275-50-17 rear tires, any advantage?
09-22-2018, 12:17 PM
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
275-50-17 rear tires, any advantage?
I purchased 4, ET, Team III 17" X 8" with 4" BS wheels for my 73 build.
They are new and still in the boxes.
I was planning to run 255-50-17 tires on all four corners.
I am thinking about going to 17" X 9" with 5" BS wheels for the rear and running 275-50-17 tires on the rear.
I have Van Steel 2" offset trailing arms ready to go on the car so clearance would not be an issue.
Is there any real performance advantage going to a slightly wider tire, besides the coolness factor of the looks of the wider tire?
I don't want to go any wider on the rear as tires start to only come is a 40 or 45 aspect ratio which is lower profile than I want to run.
I still like the taller 15" tires and wheels look but need to go 17" for caliper and rotor clearances.
Greg
They are new and still in the boxes.
I was planning to run 255-50-17 tires on all four corners.
I am thinking about going to 17" X 9" with 5" BS wheels for the rear and running 275-50-17 tires on the rear.
I have Van Steel 2" offset trailing arms ready to go on the car so clearance would not be an issue.
Is there any real performance advantage going to a slightly wider tire, besides the coolness factor of the looks of the wider tire?
I don't want to go any wider on the rear as tires start to only come is a 40 or 45 aspect ratio which is lower profile than I want to run.
I still like the taller 15" tires and wheels look but need to go 17" for caliper and rotor clearances.
Greg
Last edited by OldCarBum; 09-22-2018 at 12:22 PM.
09-22-2018, 01:34 PM
#2
I purchased 4, ET, Team III 17" X 8" with 4" BS wheels for my 73 build.
They are new and still in the boxes.
I was planning to run 255-50-17 tires on all four corners.
I am thinking about going to 17" X 9" with 5" BS wheels for the rear and running 275-50-17 tires on the rear.
I have Van Steel 2" offset trailing arms ready to go on the car so clearance would not be an issue.
Is there any real performance advantage going to a slightly wider tire, besides the coolness factor of the looks of the wider tire?
I don't want to go any wider on the rear as tires start to only come is a 40 or 45 aspect ratio which is lower profile than I want to run.
I still like the taller 15" tires and wheels look but need to go 17" for caliper and rotor clearances.
Greg
They are new and still in the boxes.
I was planning to run 255-50-17 tires on all four corners.
I am thinking about going to 17" X 9" with 5" BS wheels for the rear and running 275-50-17 tires on the rear.
I have Van Steel 2" offset trailing arms ready to go on the car so clearance would not be an issue.
Is there any real performance advantage going to a slightly wider tire, besides the coolness factor of the looks of the wider tire?
I don't want to go any wider on the rear as tires start to only come is a 40 or 45 aspect ratio which is lower profile than I want to run.
I still like the taller 15" tires and wheels look but need to go 17" for caliper and rotor clearances.
Greg
If you want the tires to get the most mileage because you drive the car enough, all square (same front & back) lets you do a proper rotation. If the drive very little its about looks only.
If you want wider here is my LTIII wheels 18x9.5" 4.75" BS All around.
Last edited by cagotzmann; 09-22-2018 at 01:38 PM.
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09-22-2018, 06:14 PM
#3
Team Owner
It is sad to see 17 inch tires choices going away. But who actually makes a 275/50/17? I looked on tire rack. I used to use 285/40/17 on 11 inch rear wheels many moons ago. I used to drive around to all the national parks. in the west.
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OldCarBum (09-24-2018)
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OldCarBum (09-24-2018)
09-23-2018, 08:16 AM
#7
Team Owner
The advantages of 275/50 tires are that it will give you lots of ground clearance on the rear. They are coming up on 28 inches in diameter. Bigger diameter has a larger contact patch for the width
our vettes were originally sold with @27 diameter
our vettes were originally sold with @27 diameter
09-23-2018, 11:56 AM
#8
Race Director
Thread Starter
The Nitto 275-50-17's are 27.8" diameter and 11.18" wide.
The Nitto 255-50-17's are 27.08" diameter and 10.43" wide.
Just wondering if 3/4" width and diameter would make any realistic difference?
I would have to purchase new rear wheels 9" wide and would go with a 5" backspace to keep the outside appearence of the front and rear wheels identical.
The Nitto 255-50-17's are 27.08" diameter and 10.43" wide.
Just wondering if 3/4" width and diameter would make any realistic difference?
I would have to purchase new rear wheels 9" wide and would go with a 5" backspace to keep the outside appearence of the front and rear wheels identical.
Last edited by OldCarBum; 09-24-2018 at 10:33 AM.
09-23-2018, 02:27 PM
#9
Team Owner
The Nitto 275-50-17's are 27.8" diameter and 11.18" wide.
