 BUT I HAVE 18"S. THE ROUSH CARS HAVE THIS PATTERN SO THATS WHAT I AM GOING BY...

YOU WILL HAVE ALOT OF WHEEL GAP.
jUST FOR PERSPECTIVE MY 97 COBRA HAD STOCK 245/45/17 BUT THEY LOOKED GOOD BECAUSE THAT GENERATION HAD SMALLER WHEEL OPENINGS.

ski · Nov 1, 2008

Did you consider 255/50-17 tires? They have approx. the same OD as the stock 235/55-17's, but have a wider section and tread widths.

otis · Nov 1, 2008

I have considered going to that size but a 255/50 is getting pretty wide for an 8 inch wide rim; is it not? If the wheels were 17x9 I would do it for sure. I see that Dunlop makes an SP5000 in a 245/50. What would height be like on those?

As for BFG KDWS I had those on my SN95 for a short period of time and did not like them one bit.

ski · Nov 1, 2008

I've never seen a 255/50 tire on a 8" rim, so I can't say for sure. Suggested it according to recommendations by others.
A 245/50 tire would have an approx. 122.5 mm height (245mm x .50), or approx. 1/4" difference than the stock tires.

Frank S · Nov 1, 2008

I'd go to TireRack.com and check the Specs on tires you are interested in. They list the diameter, revolutions per mile, section and tread width, appropriate wheel rim widths for each tire they sell. And they sell a lot of tires.

As far as appearance and filling your wheel wells, the only things that make any significant difference are lowering springs and larger diameter tires. If you have higher numerical differential gears, you may use larger diameter tires and not influence speedometer readings so much. Of course that is adjustable with a tuner.

My choice, if I were to start over again, would be to get some lighter-weight wheels in an 18x9.5 size and put the 275-45 or -50 tires on them. Wide, low, good rim-to-tire relationship, and rotate-able.

I look at the 17x8/235-55 tires on my convertible, and they look just fine. Not as good as the 19x9/10 with 275-35. The 18x8.5 with 245-45s look good, too, but not as good as the 19s.

gmantheman · Nov 1, 2008

I had 255/50/17s on my stock 17" rims. The only problem is that size is hard to find.

ski · Nov 2, 2008

I wouldn't say that 255/50-17's are hard to find. They're out there(TireRack, etc.). It's just that there are not that many available from the different manufacturers.

gmantheman · Nov 2, 2008

Usually you have to order 255/50/17s. If you stick with a 17" wheels, 255/50/17 IMO are the best size.

08blueskunk · Nov 3, 2008

ski said:
Did you consider 255/50-17 tires? They have approx. the same OD as the stock 235/55-17's, but have a wider section and tread widths.

at this point all your doing is paying extra $$$ for less than an inch in width, it won't be a very noticable difference...You migth as well stay stock than pay the each $10-15/tire, that is if you find that size to begin with...

ski · Nov 3, 2008

08blueskunk said:
at this point all your doing is paying extra $$$ for less than an inch in width, it won't be a very noticable difference...You migth as well stay stock than pay the each $10-15/tire, that is if you find that size to begin with...

I never said I was either using or even considering using 255/50-17's. I simply suggested them to the OP as a viable alternative to the stock 235/55-17's. Please read post #6 in this thread.

08blueskunk · Nov 5, 2008

ski said:
I never said I was either using or even considering using 255/50-17's. I simply suggested them to the OP as a viable alternative to the stock 235/55-17's. Please read post #6 in this thread.

i understand and i was simply adding another point, good nor bad it was just an opinion, i was not acussing you of anything, I was only trying to point out the fact that, that size size will cost more than teh stock size and you gain basically nothing by paying the extra money.

ski · Nov 5, 2008

08blueskunk said:
i understand and i was simply adding another point, good nor bad it was just an opinion, i was not acussing you of anything, I was only trying to point out the fact that, that size size will cost more than teh stock size and you gain basically nothing by paying the extra money.

We're good. Point taken.

otis · Nov 5, 2008

Thanks for all of the comments. I have decided to stick with the stock size of tires until I (possibly) change to larger wheels in the future.

08blueskunk · Nov 6, 2008

otis said:
Thanks for all of the comments. I have decided to stick with the stock size of tires until I (possibly) change to larger wheels in the future.

+1
bigger is always better lol

45 Series or 55 series tires

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