17" Tire Sizes
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
Would any of you gents be willing to share wheel offset info?
I am considering 17's and 255/50, 275/50 size tires, but need to be sure of clearances,....or pitfalls when running 17's. Plan to use 17x9 with 4 1/2 bs on the front, 17x 9 1/2 with 4 1/2 bs on the rear. Need to be sure before ordering these custom wheels.
I see why most go to 18's for tire size options, but I am old school, and prefer taller sidewall tires.
I am considering 17's and 255/50, 275/50 size tires, but need to be sure of clearances,....or pitfalls when running 17's. Plan to use 17x9 with 4 1/2 bs on the front, 17x 9 1/2 with 4 1/2 bs on the rear. Need to be sure before ordering these custom wheels.
I see why most go to 18's for tire size options, but I am old school, and prefer taller sidewall tires.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
First off, you really need make sure you keep the same wheel center line on any wheels you buy, for instance, I have '89 vette wheels on my '72, and so my car has some mild flares.....but '89 vette wheels are 17/9.5 and so 3/4 inch to inside and outside...
I use 2.5 inch wheel adaptors, from VBP on my car for some 22 years now.....
I run 255/50/17 in front, and they are available Riken Raptor is around.....I had to limit my steering by building out the wheel stops on the lower arms.....
on the rear, I moved the ebrake bracket to behind the rotor, some guys go for up top......at any rate I don't see that 3/4 inch hit anything else, including sway bar.....
The reason for keeping same wheel center line is to prevent loading the suspension, putting extra stresses on rubber/urethane parts.....rear diffy yokes, and ball joints.....
I use 2.5 inch wheel adaptors, from VBP on my car for some 22 years now.....
I run 255/50/17 in front, and they are available Riken Raptor is around.....I had to limit my steering by building out the wheel stops on the lower arms.....
on the rear, I moved the ebrake bracket to behind the rotor, some guys go for up top......at any rate I don't see that 3/4 inch hit anything else, including sway bar.....
The reason for keeping same wheel center line is to prevent loading the suspension, putting extra stresses on rubber/urethane parts.....rear diffy yokes, and ball joints.....
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 477
From: NSW, Australia
C3 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Would any of you gents be willing to share wheel offset info?
I am considering 17's and 255/50, 275/50 size tires, but need to be sure of clearances,....or pitfalls when running 17's. Plan to use 17x9 with 4 1/2 bs on the front, 17x 9 1/2 with 4 1/2 bs on the rear. Need to be sure before ordering these custom wheels.
I see why most go to 18's for tire size options, but I am old school, and prefer taller sidewall tires.
I am considering 17's and 255/50, 275/50 size tires, but need to be sure of clearances,....or pitfalls when running 17's. Plan to use 17x9 with 4 1/2 bs on the front, 17x 9 1/2 with 4 1/2 bs on the rear. Need to be sure before ordering these custom wheels.
I see why most go to 18's for tire size options, but I am old school, and prefer taller sidewall tires.
Last edited by Metalhead140; Aug 13, 2017 at 04:07 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
I'm with you on 17"s vs 18"s. Where are you going to buy a 275/50r17? I haven't been able to find any tyres in that size. My wheels are 17x9.5, 5.05" backspace on all 4 corners. Needed a 3mm spacer on the front as my tie rod ends would touch the rim under heavy cornering, and the tyres do rub the chassis rail at full lock. On the rear I relocated the handbrake cable to the top of the control arms, shortened the main leaf in the rear spring, and rebent the sway bar, and have heaps of clearance now.
Tires.....I did find M&H drag radials for the rear in 275/50-17. They're 28 inch tall, and section of 11 inches. Should all fit under the fenders if my math is right. I now have 295/55-15 MT drag radials on 9 inch Welds,...they stick out a bit though.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 477
From: NSW, Australia
C3 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
So 5 inch BS wheels not so much a bolt on. I was thinking 4 1/2 inch BS anyway. In my case, I was thinking 17x9 on the front, 17x9.5 rear, both with 4 1/2 inch BS.
Tires.....I did find M&H drag radials for the rear in 275/50-17. They're 28 inch tall, and section of 11 inches. Should all fit under the fenders if my math is right. I now have 295/55-15 MT drag radials on 9 inch Welds,...they stick out a bit though.
Tires.....I did find M&H drag radials for the rear in 275/50-17. They're 28 inch tall, and section of 11 inches. Should all fit under the fenders if my math is right. I now have 295/55-15 MT drag radials on 9 inch Welds,...they stick out a bit though.
Ah ok, I'm looking more at performance rubber for handling as well - I run hillclimbs and track days in my car. Let me know if you find anything like that! I suspect the drag radials wouldn't be much good on a track with corners.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
275 is a tad large for the front,....IMO....I do have them in rear....
Nitto is only company making 275/50/17 which I run on the rear....same wheel adapters....
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 477
From: NSW, Australia
C3 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
275/40r17 is what I'm currently considering, or maybe 285/40r17. Measured it up, and I'm expecting it will fit ok, but as above, I have some modifications. Keep in mind that a 275/40r17 is 1.4" smaller in diameter than a standard 255/60r15...
Also, what wheel width do you have? I wouldn't run a 275 on an 8" rim.
Also, what wheel width do you have? I wouldn't run a 275 on an 8" rim.
Last edited by Metalhead140; Mar 23, 2017 at 06:19 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
275/40r17 is what I'm currently considering, or maybe 285/40r17. Measured it up, and I'm expecting it will fit ok, but as above, I have some modifications. Keep in mind that a 275/40r17 is 1.4" smaller in diameter than a standard 255/60r15...
Also, what wheel width do you have? I wouldn't run a 275 on an 8" rim.
Also, what wheel width do you have? I wouldn't run a 275 on an 8" rim.
2.5" VBP wheel adapters.....