Time for New Tires!
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 23
Likes: 1
Time for New Tires! Hey guys!! Looking to through new tires on my 1999 30th Anniv WS6. Curious what you guys are running/using and what you're liking. Also, I LOVE the look of the wider tire in the rear, used to seeing my Viper. I won't be changing the rims(30th Anniv), so curious whats the biggest/fattest tires you're getting on the stock rims with no issues?
Any pics you may have would be awesome!
Any pics you may have would be awesome!
Nice pair of rides, and garage!
What do you use the car for? If you have 400+whp you would probably want a drag radial assuming you do not look to use the car in the rain, the Mickey Thompson ET S/S is a very sticky tire. If you are not interested in a drag radial there are many good options, we have had good luck with the Nitto NT05. The widest you can go safely with the OE 9" wide wheels is a 285.
We can get you pricing on either, or others if you wanted.
What do you use the car for? If you have 400+whp you would probably want a drag radial assuming you do not look to use the car in the rain, the Mickey Thompson ET S/S is a very sticky tire. If you are not interested in a drag radial there are many good options, we have had good luck with the Nitto NT05. The widest you can go safely with the OE 9" wide wheels is a 285.
We can get you pricing on either, or others if you wanted.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,631
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Not many options for wider tires on the stock 17x9" wheels. You can fit a 285/40/17 on the back no problem, but that's not a common tire size and would really limit your options. The 285/40 is just slightly taller and wider, so it's hard to see the difference unless you're really looking. I had a 275/285 front/rear combo on my '98 many years ago, and you could just barely tell the difference.
For reasonable price Firehawk Indy 500 275.40 17. Very aggressive looking tread, and work well in the dry and wet. I had them on my SRT8 and really like them. There are better stickier tires, but you will pay for those. Toyo RA1 is still available in a 275/40 17 and are a great all round tire that is actually considered a competition tire that will get you home safe in the rain.
A lot of people run a 315/35/17 Nitto 555R on a 9 or 9.5 inch rim. I wouldn't personally do it, but apparently it seems to work well for some, since the 315 555R runs very narrow
Yep which is why I said I would not personally do it. I just wanted to at least mention it though, as I've seen tons of people run this particular tire on a 9 inch wheel. In fact my buddy's 275 BFG was almost exactly as wide as my old 315 555R. I mean it was so close that it was rediculous lol
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Yep which is why I said I would not personally do it. I just wanted to at least mention it though, as I've seen tons of people run this particular tire on a 9 inch wheel. In fact my buddy's 275 BFG was almost exactly as wide as my old 315 555R. I mean it was so close that it was rediculous lol
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Verdad Gallardo Yeah, I know certain tires are known for being particularly narrow for their size. When I had the 285s on a 9.5" wheel (Goodyear GS-D3s), they looked almost as wide as some of these narrow 315s look even on a 10.5" wheel. The problem is when folks only glance at a post that says "315s will work", but they neglect to take note of the fact that only specific tires run extra narrow.
While some say 315s fit, not one manufacturer will recommend them for the 9 or even 9.5" rim. Engineers do usually know what they are doing. So many think they know better though. 315s go on a 10.5" or an 11" wheel. My 295 R888s bulge on my 10 wide 18s.
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2012
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Just to verify my buddy at the tire shop mounted a mickey thompson street tire 315/35/17 on my factory 9" ws6 rim to see if it would fit under my car and it worked just fine it mounted to the rim just fine and it fit under the car just fine. In fact im considering getting a set of 315/35/17 drag radials for the back of the car in mickeys. And if anyone ever noticed hoosier makes a 315/35/17 that fits a 9" rim
Just to verify my buddy at the tire shop mounted a mickey thompson street tire 315/35/17 on my factory 9" ws6 rim to see if it would fit under my car and it worked just fine it mounted to the rim just fine and it fit under the car just fine. In fact im considering getting a set of 315/35/17 drag radials for the back of the car in mickeys. And if anyone ever noticed hoosier makes a 315/35/17 that fits a 9" rim
I just looked up the MT SS 315/35 17 and it shows 10.5 minimum. The ET Street R 11.5x28 shows a 9" wheel, that is bias ply and 28" tall though. Not a great street tire. This video show my ET Streets and how soft the side wall is. So yes, they can be buldged.
BTW there is link to all this stuff above.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,631
Likes: 2,557
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Can you provide a link to this tire that MT says is ok on a 9" wheel?
I just looked up the MT SS 315/35 17 and it shows 10.5 minimum. The ET Street R 11.5x28 shows a 9" wheel, that is bias ply and 28" tall though. Not a great street tire. This video show my ET Streets and how soft the side wall is. So yes, they can be buldged.
BTW there is link to all this stuff above.
I just looked up the MT SS 315/35 17 and it shows 10.5 minimum. The ET Street R 11.5x28 shows a 9" wheel, that is bias ply and 28" tall though. Not a great street tire. This video show my ET Streets and how soft the side wall is. So yes, they can be buldged.
BTW there is link to all this stuff above.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 23
Likes: 1
Thank you for ALLLLL the great feedback. I don't use the car for the strip or really run it too hard. I have other cars for that. Just looking mainly for a good perf. tire, and would prefer a little wider in the rear for better traction. Sounds like the 285 is as wide as I'd like to go/should go. Thanks @LivernoisMotorsports for the info, I'll check out those Nitto's. the car doesn't see rain or wet streets, so drag radials wouldn't make much difference, as I don't drag it hardly ever.