I'm trying to pin down an optimum tire size for street use on the fronts for a set of 17x9 CCW 3-piece track wheels I purchased. The lip on the front stands proud about 1/2" to 5/8" with a 235 Hoosier track tire (straight sidewall). I'm looking for a little curb insurance and a 255-40 is the recommended street tire size for a 9" wheel. If anyone is running larger or smaller than 255-40 on the fronts I would really appreciate your comments on the fitment. The rears will be 275-40 with plenty of extra tire over the 10" rim. I did a driving fitment test with 235-40 (F) and 275-40 (R) with no issues, the offsets are perfect, I'm just looking for a little sidewall cushion to prevent snagging the rims in front.

Thanks,
Steve

 

I have 18" CCW's and run 245 in front (9") and 275's in the rear (10"). 255's will work fine but they tend to be close to the limit. I've seen 265's in the front but they would rub on the a-arm under lock to lock turns but that could be an offset issue (simmons wheels). I wouldn't sweat putting 55's on the front but I think it would be tight with a CCW and 65's.

 

Thanks Jeremy...the only tire I've found in a 265-40 is a Kumho 712 and I'm not going down that road again. I hope the 255 for the fronts is the ticket. Do your 245's have any sidewall left past the edge of the rim? Are your 18's 35, 40, or 45 series, I'll work the numbers from there. The street tires I've researched seem to vary so much as far as tread width compared to section width I am getting a bit confused. Sorry for all the questions but you are running the same rims, different diameter but same offset/backspace I assume; John at CCW knows his stuff and doesn't take his P-car designs lightly. In short, the 255 fits well but does it protect the rim?

 

I have 40's in the front and 35's in the rear. My tire height is about .75" taller then a stock tire height (I couldn't find a 275/30/18 or 245/35/18 in a matching set). Since I have 18's, our profile application will be different. My 245's set almost even with the outside of the rim. My 275's are somewhat inset. When a tire is too wide for a rim and hangs over the edge you tend to lose some effectiveness of the full contact patch and suffer increased tire roll and see a reduction in handling. A 255 will fit your car (unless your suspension is weak) nicely. Anything wider with the 9" CCW's will be pushing the limit I believe.

The spacing on the CCW's is about as perfect for the 951 as any other wheel I've ever seen. I just wish I had centercaps..........

 

Thanks for the info on 245's. I think on a 17" the 255-40's might be the optimum size. I swear, if I ran 35's on our local highways and streets I would be on 'flat patrol' until the the tires wore out. The 83 with OEM 215-60-15 is so much fun to drive, never get's squirrely...it reminds me of the cars I grew up with, only the 944 has brakes!...Power was never a problem on the cars I owned; stopping was kinda of overrated on my first cars.

Again,
Thanks for the help.

 

2Tight, I'm running 245/40/R17's in the front and 265/40R17's in the rear. With a 5mm spacer in front.

 

Mike,
Are these track or street tires? If they are street, does the sidewall project past the edge of your rim at all? What tire did you find in 265-40?

 

Steve,

Before you decide between 245 or 255, go to a decent tire shop that has both sizes and have them mount each size on your wheel and take a look, they dont need to be balanced to do that and the tire shop shouldn't charge you if you buy tires there.....

Bill

 

I'd like to Bill but I'm probably ordering the tires and having them shipped to a local shop. I'm probably making too big of a deal of this sidewall issue but my wife has never met a curb she didn't like! If I can find a shop with the Fuzions in both 245/255 sizes in stock it would be a good way compare them. Thanks for the info.

 

Whether there is bead protection is a function of the tyre design itself, not of the tire width...look for tires that have a bead protector and you will be fine.

 

No, the 45's do not project past the rim, but as I do nearly zero parrallel parking, I dont care. I'm running S03's.

 

Thanks Mike-That's just what I needed to know. I'll try the 255's to start out and hope they don't add too much oversteer...coming from the 215-40's the PO had on 7.5" 993 Cup wheels...it will be a definite improvement I'm sure.

Steve