The Nitto 255-50-17's are 27.8" diameter and 10.43" wide.
Just wondering if 3/4" width and diameter would make any realistic difference?
I would have to purchase new rear wheels 9" wide and would go with a 5" backspace to keep the outside appearence of the front and rear wheels identical.
The Nitto 255-50-17's are 27.8" diameter and 10.43" wide.
Just wondering if 3/4" width and diameter would make any realistic difference?
I would have to purchase new rear wheels 9" wide and would go with a 5" backspace to keep the outside appearence of the front and rear wheels identical.
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OldCarBum (09-24-2018)
09-23-2018, 02:53 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Nov 2003
Location: Maryland
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St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
The Nitto 275-50-17's are 27.8" diameter and 11.18" wide.
The Nitto 255-50-17's are 27.8" diameter and 10.43" wide.
Just wondering if 3/4" width and diameter would make any realistic difference?
I would have to purchase new rear wheels 9" wide and would go with a 5" backspace to keep the outside appearence of the front and rear wheels identical.
The Nitto 255-50-17's are 27.8" diameter and 10.43" wide.
Just wondering if 3/4" width and diameter would make any realistic difference?
I would have to purchase new rear wheels 9" wide and would go with a 5" backspace to keep the outside appearence of the front and rear wheels identical.
Front 17X8 4" BS 255/50 Nitto 450 27.1 diameter
Rear 17X9 5" BS 275/50 Nitto 450 27.8 diameter
But.....As Gkull says 17" tire selection is dwindling.
Tom
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OldCarBum (09-24-2018)
09-24-2018, 10:39 AM
#11
Race Director
Thread Starter
I'm one of those guys that would still run 15"s if I could and will stick with 17"s even though I realize there are advantages to 18"s.
09-24-2018, 05:24 PM
#12
Melting Slicks
Might want to check out something like this. The compound is what will make the tire stick more than just the size alone. I went from 295 50 15 street tires that I could haze from 45 mph to 295 55 15 MT drag radials that will dead hook. Basically the same tire size, but the R2 compound is very soft, and sticky.
I also like the old school 15 inch look, but if I do go to a bigger set of wheels one day, I might consider these tires.
M&H Tires
I also like the old school 15 inch look, but if I do go to a bigger set of wheels one day, I might consider these tires.
M&H Tires
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OldCarBum (09-25-2018)
09-24-2018, 10:05 PM
#13
Drifting
Member Since: Aug 2015
Location: NSW, Australia
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C3 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
I've been considering the 275/50R17s for my next set of street tyres, given I'm now running 18"s on the track. I have 285/40R17 Continentals on the car now, and the 275/50R17s that are available won't be as good in performance, but would sit the car a bit taller (useful for street use as my car is quite low) and I love the look of the tall sidewall. Really for your use you're not getting a better tyre than in 255/50R17, but you do get a bit more tyre. The car will sit just under half an inch higher off the ground, the wheel wells will be filled out a bit more both in circumference and width, the gearing will be slightly different (slightly lower Rpm at highway speed and slightly decreased acceleration) but I expect none of these changes will be significant. I expect that it will move around on the taller tyre a bit more in corners. But I really think the biggest change will probably be aesthetics compared to running an equivalent 255/50R17 tyre.
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OldCarBum (09-25-2018)
09-25-2018, 01:12 AM
#14
Team Owner
There is a lot of difference in what you NEED versus what you WANT. If you NEED 17" or 18" tires, go for it. If you don't, you have other choices.
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OldCarBum (09-25-2018)
09-25-2018, 07:24 AM
#15
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
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I am staying with 15’s and paying the price to run the Avon CR6ZZ’s. Have never read any negatives on them other than shorter life than the usual 15 inch crap available today. I just prefer the look of 15’s. Will be ordering my Avon’s this week.
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OldCarBum (09-25-2018)
09-25-2018, 08:08 AM
#16
Melting Slicks
When you get the Avons on the car be sure to post a pic. I might consider a set of 275 55's myself for the next set. The size looks to be perfect,....price,....not so much.
Last edited by The Money Pit; 09-25-2018 at 08:09 AM.
09-25-2018, 08:57 AM
#17
Team Owner
Might want to check out something like this. The compound is what will make the tire stick more than just the size alone. I went from 295 50 15 street tires that I could haze from 45 mph to 295 55 15 MT drag radials that will dead hook. Basically the same tire size, but the R2 compound is very soft, and sticky.
I also like the old school 15 inch look, but if I do go to a bigger set of wheels one day, I might consider these tires.
M&H Tires
I also like the old school 15 inch look, but if I do go to a bigger set of wheels one day, I might consider these tires.
M&H Tires
09-25-2018, 11:37 AM
#18
Melting Slicks
You should look up Avons for comparison...………………..
