TIRE WHEEL ADVICE NEEDED

DAZ · Apr 11, 2007

I have been looking for Wheel/Tire packages on EBay for my 2000 GT Convertible.
Seems like a lot of packages are using 275/40/17and 315/35/17.
Has any body with this type of combination ever had any problem with clearance or portions of tire sticking out from the fender well?
Do tires this size rob horsepower?
Do tires this size use up gas?
Your opinions are appreciated!!!

squares98 · Apr 11, 2007

They rob hp and use up more gas(all caused by increased rolling resistance), They wont make your car handle better either, but they will look god.

BennyBlown2v · Apr 11, 2007

squares98 said:
They rob hp and use up more gas(all caused by increased rolling resistance), They wont make your car handle better either, but they will look god.

Totally untrue! More contact patch = more traction! More tire on the ground in a turn is a good thing.

squares98 · Apr 11, 2007

At your power levels, yes you will handle better. At his power levels, it will be hurting his performance.

BennyBlown2v · Apr 11, 2007

squares98 said:
At your power levels, yes you will handle better. At his power levels, it will be hurting his performance.

Again, that's not true. Increasing contact patch along with effectively increasing track width (wider wheels) will drastically alter the handling characteristics of the car. Because the tires are wider there will be less sidewall flex and roll over at comparable profile when using a narrower tire. Handling doesn't change when you add more power...the power just makes it more exciting Having a tire which allows you to push past the limit of the car at current power levels is better than running a narrow wheel/tire, period.

It's not like we are talking about going to 315's all around or something anyway, the handling effects felt will be positive if anything, NOT negative.

DAZ: you should be fine with those sizes. AFS wheels makes great packages, search for AFS in ebay!

DAZ · Apr 11, 2007

BennyBlown2v said:
Again, that's not true. Increasing contact patch along with effectively increasing track width (wider wheels) will drastically alter the handling characteristics of the car. Because the tires are wider there will be less sidewall flex and roll over at comparable profile when using a narrower tire. Handling doesn't change when you add more power...the power just makes it more exciting Having a tire which allows you to push past the limit of the car at current power levels is better than running a narrow wheel/tire, period.

It's not like we are talking about going to 315's all around or something anyway, the handling effects felt will be positive if anything, NOT negative.

DAZ: you should be fine with those sizes. AFS wheels makes great packages, search for AFS in ebay!

I was a bit concerned about the size and weight of the larger tires. I drive the car mainly in city traffic. My only mods are a CAI and throttlebody and upper plenum.
Very rarely get caught going over the speed limit.
Will the larger tires hurt when making sharp turns in and out of side streets and parking lots.
My typical trip is under 6 miles. My highway trips can go for hours on the weekends.
Only planned upgrades will probably be new heads and intake, but that is a year or so down the road.

twogts4us · Apr 11, 2007

DAZ said:
I have been looking for Wheel/Tire packages on EBay for my 2000 GT Convertible.
Seems like a lot of packages are using 275/40/17and 315/35/17.
Has any body with this type of combination ever had any problem with clearance or portions of tire sticking out from the fender well?
Do tires this size rob horsepower?
Do tires this size use up gas?
Your opinions are appreciated!!!

DAZ, please see my contribution to this thread (along with pics and wheel specs) --> http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=694927
If the offset and backspacing are correct, you'll have no issue. My only issue was the fact that I have the Cobra brake upgrd kit up front, which caused interference with the spoke of the rims. I had to add MM 1/2 hubcentric spacers (along with ARP studs), but now I'm rolling. Adding the 1/2 spacers did, obviously, push the wheels out a bit...but even up close, it's hardly noticable.

DAZ · Apr 11, 2007

Here is the link to the tire/wheel package I am considering (hope this is ok to post). I calculated the following:
245/45 = 9.65" Section Width and 4.34" wall height
275/40 = 10.82" Section Width and 4.33" wall height
315/35 = 12.40" Section Width and 4.34" wall height

So the real difference between the stock 245/45 and the 275/40 is 1.17"
The difference between the stock 245/45 and the 315/35 is 2.75"

DAZ · Apr 11, 2007

twogts4us said:
DAZ, please see my contribution to this thread (along with pics and wheel specs) --> http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=694927
If the offset and backspacing are correct, you'll have no issue. My only issue was the fact that I have the Cobra brake upgrd kit up front, which caused interference with the spoke of the rims. I had to add MM 1/2 hubcentric spacers (along with ARP studs), but now I'm rolling. Adding the 1/2 spacers did, obviously, push the wheels out a bit...but even up close, it's hardly noticable.

Thanks for the link. From everything I have heard so far, not really to many negatives to larger tire, unless I get a flat!

twogts4us · Apr 11, 2007

DAZ said:
Here is the link to the tire/wheel package I am considering (hope this is ok to post). I calculated the following:
245/45 = 9.65" Section Width and 4.34" wall height
275/40 = 10.82" Section Width and 4.33" wall height
315/35 = 12.40" Section Width and 4.34" wall height

So the real difference between the stock 245/45 and the 275/40 is 1.17"
The difference between the stock 245/45 and the 315/35 is 2.75"

Sounds about right. Know that different manufacturers sell different size tires (even if they are listed as the same size as their competitor) - for example, Nitto DRs are known to run smaller than other brands of the same size.
But your real challenge is to ensure the offset and backspacing of the wheels is made to fit your car. Fortunately, these days, most manufacturers have done the homework for you. Take for example my American Racing TT IIs I referenced in the other thread. American Racing lists these rims (in those specific sizes, offsets, backspacings) for the SN-95 Mustang...so I knew they'd fit. And they do (sans the brake issue I already talked about). Otherwise, they line up nicely with the outside edge of the fender, and cause no issue with the inner fenders or exhaust (even though I have a larger, aftermarket setup).

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