Been looking at the American Racing

AR105M TORQ THRUST M / ANTHRACITE W/ MACHINED LIP

• Size: 17 x 9
• Bolt Pattern: 5x120.65
• Offset: 45
• Hub: 72.60

Will this fit my 1993?

 

If you wanted to do 275/40 X 4 I'd think you're fine. 285/40 X 4 many might believe a bit of a stretch

 

The stock '93 wheels have a 56mm offset. These are 45mm offset. That means the center of the tire will sit 11mm outboard of the stock location. That is 0.43". That should be fine, but to be sure, just measure from your stock setup to see where a little under a half inch would put the tire in relation to the fender lip.

I agree with WVZR-1 that 275/40/17 would fit fine on a 9" wheel.

285/40/17 are a little too wide for a 9". They will fit on the wheel but the beads look "pinched in" from the rest of the sidewall and tread. I have put 285's on a 9", and it worked, but it is not a good fit.

Good luck.

 

I don't believe I made an error in stating "the center of the tire will sit 11mm outboard of the stock location". The offset positions the center of the tire that far in or out. In this case 11 mm.

The rim edge position does make a difference based on the width of the rim. If current width is 9.5" then the 9" rim would be 11 mm offset further out minus 0.25" (for half the width increase). If the current rim width is 8.5" then it would be the 11 mm offset further out plus the 0.25" (for half the width increase.)

If you are currently using 255 fronts and plan on continuing 255 fronts then the tire edge would be simply located to match the rim difference. If you are currently using 255 fronts and plan on using 275 fronts then the tire edge would be outboard about 10 mm from the new rim edge position.

If you are currently using 275 fronts and plan on continuing 275 fronts the tire edge would be located the same as the new rim edge position.

 

I saw your 'center of tire' reference much later and of course that's correct but when someone is presenting only a rim question, comparisons of 'rim edges' are most often the references mentioned.

*** and I always compare with maximum width of an appropriate OE. In the case of a '93, 9.5 @56 since no one knows what the OP actually has at fronts and rears. I believe that nearly 'all if not all' manufacturers suggest a 285/40 should do well on a 9.0 wheel. I mentioned many 'might' believe a stretch.

 

I checked some tire sites with some differing results. I looked at Tire Rack that showed only 2 tires (Continental and Pirelli) and they showed for 285/40/17 tires a minimum of 9.5" wheel width. However, I looked at Discount Tire Direct and found 3 tires (Continental Nitto and Pirelli) in 285/40/17 tires that recommend a minimum 9.0" wheel width.

So my conclusion is that 285/40/17 tires on 9" rims is pushing the limit. It may work fine, or it may be a little too narrow a rim. Like I said in my first post, I have put them on 9" rims and they worked, but it is a little "pinched" looking.

 

I agree. For actual questions of fitment, the important issue is where each rim edge is. For this 9" et45 wheel, the outside rim edge will only be about 5mm further outside than the stock 17x9.5 (stock for a Z07/Z51 in 93), but it will be about 17mm further outside than the stock 17x8.5 (which would have come stock on a 93 base C4). Either way, with a 275/40/17 tire they will fit just fine in the fender wells.


IME, Discount Tire's rim width specs are just generic numbers they pull out of their collective ***, whereas Tire Rack seems to actually post what the tire manufacturer recommends. For example, the Continental EC Sport actually has a manufacturer-recommended rim width range of 9.5-11.0". That's the rec to go with, and I would definitely not advise pinching that tire onto a 17x9 without a good reason. That said, one good reason might be that the OP has a perfectly good set of 285s that he wants to mount on the new wheels. Fine. Then just remember when it's time to replace tires, go with 275/40/17 at that time. Pinching tires onto a too-narrow wheel isn't going to kill anyone: it just doesn't handle or wear as well.

 

Thanks for all the input. Now I'm thinking about keeping my current wheels and getting them powder coated.