Getting conflicting info from OE and Tire rack
#1
Staging Lane
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Getting conflicting info from OE and Tire rack
My new wheels (17x9.5) just arrived and I'm about to order tires. I called OE to see what they recommend and they said the largest I can run is 275/40. I called tire rack and they said I can run all the way up to 295/40. I want to run 275/40 in the front which is a non issue. I want to run a 285/40 in the rear unless I will have rubbing issues or any other problems.
Any advice?
These are the wheels I have now: http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Wheels_3/...T#.VRl1vmdATce
Any advice?
These are the wheels I have now: http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Wheels_3/...T#.VRl1vmdATce
#4
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285/40 is a correct OE size for a 17x9.5" wheel, as this is what the later C4 Corvettes came with stock in the rear (with a 255/45 up front on 17x8.5" wheels). You can certainly use a 275/40 on a 17x9.5" as many of us have done this, and 9.5" is often the wheel width used by manufacturers to publish section width measurements for a 275/40 series tire, but 285/40 was OE fitment on a 9.5" wheel in terms of Corvette at least.
The wheel you have linked above appears to be a 54mm offset, so you will definitely be fine with 275/40 all-around, and will likely be OK with a 275/285 front/rear combo. With a 54mm offset, if you go with one of the "wider" 285s (Goodyear F1 D3 tend to run the widest), you might come close on the rear inner wheel well wall depending on how well centered your rear is. I had no fitment issues at all using 285/40 in the rear with a 46mm offset on a 17x9.5", but there wasn't much clearance and yours will be pushed even further inwards at 54mm.
The wheel you have linked above appears to be a 54mm offset, so you will definitely be fine with 275/40 all-around, and will likely be OK with a 275/285 front/rear combo. With a 54mm offset, if you go with one of the "wider" 285s (Goodyear F1 D3 tend to run the widest), you might come close on the rear inner wheel well wall depending on how well centered your rear is. I had no fitment issues at all using 285/40 in the rear with a 46mm offset on a 17x9.5", but there wasn't much clearance and yours will be pushed even further inwards at 54mm.
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This is quite common to do with older cars as well, I've got a 225/245 setup on my Nova on 7" wide wheels all-around.
You might be able to get away with 285s up front on a 54mm offset, but I tried this with my 17x9.5/46mm offset and had serious rubbing on the bumper cover lip where it meets the wheel well liner when turning the wheel. The car wasn't even driveable like that, I would have had to trim that lip, so instead I just went with a 275 up front.
#7
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just do 275/40's on all 4. I ran 285's in the rear for a year and there was no difference in traction or feel. i have stuck with 275's all around ever since.
just do 275/40's on all 4. I ran 285's in the rear for a year and there was no difference in traction or feel. i have stuck with 275's all around ever since.