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17" Tire question

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Old Dec 31, 2012 | 09:05 PM
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Default 17" Tire question

I recently purchased new 17 inch Coys 8 inch wide for the front and 9 inch wide for the rear. My question is if I purchase 255-45-17 all around, will the rear tires have a shorter sidewall because of the extra width of the rim? My thoughts are to go with a 255-50-17 for the rear, but that doesn't leave me many tire choices. Any thought??
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Old Dec 31, 2012 | 09:50 PM
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no
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Old Dec 31, 2012 | 10:02 PM
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Originally Posted by malicatasr
I recently purchased new 17 inch Coys 8 inch wide for the front and 9 inch wide for the rear. My question is if I purchase 255-45-17 all around, will the rear tires have a shorter sidewall because of the extra width of the rim? My thoughts are to go with a 255-50-17 for the rear, but that doesn't leave me many tire choices. Any thought??
Why did you buy 8" and 9" wheels, if you were going to run the same size tires? You can run a 245 on the front and 255 on the rear or 255 front and 275 on the rear.
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Old Dec 31, 2012 | 10:22 PM
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definitely go 255 front and 275 rear
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Old Dec 31, 2012 | 11:04 PM
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I wanted a little more tire under the backside. I agree with the 255 in the front, will I have issues with the 275 in the rear with stock trailing arms? I also want to fill out the rear wheel well a little bit.
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Old Jan 1, 2013 | 12:50 AM
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When the C4 Corvette was introduced for a while there were cars with 16x8.5 front wheels and 16x9.5 rear wheels and they used 255/50-16s front and rear. So if GM equipped C4s from the factory with the same size tire front and rear with an inch wider wheel in the rear I don't see why you couldn't do it. With that said what is the backspace on the 17x8s and the 17x9s? Just keep in mind if you go with different size front and rear tires a 255/45 is taller (slightly) than a 275/40 so for the front and rear tire to have the same overall diameter you need to drop the front down to 245/45. As a side note since the front and rear wheel widths are not the same you will not be able to rotate the tires anyway therefore you may just as well use different size front and rear tires. Choose the tire sizes that best fill the wheel wells depending on the wheel backspace. Don't forget you need to check the inside wheel clearence (parking brake cable, rear spring, rear sway bar) as well as the outside fender lip clearence. Good luck with what ever you choose.
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Old Jan 1, 2013 | 01:22 PM
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3JsVette If I put more than 3k on the odometer per year thats alot. I'm not worrided about rotating too much. If I remember thr rears are 4.75 offset and the front is 4.5. I already have the new mounts for the parking brake cable and plan on doing some welding soon.

I was thinging of going with 255-45-17 in the front and 255-50-17 in the rear. But It looks like you can only get nitto and Kuhmo tires in these sizes. I have never had any experience with these brands and was just putting the question about sidewall height and rim width out there.

So If I'm reading the posts these and others right 255 on and 8 in rim will have the same stance (sidewall) as a 9 in rim?

Thanks to all & Happy New Year
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