meangreen

Howdy,

I want to run the following tire sizes on my new wheels. The wheels are 7x17 front and 9x17 rear. Would the following tires be a good combo?

Front 205/45/17
Rear 255/40/17

Just a weekend driver and no track racing. Stock everything on the 86 model 944 Turbo.

Thanks to everyone on the list, i cant wait to read the new stuff each night...

MeanGreen

brad-cam

I'm running that exact combo, except with 205/50-17 fronts. I'd recommend 225's on the front if you have the choice, but the 205's are working just fine for me so far.

KuHL 951

I had 215-40/17 on the front 255-40 rear. I agree with Brad, go to a 225 with those big rears. My car was always a bit iffy at the limit in the front and responded slower to steering corrections than my current 275-40(R) 255-40(F) set-up. Just my feeliings, no technical backup.

Serge944

My main concern with 205s up front is braking, not handling.

I would occasionally lock up fronts during aggressive driving and didn't feel very comfortable in emergency situations. With 225s up front, this is no longer an issue.

225 front and 255 rear is what I recommend.

black944 turbo

I am running 225s and 255s great setup. You deffinetely don't want that big of a difference in stagger with the 205.

meangreen

Thanks!

I'll be using those numbers to narrow my search.


Drive On,
MeanGreen

brad-cam

Steve, that is a one big-a$$ tire combo you are running !! No rubbing on those 255's ?

KuHL 951

Haven't rubbed yet and you know how I drive. John at CCW knows his correct offsets for the 944. He adjusts every width wheel. I left the stock spacer from the old Cups for spring clearance and no spacer in the rear. I could decrease the front spacer by another 1/4" but I'd need new wheel studs so I'll keep this set-up for awhile. The Fuzions run a bit narrower in tread width than most other tires in the same size, I'm sure that helps. Are you up for a short loop run around Berryessa this weekend? Let me know, this 80 degree weather has my right foot itching.

Steve

Matt H

225/45R17 and 255/40R17

The 205/45R17 is much too short (will look goofy as hell). If you want to know what it looks like find a lowered Civic, very popular with that crowd. Aside from looks you can say understeer like a ****.

255/40R17 is the proper rear size for the 9" latet model wheels. The 225 is a little big for the front wheel but if you arent on track it will be fine.
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clubracer6

I have 205's on the front and the 255/40'son the rear. I think the 205's were way to small so I just replaced them with 245/40/17's which Lindsey had run with no problems. I can't stand understeer and agree that braking can be an issue with 205's.

Matt H

245 on a 7" rim is FAR too wide and is beyond any manufacturers approved width for a 7" wheel. If Lindsey is recommending this setup they are doing a disservice to their customers and putting them at risk of tire failure. Let the tuners recommend their product and the tire manufacturers make their recommendations. I can ASSURE you that tire manufacturers do a hell of a lot more testing than Lindsey or any tuner. One tire manufacturer probably spends as much in a month on testing as the sum of ALL Porsche tuners spend in their business life cycle.
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special tool

So Matt, am I to understand that you think 245 is too big for 7 inch wheel?

Matt H

I dont think, I KNOW it is.

The 245/40R17 is approved for use on wheels from 8-9.5" in width. Can it be mounted? It sure can. Aside from the fact that it is not an ideal setup due to the sidewall flex it can easily have the bead broken in a 2 wheels off situation. I dont know about you but I dont want to have a

Laugh all you want but I am the one with the 20 odd volumes of tire data sitting in front of me. Shockingly, there is a lot of data and testing done on tires and a slew of books published on it by the numberous tire related industries.

Hey, it is your car and your ***, if you want to do something unsafe go to it. I suppose you could drive the car with a stuck caliper, no brake lights, and bald tires too. Just because you CAN do it doesnt make it right.
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DivineE

I'm definately not about to join the argument! But Matt whilst you have access to the information I don't suppose you know firstly what the width of the 17" cup 2 style front alloys is and secondly what is the safe maximum width? I'm going to change my tyres in the near future they are currently 215/45/17 but I would like to go wider if poss?

Cheers,

Ben

special tool

Matt - yes, I know they are too big, man.