Need Input on Front Tire Diameter.

Wi Stang · May 30, 2007

Hey people. I should have had a set of 17" 03 Cobra wheels in the near future, and I am going to order up some tires so that when the rims get here, they are ready to go.
The rims are 17X10.5 for the rear and 17X9 for the front.
I am going to go with the 315/35/17 Nitto 555R for the back tires which have an overall diameter of 25.79".
For the fronts I want to go with the regular 555 tire in the 255 width. They make a 255/45/17 that has an overall diameter of 25.95". Or they make a 255/40/17 that has an overall diameter of 25.08".

Which of the sizes for the fronts should I go with? Or should I try to find a different tire that will match diameters better?
I am just worried about getting the tires on the car, and being able to tell that the fronts look too tall or too short.

Thanks for any input!

BlackVert · May 30, 2007

i plan on going with 255/45/17s in the front when i get my 17x9 and 17x10.5s. i need that extra .25" clearance for speed bumps

1TallMF · May 30, 2007

I was going throught this dilema last year when I bought tires for my old wheels. I ended-up going with 255/45 because they are a bit taller and therefore fill-out the wheel well a little bit more and the slightly higher sidewall have more "give" to them which can make the ride a little smoother, and lastly every little extra bit of ground clearance I can get I will take. You might also find sometimes that these two sizes vary in price. When I bought the 255/45's, the 255/40's were $20 more per tire
You might also want to compare those prices to a 275/40 (exact same height as a 315/35). They look awsome on the front

fiveoho · May 30, 2007

fwiw:

i have 17x9 bullitts and went with sumitomo htz tires. a 275/40 rear and a 255/45 front. the 275s have a diameter of 25.7" and the 255/45s have a 26" diameter. i have the eibach sportlines with es isolators and upr cc plates. my car sits about level, maybe just a hair toward the back. i think next time i will go with a 275/40 rear and a 255/40 front. the sumitomo 255/40s have a 25" diameter. i think that would give it the slight nose-down look but im just afraid it would look rubber - bandy on the front

kck6894 · May 30, 2007

I run 285/40 in the rear on a 17x10.5 and 255/45 on the front on 17x9's. They match well and look nice.

rio95 · Jun 4, 2007

Get 275/40 and call it a day. Looks better. Handles better. Same diameter. Just pulls a little more.

The Green GT · Jun 4, 2007

I have 255/40 up front and 315/35 out back. I love it. I would go wider, but I would rub.

rio95 · Jun 6, 2007

The Green GT said:
I have 255/40 up front and 315/35 out back. I love it. I would go wider, but I would rub.

Just for reference, mine don't rub and my car is a little lower than average with H&R supersports.

The Green GT · Jun 6, 2007

rio95 said:
Just for reference, mine don't rub and my car is a little lower than average with H&R supersports.

I have H&R race springs. My wheels already rub on the inside of the rim. But thats because my k-member came slightly offset from the factory.

Wi Stang · Jun 6, 2007

Well I have been mulling it over for quite a while, and still haven't pulled the trigger yet.
I did put one of my 17X9 Cobra wheels on the front of my car, and after checking clearances, I don't think I would be able to fit a 275/40 without some spacers behind it. The rim is pretty close to my coilovers, and if the tire sticks out from the side of the rim very much at all, it is going to rub.

rio95 · Jun 7, 2007

Whatever you do, do not put a spacer on. That would look horrible.

Can't you borrow a wheel from someone to try??

my 275's don't rub one bit with supersports.

Wi Stang · Jun 7, 2007

Actually now that you mention it, I should head over to the local tire shop. They have a huge bin of old tires that are shot.
I know I could get one of those for free to slap on there and see how much clearance I am actually going to have.

Need Input on Front Tire Diameter.

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