Wheel size question

**aeroengineer** · 11-04-2007, 04:26 AM

I am getting ready to pull the trigger on some black ZR-1s for my car and I have a question. Can I run 245's up front on a 17 x 9.5 wheel? In other words, is that tire size wide enough for a 9.5" wheel width or do I need to get a narrower wheel?

Also, is anyone running 245/45/17 up front with 275/40/17 in that back. After reading the tire sticky I guess I can't run a 45 aspect ratio on front and back with different tire widths, or the overall diameter will be different?

Thanks for the input.

**blk_jaws** · 11-05-2007, 01:12 PM

I have 245/45 front and 255/40 out back

**Eugenio_SS** · 11-05-2007, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by aeroengineer

I am getting ready to pull the trigger on some black ZR-1s for my car and I have a question. Can I run 245's up front on a 17 x 9.5 wheel? In other words, is that tire size wide enough for a 9.5" wheel width or do I need to get a narrower wheel?

Also, is anyone running 245/45/17 up front with 275/40/17 in that back. After reading the tire sticky I guess I can't run a 45 aspect ratio on front and back with different tire widths, or the overall diameter will be different?

Thanks for the input.

I would run 275/40-17 allround... better looking + handling.
245/45-17 will look too skinny.
Note that both these sizes have the same OD... so that's not an issue, though...
The sizes do fit the wheel, though.

**Hot Black Trans-Am** · 11-05-2007, 11:32 PM

If your not going to run super skinny tires on drag lights then go with the 275's up front or all around.

**dlbrando** · 11-06-2007, 03:36 AM

how wide a tire can you go on the stock 10 spoke 17" wheels.

**Mike's TA** · 11-06-2007, 09:32 AM

I thought all stock wheels were 5 spoke?

**dlbrando** · 11-06-2007, 10:07 AM

SS had 10 spokes for 01 and 02 I think, I know I have the stock wheels and they are 10 spokes. I am painting them gloss black and it looks like I will be putting some 275's on there unless I can fit a wider tire in the back

**aeroengineer** · 11-07-2007, 05:25 PM

If you think the 275s don't look too fat in the front then that's what I will do; run'em all they way around. I was primarily concerned about steering drift and wet weather drivability due to the width ofth 275s.

Thanks all for the input.

**Mr. Luos** · 11-07-2007, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by dlbrando

how wide a tire can you go on the stock 10 spoke 17" wheels.

275/40/17 will give you the best contact patch.

You can fit wider tires, but they will 'bow' creating a smaller contact patch.

**Eugenio_SS** · 11-10-2007, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by dlbrando

how wide a tire can you go on the stock 10 spoke 17" wheels.

275/40-17.... shouldn't go any wider.
If you want wider, get wider wheels.
I love wide, but do it right and safe.

**keithskye** · 02-07-2011, 04:21 PM

My 02 SS came stock with 275s all around. I've been driving on 275/40/17 sized Falken FK452 tires all the way around for the last 15,000 miles, all of it hard driving, and they handle great in wet or dry (warm weather)! When I wore out the last set of tires a few months ago, I decided to go with the biggest meats I could fit on the stock rear wheel. I always felt I could get just a little bit better performance with a slightly bigger tire on the rear wheels. Discount Tire said I could go as high as a 315, so I went with Nitto 555 tires for the rear (315/35/17) and put on a fresh set of the same Falkens on the front. I wish Falken made a tire bigger than a 275 for 17" wheels, but they don't. I have to get the Nittos heated up for them to stick like the Falkens did, and until they are heated up, you have to go easy on the throttle, especially in corners. Haven't had a chance to drive them in wet conditions, so don't know if the Nittos are any good that way, but I suspect they would be slippery. Based on how the car handles now, I would say that the 315s are a tad too big, except maybe for straight-line drags (after they are heated up).

I'm planning to pull off the 315s and go down to 285s for the rear, unless I can find a good 305 or even a 295 that will fit the 17" wheel. I definitely think I overdid it by going with the 315s, especially on the stock wheel. Looks really cool, though, I have to admit! Before I do pull those tires off, I'm moving my battery to the rear, and doing some things to lighten the front end in order to get the front-to-rear weight distribution a bit better, and then see how it handles. If you want to see what the tires look like on the back of my car, you can see a photo of them here: http://pulse.yahoo.com/_DO3MPHVLGGRT...68745/fullview

This picture shows me driving my car home from Discount Tire with the new Nitto 315s on the rear, and the Falken 275s on the front.