tire size on 17x9.5 gram lights?

[cyrus240sx]

what size tire should i have on 17x9.5 rims.... im thinking 255, but im not sure...and suggestion on how small / large i can/should go?

[Exar-Kun]

255-40-17 would be an excellent fit...you could run a 275-40-17..but thats a bit high in the sidewall for my linking....and really should have a 10" rim.

I'd stick with the 255-40-17 in a nice sticky tire.

-Chet

[Structure240sx]

i agree with chet. i have a 255/40/17 on a 9 inch wheel and its not bad, doesnt bulge at all. i wouldnt go with a 275 just because the 255's sidewall will flex less.

[PGBrian]

i'm gonna use 215 45 17 as soon as i get them in my hands.

[Structure240sx]

yea that might be a little extreme for this guy, plus being ka-t hes most likely looking for more of a footprint for launching rather than a pizza cutter for drifting

[Projex240]

thats rediculous. In no way would that be functional for anything other than sliding around--and ive said it like 10 times--if you want to drift, dont drift on 2500 wheels--get some 16's with an 8" width and do it--9.5 inch wheels are made so the user COULD fit wider tires on them. 215's on a 9.5 width--bah

[PGBrian]

ok.you have an opinion.thats fine.doesn't mean it is correct.

i have 9 inch wheels right now with 215s on themwhat do you think about that?

soon i will be getting 9.5 and/or 10s, i think i'll actually bump the 10s to a 225 tire.215 still for the 9.5 though...

[SmithSR]

I think you've taken what was at one point a reliable, all around decent everyday sporty car and killed it, turning it into a single purpose plaything, no longer meant for public roads or spirited backroad blasts. Just drifting, and fitting into the tire stretching trend on ziptied

But whatever, opinions are just that. Fact is, the functionality, longevity, and handling characteristics--as intended by tire manufacturer-- are decreased when stretching a tire beyond it's optimum rim width designation.

At least you didn't label the rim widths with the ubiquitous "J" that has no bearing on any discussion I've ever seen on any forum ever.

Back on topic, Chet's tire size is spot on perfect. If for some reason I had such wide wheels, I would first consider the 255/40-17

[Exar-Kun]

But whatever, opinions are just that. Fact is, the functionality, longevity, and handling characteristics--as intended by tire manufacturer-- are decreased when stretching a tire beyond it's optimum rim width designation.

Yep, this works in reverse also (putting a 255 on a 7" wide wheel or something)

you compromise many things by messing with the wheel width-to-tire-width ratio

1. you composmise the beads strength2. the tire dynamics, contact patch, and measurements get distorted3. as a result of those above you get a less optimally functional tire, a less safe tire, and poor performance

a tire is engineered to perform a certain way, under certain circumstances, some of those assumptions are propper wheel width and tire width.

you remove the basis for that tires performance by messing with it.

that's why I am so angry at the previous "widest tire you can ge ton there" and the new "smallest tire" craze... its rediculous...

Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD.

-chet

[Dori Dori]

But when it's so JDM tYte, how could you resist.

HoTnEsS

[PGBrian]

i do agree that majroly stretching tires for everyday driving is rather follish.i do it for variosu reasons.1. tires are cheaper.2. drifting feels better with smaller sidewall to flop around3. my KA doesnt like to spin big tires that much.4. the size of my wheels and height of my car require me to run a certain sized tire. this size happens to be smaller than recommended for my size wheel.

so far, since i have even used stretched tires, i have never bent a wheel or broken the bead.i use my car EVERY DAY. i drive to and from work and go quite a ways on ****ty freeways and streets. no problems ... yes. haha.

i think that people who want to stretch a tire for no reason just are plain stupid.

i do it for a reason and so far, so good.

i would like to see how much i could grip with a "proper" size tire though!

[TachyonS14]

Don't mean to high jack, but I thought this would be easier then making a whole new post.

What type of tire size should I run on a 8.5 inch rim? Do you guys think a 235/45/17 would be fine?

[Exar-Kun]

a 235-40-17 or even a 245-40-17 would be great(the m3's ran a 245-40-17 on a 8.5", its lsited as the ideal size for that tire) if you err on the 235-40-17 you'll gain abit more response and stifness at the expense of a bit of ride comfort.

a 235-45-17 is a bit tall, and since its got the higher sidewall you may be better off running it on a 8" wheel...but it wont have any problems from a 8.5" either..

-chet