17s in front 18s rear?

[daveb91]

Any buddy got pics of a T/A with 17s in the front 18's in the rear? What size tires would look good also?

[mrr23]

not a TA, but the wife's formula just got factory C5 silver wheels. 17 x 8.5" and 18 x 9.5" with 255/45-17 and 285/35-18 nitto nt555 tires. had to some minor clearancing so the rear tires didn't rub the inner fenderwell.

http://www.stealthram.com/familypics/formula/wheels/silverc5.jpg

[1 badblack transam 01]

not a TA, but the wife's formula just got factory C5 silver wheels. 17 x 8.5" and 18 x 9.5" with 255/45-17 and 285/35-18 nitto nt555 tires. had to some minor clearancing so the rear tires didn't rub the inner fenderwell.

http://www.stealthram.com/familypics/formula/wheels/silverc5.jpg

Sweet ride, but imo it would look better with same width tires in the front thats in the back. Does it ride good like that? JW

[mrr23]

while i like to have the same tire all the way around, the issue comes when you have two different size and width wheels. remember, the C5 corvettes came this way. the tires on the C5 are 245/45-17 (25.7" tall) and 275/40-18 (26.6" tall) many of your high end import italian/german cars do this as well. it's a balance of oversteer/understeer as a result of tire widths and heights.

in the case of what i did with the wife's car is both, the 17" and 18" tires, are 26" tall. this keeps the ABS system happy as it's programmed to recognize the front/rear to be turning at the same speeds.

as far as widths are concerned, i could have put a 275/40-17 tire on the front wheel. but, it would pull the tread area over because the rim is only 8.5" wide. in my many years of tire and wheels selling, i learned that so long as the TREAD width doesn't surpass the rim width, you don't have ride/vibration concerns.

to answer your question, the car handles very well. i've never had 18" wheels before. the rear was very stiff and secure in the corners. the front was smooth in the turns. ride isn't rough, but you feel the road imperfections more. typical with small sidewall tires.

i've had 275/40-17 on my black car for a year now. and i've ran on v rated or better for quite a while now. so, i know what to expect out of a tire.

[jhoward7285]

I also have the c5 wheels, but I have the Eibach sportline springs. I had to do some coaxing to the inner fenders to get them to not rub while driving and they still rub slightly under hard cornering so here in the future I am going to switch to the pro springs. Here it is;

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/4/web/2356000-2356999/2356658_9_full.jpg

You can see more at http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2356658/2 if you want.

[daveb91]

thanks guys would a different offset help with the same width wheels?

[jhoward7285]

thanks guys would a different offset help with the same width wheels?

Yeah it would bring them out a little bit farther, just dont get the sportline springs then because your tires might actually hit the inside of the fender right above the tire.

[daveb91]

I meant move them in so they wont hit the inner fender. Is there enough room away from the suspension to move most 17 and 18 wheels in so they wont hit?

[jhoward7285]

I meant move them in so they wont hit the inner fender. Is there enough room away from the suspension to move most 17 and 18 wheels in so they wont hit?

If you move them in farther they will rub worse. They do not hit the actuall inner fender, they hit the very back of the wheel well.

[mrr23]

I meant move them in so they wont hit the inner fender. Is there enough room away from the suspension to move most 17 and 18 wheels in so they wont hit?


you can buy the appropriate offset wheels so they do not hit anywhere. my american racing 17 x 9.5 wheels with 315/35-17 tires never hit anywhere.

[daveb91]

Thanks anyway of knowing what offset will fit for a certain size and width of wheel or is this something a good wheel and tire shop should know?

[WS.SICK]

black ta's with black rims are sickness

[NHRAMAN]

black ta's with black rims are sickness

Mean Machines ..........:giveup: