Wheel problem
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6,359
Likes: 163
From: Concord NC
The problem is they most certainly don't have them in the 8.5". Many people who sell the repros only keep the 19x10,19x12 & 18x9.5. That way they reduce their inventory by 25%. At least that's what the vendor I used told me. He was able to get me the 8.5's. But it took about a month.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 914
Likes: 2
From: Newnan Georgia
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 25
From: Austin Texas
A 275/35/18 is perfect for the 9.5" wheel. Very close to the original diameter and works with the 285/35/19 rear well.
Will work for HPDE time.
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 7
From: Orlando FL
Racer, vendor did nothing wrong, my question to him was "will they fit" the OEM tire and he said yes, no problem, but "forgot" to mention that it won't look right. Of course not, the wheel is protruding 1/2" inside and outside of the tire being a 18x9.5 instead of 18.8.5
I need some suggestions on a new tire size. Thanks
I need some suggestions on a new tire size. Thanks
Run a 255 or 265 tire if you're not comfortable. I run 265s on my 18x9.5 fronts.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 844
Likes: 21
From: W. Covina CA
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 25
From: Austin Texas
Have to remember that the tire companies AND the wheel companies want to sell their products, they don't care if you get a correct fit, they just want you to buy from them. If the companies stated that their tire or wheel only fit one specific size they would lose sales.
GM has enough buying power that when they order an 8.5 inch wheel for a 245/40/18 tire and a 9.5 inch wheel for the 275/35/18 tire you can be reasonably sure the wheel and tire fit correctly.
GM has enough buying power that when they order an 8.5 inch wheel for a 245/40/18 tire and a 9.5 inch wheel for the 275/35/18 tire you can be reasonably sure the wheel and tire fit correctly.
_Sloth Whisperer_
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,369
Likes: 9
From: Malaysia Air Flight 370
Rarely do I speak this frankly, but you need to stop posting, period. You have no idea what you're talking about.
There is not ONE tire size for every ONE rim size. Tire sizes increase by 10MM increments. The smallest incremental increase you will find in wheel width is in .5" widths. That is more than 10MM (it's roughly 16MM). Your blatantly incorrect logic suggests that every single other tire manufactured is "in between" the correct .5" wheel width increments.
Do you comprehend what I'm saying? Please stop proliferating false information.
There is not ONE tire size for every ONE rim size. Tire sizes increase by 10MM increments. The smallest incremental increase you will find in wheel width is in .5" widths. That is more than 10MM (it's roughly 16MM). Your blatantly incorrect logic suggests that every single other tire manufactured is "in between" the correct .5" wheel width increments.
Do you comprehend what I'm saying? Please stop proliferating false information.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 25
From: Austin Texas
Rarely do I speak this frankly, but you need to stop posting, period. You have no idea what you're talking about.
There is not ONE tire size for every ONE rim size. Tire sizes increase by 10MM increments. The smallest incremental increase you will find in wheel width is in .5" widths. That is more than 10MM (it's roughly 16MM). Your blatantly incorrect logic suggests that every single other tire manufactured is "in between" the correct .5" wheel width increments.
Do you comprehend what I'm saying? Please stop proliferating false information.
There is not ONE tire size for every ONE rim size. Tire sizes increase by 10MM increments. The smallest incremental increase you will find in wheel width is in .5" widths. That is more than 10MM (it's roughly 16MM). Your blatantly incorrect logic suggests that every single other tire manufactured is "in between" the correct .5" wheel width increments.
Do you comprehend what I'm saying? Please stop proliferating false information.
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_Sloth Whisperer_
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,369
Likes: 9
From: Malaysia Air Flight 370
What in the sam hell are you talking about? Nothing you just said makes any sense whatsoever. 
Has anyone ever taught you how to read a tire's sidewall, or what the measurements mean?
Has anyone ever taught you how to read a tire's sidewall, or what the measurements mean?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 25
From: Austin Texas
Under "Notes"
"Specifications are as accurate as possible based on the information provided to us by the tire manufacturers. The dimensions reflect average values for tires MEASURED ON THE SPECIFIED MEASURING RIM WIDTH."
For those of you with English as a second language that means if you have a different rim width you will have a different sidewall measured value. Common sense tells you that if you change the rim width that the sidewall measurment will change. Look at extremes, if a sidewall measures 245mm on an 8.5" rim it will measure less if it's on a 1.0" rim and will measure more if it's on a 16" rim.
You have to realize that the sidewall measurement isn't the tread width measurement, it's the measurement of the sidewall width at it's widest point. Narrower rim equals narrower sidewall, wider rim equals wider sidewall.
