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Tire decision

  • Thread starter Thread starter rawilson1
  • Start date Start date Jan 27, 2019
R

rawilson1

Member
Jan 27, 2019
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1
13
Mebane, NC
Jan 27, 2019
#1
  • Jan 27, 2019
  • #1
Ok so i need assistance making a decision. I currently have drag lites with 275/60/15 on rear and skinnys up front. I have decided to go to 17" cobra style wheels which i just picked up. I am looking at either going 245/45/17 all the way around or to stagger with 245/45/17 front and 275/40/17 rears. I need advise, pros, cons. My goal is to handle with no strip action. best ride and handling. 92 fox with 393 stroker, full sbr tubelars, full frame runners, torque box upgrade, coilover fronts.
Thanks

Also I am not asking if you think I should stay as is, I am making the change I just want advise on the questions.
 

Wayne Waldrep

Before I post a pic, do you have one of yours?
20+ Year Stangneter
Apr 14, 2003
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Jan 28, 2019
#2
  • Jan 28, 2019
  • #2
rawilson1 said:
Ok so i need assistance making a decision. I currently have drag lites with 275/60/15 on rear and skinnys up front. I have decided to go to 17" cobra style wheels which i just picked up. I am looking at either going 245/45/17 all the way around or to stagger with 245/45/17 front and 275/40/17 rears. I need advise, pros, cons. My goal is to handle with no strip action. best ride and handling. 92 fox with 393 stroker, full sbr tubelars, full frame runners, torque box upgrade, coilover fronts.
Thanks

Also I am not asking if you think I should stay as is, I am making the change I just want advise on the questions.
Click to expand...

Ok, I'll give it a shot. I've always run directional tires that were good for handling with no concern for ride quality. Those tires have always been rough riding even though they are supposed to be a soft tire. A few years ago I was looking at the new body style mustang and noticed most of them have tires in the category "Ultra High Performance All Season." My buddy owns a luxury type car dealership and I can look at multiple manufactures at once. Lots of the higher end stuff now uses these type tires. So I swapped to this tire. Sumitomo HTR A/S PO2 (W-Speed Rated) https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...RASP02XL&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
Man what a difference in ride. I will never put a dry weather directional tire on my car again. These tires still handle just as good as my former tire choice (Nitto 555) but ride a hundred times better. They are also much better in wet weather. And they last much longer. And they are cheap......see what I'm getting at here. It's a no brainer for me. As far as the staggered sizes goes, I used to run 18x9 rims all the way around with 285/35-18's rear and 255/40-18's front. I had no rubbing issues. I do not run the quad shock since I have MM lower control arms. I also do not rotate my tires. Never have. That's my input. You didn't mention rim width. I'd make sure the width was enough for those rears. The more you squish them in the more they rub sometimes.
 
R

rawilson1

Member
Jan 27, 2019
2
1
13
Mebane, NC
Jan 28, 2019
#3
  • Jan 28, 2019
  • #3
Dude, that is the type of advice I was searching for. very detail with good reason and it is much appreciated. I have 17x9 wheels and wheel probably go staggered but yea greatly appreciated.
 
Reactions: Wayne Waldrep

JD1964

there is enough sticking out to grab on to
15 Year Member
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Jan 28, 2019
#4
  • Jan 28, 2019
  • #4
I run these on my 92 LX and also my 96 LT1 Vette. Love 'em. Good traction!

https://www.cjponyparts.com/nitto-t...A1-AxxZyvvdVFM9bnPDmxCYHnm3ws_TUaAo-EEALw_wcB
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
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Massachusetts
Jan 28, 2019
#5
  • Jan 28, 2019
  • #5
What sort of driving do you anticipate you'll be doing?

Sunny day only?
Summer wet and dry?
4-season?
Below 40 degrees?
 

Dan02gt

mazing how much gas smell came from that tiny hole
20+ Year Stangneter
Mar 2, 2003
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#6
  • Jan 29, 2019
  • #6
John Dirks Jr said:
I run these on my 92 LX and also my 96 LT1 Vette. Love 'em. Good traction!

https://www.cjponyparts.com/nitto-t...A1-AxxZyvvdVFM9bnPDmxCYHnm3ws_TUaAo-EEALw_wcB
Click to expand...

I run these also in a staggered setup. 245x45-17s in the front and a 275x 40-17s in the rear. They are great for warm weather but definitely lose traction when it gets cold, but since I only drive my car in warm weather it doesn't bother me.
 

Steel1

Mustang Master
Aug 18, 2017
1,419
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Connecticut
Jan 29, 2019
#7
  • Jan 29, 2019
  • #7
I run 9" wheels all the way around on my 93GT, just switched from staggered 8.5"/9.5".
Rear- 275/40/17 M/T
Front 235/45/17 Goodyear Eagle sport
I have front coil overs and noticed the front tire was a little too close to the spring for my liking,
used a pair of 3mm spacers to gain a little clearance.
 

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
SN Certified Technician
Sep 5, 2001
6,062
2,667
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Vass, NC
Jan 29, 2019
#8
  • Jan 29, 2019
  • #8
I think a Nitto Drag Radial is a good little tire. I know you said no strip, but hear me out. Nitto 275/40/17s Drag Radial is not what I'd even recommend if you were going to the strip and wanted a street/strip tire. The Nitto does not have the kind of traction that a M/T does. However, Nitto's DR is a significant step up on any street tire, because it has a racier compound. That said, the compound lasts 3-4 times as long as other drag radials. I used to get 10-12k miles on them. It's sidewalls don't sway a bit, and it actually handles well in both dry and wet.

That 393 makes some torque and puts street tires to shame. Get something sticky so that you're still having fun. I'd probably match the tire with a Nitto 555 non-DR up front. I'll bet that Nitto G2 tire linked above is a good tire too, and probably even better around corners.
 
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