Wheels and Tires.

[ThePumpkin]

I have a ton of questions, BUT, I will just start with one.
When I bought my car, it came with the "Classic Cobra" or "Torq-Thrust" wheels. It also came with the stock wheels.
The tire size on the cobra wheels is 235/50R17.
I know its a 17 inch rim by that number, But I cant tell how wide the rim is.
Whats the width (in inches) of that rim?
The problem is:
Im buying 17x10.5 deep dish rims for the rear, the best fitment for those rims is 315/35ZR17.
I CANNOT find any tire with that profile for my front tires. I cant find 235/35R17...
It is possible that I have 17x8 inch rims, but the best fitment for those is 245 wide.

Basically I need to know is how wide (in inches) are the rims for 235/50R17.
Thanks.

_ThePumpkin

 

[95BlueStallion]

I would guess 8 inches. A 235mm width would be stretched pretty tight on a 9 inch wheel.

 

[ThePumpkin]

Would there be that big of a variety of tire widths for a 8 inch wheel?
235 fits... and I know 245 fits...
Is that possible?

 

[Killercanary]

Which cobra wheels are they? If they are the stock 94-95 wheels they are 8" wide. If they are '95 Cobra R wheels they are 9" wide. The stock width size for the stock cobra's was 255, but most swap to a 245-45-17 tire as they are more readily available than the 255's.

 

[ThePumpkin]

Check out the picture.
Shelby Torq-thrust II wheels.
Some call it "Classic cobra"

 

[ProKiller]

easiest way is to take a ruler or tape measure and just measure it rather than all this speculation. just measure the inner rim width

 

[blksn955.o]

What pic?

The sig??? its a little small to really make out.

I have TTII's and they are not sold from what I have found in the "normal" or common 17x9 or 17x10.5. They are 17x9.5 or 17x11. I have the 17x9.5 in front and 17x11 in rear.

Tire sizes are really only comparable within a given brand. Nitto, BFG, Falken, Firestone will all be a little different in the same "listed" size.

 

[Tom95gt]

He's got bigger pics in the sticky... I think they're just factory 17x8's

 

[MORDENENOUGH]

I have the 94-98 Cobra wheels and they are 17x8 and came with 245 wide tires. I was wondering if anybody here is running a 275 wide tire on these rims. I want to run a set of Nitto DR's on the stock rims in this width. I know that it is not recommended but I think it works.

 

[blksn955.o]

Those are bullitt rims either polished or chrome. IIRC the American Racing name is Torq Thrust M if bought from ARE as they are the bullitt style found on mustangs.

They are diff. from the Torq. Thrust II's as the TTII's spokes are thicker, have more of an arch, will not clear 13in brakes in 17in form without a spacer (those on the bullitt will), the hub/center cap area is totally different. The outer part of the rim is a tad different as well.

 

[ThePumpkin]

Im almost positive they're 17x8.
and they have 235/50R17 tires.
But, The 315s im putting on back require a 35mm profile.
I cant find 235/35-17 tires....
Will a 245mm fit a 8inch wide tire?

 

[blksn955.o]

Buddy of mine put 275 nitto's on his 17x8 gt rims...had a bulge just a tad. I would not go larger than that on an 8in rim. I would look for a tire in the 255-275 range.

 

[ThePumpkin]

Holy crap.
I didn't know you could stretch a tire that wide. haha.
Thanks.
That was the post I needed.

the 17x10.5 im putting on the rear are pretty fat.
Also, you said you had 275 on yours. Is that on the rear only? 275 will fit that rim size too. Whats the benefit from having a 275 or 315?
Will 315 look overly wide?

 

[turbogt]

Holy crap.
I didn't know you could stretch a tire that wide. haha.
Thanks.
That was the post I needed.

the 17x10.5 im putting on the rear are pretty fat.
Also, you said you had 275 on yours. Is that on the rear only? 275 will fit that rim size too. Whats the benefit from having a 275 or 315?
Will 315 look overly wide?

I don't think you are understanding what the "35" means. It does not mean the sidewalls are 35mm tall.. It means the sidewill height is 35W% of the width..

You will want to run the 315/35/17 in the rear.. to match it in the front, you are looking at a 245/45/17....


A 245/35/17 would look like a rubber band wrapped around your rim

 

[ThePumpkin]

I know what it means... Its the profile. The wall height...
BUT, I didnt know it was a percentage of the width. Thanks for the update.
I just dont want my tires to look too big. I see some cars on here have wheels that stick out too far. I AM thinking of adding a one inch spacer though.... I guess we'll see how the wheels look first without it.
Also, Lowering....
Should I go for lower in front?
As in, 2" lowering springs in front, and 1.5" in back???
Any suggestions on lowering?

 

[Venom351R]

that amount of drop on the front/rear is pretty common

 

[blksn955.o]

Buddy of mine had 275's on the stock 17x8 gt rims.

I have 275/40/17's in front on a 17x9.5 rim and 315/35/17 in rear on a 17x11 rim.

 

[ThePumpkin]

Ok, and as for lowering....
If I get the springs, will I be set? Or do I need to get coilovers (not sure what to call it?? struts?)
too, or are the lowering springs all I need?

 

[inphiniti]

just springs...

 

[ThePumpkin]

Thanks, as you can tell, this is not where I shine.
But, I know a decent amount about engine/transmission, so dont think too bad of me.

Thanks.