Tire size questions -- Diameter not width....
Thread Starter
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
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St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Tire size questions -- Diameter not width....
I am running 17" wheels and tires on my C3.
Currently I am running 255/45/17's on 17x8.5 wheels on the front and 285/40/17's on 17x 9.5's on the rear.
The problem with going to 17's is they don't fill the wheel well as nicely as the big side-walled 15's did.
I found some 255/50/17's for the front which should work nicely, but the rear tires are the problem.
I can get 275/55/17's which would be 1 centimeter narrower and would increase the side wall from 4.5 to 6 inches and diameter would go from 26" to 29". That should fill the wheel well I would guess.
The only other option is a 285/60/17 that would give me 6.7" sidewall and a 30.5" diameter ( I think that is too big)
A 255/60/15 measures in with a 6" sidewall and a 27" diameter. The old tires I had were 235/70/15's with a 6.5" sidewall and 28" diameter.
Seeing those I am afraid that a tire with 29 or 30.5 diameter would be freakish looking.
What the tallest tire that you think would work on a C3? What tire / wheel size are the guys with 17" wheels running? How wide of wheel did you get and how tall is the tire?
Currently I am running 255/45/17's on 17x8.5 wheels on the front and 285/40/17's on 17x 9.5's on the rear.
The problem with going to 17's is they don't fill the wheel well as nicely as the big side-walled 15's did.
I found some 255/50/17's for the front which should work nicely, but the rear tires are the problem.
I can get 275/55/17's which would be 1 centimeter narrower and would increase the side wall from 4.5 to 6 inches and diameter would go from 26" to 29". That should fill the wheel well I would guess.
The only other option is a 285/60/17 that would give me 6.7" sidewall and a 30.5" diameter ( I think that is too big)
A 255/60/15 measures in with a 6" sidewall and a 27" diameter. The old tires I had were 235/70/15's with a 6.5" sidewall and 28" diameter.
Seeing those I am afraid that a tire with 29 or 30.5 diameter would be freakish looking.
What the tallest tire that you think would work on a C3? What tire / wheel size are the guys with 17" wheels running? How wide of wheel did you get and how tall is the tire?
Team Owner
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From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Tire size questions -- Diameter not width.... (BSeery)
I feel the Nitto 275/50/17 tire on my '92 vette rims is a nice match on the rear....17x9.5 with 2.5 inch adaptor....works fine IF you move the ebrake bracket outta the way....just misses the t-arms, and the VBP sway bar....
GENE
GENE
Melting Slicks
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From: Wichita, KS
Re: Tire size questions -- Diameter not width.... (BSeery)
I have B.F. Goodrich 255/50/17's and I think that they look a bit small. They measure 26 1/4 inches in diameter.
My old tires were Goodyear 255/60/15's, they measured 26 3/4 inches in diameter so it may just be an illusion.
My old tires were Goodyear 255/60/15's, they measured 26 3/4 inches in diameter so it may just be an illusion.
Thread Starter
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
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St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Tire size questions -- Diameter not width.... (Metal_Wulf)
you could always lower the car...
Right now the front end is so low I can not clear some speed bumps and most driveways are a nightmare. The car it self is very low, too low. I need to put a larger tire in there so I can raise the car a little bit and fill the wheel wells. If I could get a larger sidewall tire to get more ground clearance then I could lower the body back to same level it is now (or a little higher) to take up the rest of the wheel well gap.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
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St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Tire size questions -- Diameter not width.... (mrvette)
I feel the Nitto 275/50/17 tire on my '92 vette rims is a nice match on the rear....17x9.5 with 2.5 inch adaptor....works fine IF you move the ebrake bracket outta the way....just misses the t-arms, and the VBP sway bar....
GENE
GENE
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From: Allen TX
Re: Tire size questions -- Diameter not width.... (BSeery)
First off a 255/45 is a hair (and I mean a hair) taller than a 285/40...at least that's what the math says.
