Tires / alignment questions

[upnorth479]

I have a 99 cobra convert, I have purchased a set of 2004 cobra wheels and tires (wider wheels and larger tires) when I installed them on the car I have always felt the steering was a little odd, ran three summers on the tires, it never changed.

Now that its time to purchase new tires do I replace the 275/40/17 or install a set of 245/40/17's that were original? And if I install the 2004 size tires do I need to re-align the wheels (are they different specs). any advice will be helpful.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

You could use 245's but I suggest you do not. I had 255's on a 9" wheel once, and they were stretched. The wheel lip stuck out so far, it looked awful and when I would park against curbs, I rubbed the right front wheel so many times. Now that I have the 275's back on there the lips are protected and if I rub a curb, nothing gets rashed up.

If your steering felt funny, it may be because the tires were worn unevenly..(if you bought them used)...or it could just simply be that wider wheels and tires do grab the road and pull your car all over the place.

 

[upnorth479]

alighnment

The tires had 11000 miles on them when I purchased the (4) of them mounted on the wheels ($800.00 good buy). I always thought that it was the way they had been worn in on the 2003 cobra, they fit fine on the 1999 no rubbing problems.

My other thought was that Ford had a different alighnment on the 2003/2004 cars to accomadate the larger tires. So far I am unable to determine that.

 

[mikepol2]

I have a 99 Cobra and the stock wheels / tires were 245/45-17's. I put on some 245/40-18's on the front and 275/35-18's on the back, 18 x 9 wheels x 26mm offset, same width as the stock 04 Cobras. The front wheels are the same diameter and width as my 99 stock tires, but for some reason they rub when I'm backing up with the wheel fully turned. The steering feels funny in mine too. Had it aligned a couple times but it feels like it pulls hard to one side for a while, then hard to the other side...but if you've had 275's on your car and they didn't rub, maybe there's something wrong with mine. The other poster is right about 245's on 9 inch wheels, they do look a little narrow.