wheel sizes
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
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wheel sizes
OK, I may have messed this up, but I thought I posted this already this morning, and now cannot find it. So, forgive me if this is a second time or in the wrong place.
Simply put, can I put 9.5 width wheels on the front of my 96 coupe, which now has the stock 8.5 width wheels on it. And if I do so, will stretch the tires out too far and make it look like the tires are not wide enough. The tires are 255/45. Again, thanks for help... kip
Simply put, can I put 9.5 width wheels on the front of my 96 coupe, which now has the stock 8.5 width wheels on it. And if I do so, will stretch the tires out too far and make it look like the tires are not wide enough. The tires are 255/45. Again, thanks for help... kip
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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OK, I may have messed this up, but I thought I posted this already this morning, and now cannot find it. So, forgive me if this is a second time or in the wrong place.
Simply put, can I put 9.5 width wheels on the front of my 96 coupe, which now has the stock 8.5 width wheels on it. And if I do so, will stretch the tires out too far and make it look like the tires are not wide enough. The tires are 255/45. Again, thanks for help... kip
Simply put, can I put 9.5 width wheels on the front of my 96 coupe, which now has the stock 8.5 width wheels on it. And if I do so, will stretch the tires out too far and make it look like the tires are not wide enough. The tires are 255/45. Again, thanks for help... kip
I say NOT but others maybe have done it and have a different opinion. ***See that one slipped in while I was "thinkin" and says yes BUT when he says he has 255's I believe he may have left out the 16" wheel that he's got and the 50 mm profile on that 16" wheel.
Some manufacturers I believe might list 8 - 9.5 for that size but everyone's "suggested" is I believe 8.5. I guess the actual branding might influence a "satisfaction factor" - mount one up!
***
Last edited by WVZR-1; Jan 30, 2014 at 01:24 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 767
Likes: 7
From: So.Florida, by way of Brooklyn
OK, I may have messed this up, but I thought I posted this already this morning, and now cannot find it. So, forgive me if this is a second time or in the wrong place.
Simply put, can I put 9.5 width wheels on the front of my 96 coupe, which now has the stock 8.5 width wheels on it. And if I do so, will stretch the tires out too far and make it look like the tires are not wide enough. The tires are 255/45. Again, thanks for help... kip
Simply put, can I put 9.5 width wheels on the front of my 96 coupe, which now has the stock 8.5 width wheels on it. And if I do so, will stretch the tires out too far and make it look like the tires are not wide enough. The tires are 255/45. Again, thanks for help... kip
{as back in '91 the newly refined body style C4's came standard with 9.5 width front rims}.
You don't mention what rims you're thinking on, stock or aftermarket, so check your backspacing compared to the stockers 56mm offset.
Lastly, according to the Nitto site, Tires of the 255/45 x 17 sizing, will fit 8.0-9.5" width rims.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
I tried it when I went to my ZR-1 replicas.
Did not like that look at all, as the tire bead (where it meets the rim) was wider than the tread width of the tire.
So, I purchased 275/40-17 tires for the new wheels.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
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From: South Dakota
It looks like most of the manufacturer recommendations for rim widths for a 255/45/17 tire go from about 8" to 9.5". So that tire is at its limit with that size wheel.
I think that how it looks is somewhat dependent on which brand and model of tire. I had some Firestone SZ50 tires that were almost an inch narrower tread than a Sumitomo HTRZ of the same size.
I tried to find a picture from nearly the back to show how it looks. Below is a picture of a 255/45/17 Sumitomo HTRZ on a 17"x9.5" C5 Z06 wheel (the front ones on the car). (The rears are 285/40/18 on 18"x10.5" C5Z06 rear wheels.) The tread on the front is pretty close to the same width as the wheel.
To me I think it is OK, but each to their own opinion. I think the Firestones I had in the same size would look to small.
I think that how it looks is somewhat dependent on which brand and model of tire. I had some Firestone SZ50 tires that were almost an inch narrower tread than a Sumitomo HTRZ of the same size.
I tried to find a picture from nearly the back to show how it looks. Below is a picture of a 255/45/17 Sumitomo HTRZ on a 17"x9.5" C5 Z06 wheel (the front ones on the car). (The rears are 285/40/18 on 18"x10.5" C5Z06 rear wheels.) The tread on the front is pretty close to the same width as the wheel.
To me I think it is OK, but each to their own opinion. I think the Firestones I had in the same size would look to small.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,768
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From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
It has been shown many times that two tires of the same listed size, might not actually be the same size in width.
The picture you posted does look like a good fit.
In my case, I was using Firestone tires and that same size (255/45-17) did not look right on the wider rim.
I never took any pictures of them though, as I switched them out the next day.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 536
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From: bel air md
It looks like most of the manufacturer recommendations for rim widths for a 255/45/17 tire go from about 8" to 9.5". So that tire is at its limit with that size wheel.
I think that how it looks is somewhat dependent on which brand and model of tire. I had some Firestone SZ50 tires that were almost an inch narrower tread than a Sumitomo HTRZ of the same size.
I tried to find a picture from nearly the back to show how it looks. Below is a picture of a 255/45/17 Sumitomo HTRZ on a 17"x9.5" C5 Z06 wheel (the front ones on the car). (The rears are 285/40/18 on 18"x10.5" C5Z06 rear wheels.) The tread on the front is pretty close to the same width as the wheel.
To me I think it is OK, but each to their own opinion. I think the Firestones I had in the same size would look to small.
I think that how it looks is somewhat dependent on which brand and model of tire. I had some Firestone SZ50 tires that were almost an inch narrower tread than a Sumitomo HTRZ of the same size.
I tried to find a picture from nearly the back to show how it looks. Below is a picture of a 255/45/17 Sumitomo HTRZ on a 17"x9.5" C5 Z06 wheel (the front ones on the car). (The rears are 285/40/18 on 18"x10.5" C5Z06 rear wheels.) The tread on the front is pretty close to the same width as the wheel.
To me I think it is OK, but each to their own opinion. I think the Firestones I had in the same size would look to small.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
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From: South Dakota