Secondly, some of these 17" tire sizes you're throwing out... have you checked to make sure they actually exist in a performance radial? I have never seen a 275/55 or a 285/60. That is a very tall tire for a typical 17" application (primarily late model cars).
I run 245/45 up front and 285/40s in the rear. My car is lowered, and that's what I would suggest, assuming you have decent ground clearance with your oil pan and/or exhaust.
Secondly, some of these 17" tire sizes you're throwing out... have you checked to make sure they actually exist in a performance radial? I have never seen a 275/55 or a 285/60. That is a very tall tire for a typical 17" application (primarily late model cars).
I run 245/45 up front and 285/40s in the rear. My car is lowered, and that's what I would suggest, assuming you have decent ground clearance with your oil pan and/or exhaust.
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Allen TX
Re: Tire size questions -- Diameter not width.... (mrvette)
He mentioned a 275/55 or a 285/60. Those were the sizes I specifically referred to.
I agree regarding the Nitto 275/50. Plenty of others in that size are speed rated for high performance driving as well.
BSeery, I was typing my first post as you were replying to several others. Sorry. I realize you can't lower the car any, so my advice is not much help at all on this one. :(
I agree regarding the Nitto 275/50. Plenty of others in that size are speed rated for high performance driving as well.
BSeery, I was typing my first post as you were replying to several others. Sorry. I realize you can't lower the car any, so my advice is not much help at all on this one. :(
Thread Starter
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
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St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Tire size questions -- Diameter not width.... (WA 2 FST)
Secondly, some of these 17" tire sizes you're throwing out... have you checked to make sure they actually exist in a performance radial? I have never seen a 275/55 or a 285/60. That is a very tall tire for a typical 17" application (primarily late model cars).
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
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From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Tire size questions -- Diameter not width.... (BSeery)
Secondly, some of these 17" tire sizes you're throwing out... have you checked to make sure they actually exist in a performance radial? I have never seen a 275/55 or a 285/60. That is a very tall tire for a typical 17" application (primarily late model cars).
Yeah, they exist. They are either H or V rated tires made by Kumho and marketed toward SUV owners. They are still a speed rated tire, but made for all those idiots putting big wheels and little tires on SUV's.
Yeah, they exist. They are either H or V rated tires made by Kumho and marketed toward SUV owners. They are still a speed rated tire, but made for all those idiots putting big wheels and little tires on SUV's.
Gee, man, that means I can drive my vette like an SUV then, right???
GENE
Drifting
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From: Germantown Maryland
Re: Tire size questions -- Diameter not width.... (BSeery)
By "work" do you fit in the well? I would consider the rear end gear ratio an important factor in how tall my tire is... Unless you have a 6 spd.... I run a 26" with 3.36 rear and 4spd. Looks a little small in the well.
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From: Westfield Indiana
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Re: Tire size questions -- Diameter not width.... (1979toy)
I have B.F. Goodrich 255/50/17's and I think that they look a bit small. They measure 26 1/4 inches in diameter.
My old tires were Goodyear 255/60/15's, they measured 26 3/4 inches in diameter so it may just be an illusion.
My old tires were Goodyear 255/60/15's, they measured 26 3/4 inches in diameter so it may just be an illusion.
What wheels do you have on the car? Do you have any pictures you could send me? I'm planning on going with 16 or 17" wheels in the near future but I STILL haven't seen any wheels of that size on a 78 or 79. Send me an IM and I'll give you my e-mail address if you can't get the pics posted on here.
Thanks
Thread Starter
Team Owner
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
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St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Tire size questions -- Diameter not width.... (Captain Morgan)
ttt for any more input ....
Le Mans Master
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From: End of the Ike IL
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Re: Tire size questions -- Diameter not width.... (BSeery)
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 29,745
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Tire size questions -- Diameter not width.... (BlueL36)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Boulder Creek California
Re: Tire size questions -- Diameter not width.... (BSeery)
and as if we needed a third one... this page has several interesting utilities.
http://smokemup.com/auto_math/tire_diameter.php
-Chris
http://smokemup.com/auto_math/tire_diameter.php
-Chris
