17" 255-50 and 275-50 - tire choice ???

[MYBAD79]

I know Nitto makes a tire in 275-50-17 but are there any other choices in this size ?

When my current tires are worn or dry rotted (they're already three years old) I might get some 17" or 18" rims.... looking at TT2s in 17x8 and 17x9.5 for the rear, 3.5" BS to fill the flares without a spacer...

Only tire I can find is the Nitto.... I would hate to depend on them to keep this one tire in production.... if I have to go with less sidewall like 275-40 or 255-45 I might as well get 18x10 with 285-40.....

 

[mrvette]

on front of my car I have BFG Scorcher T/A....255/50/17 on the 9.5 inch rims...as you may know, the tread is asymmetrical the outer edge is bald without tread, the inner/middle is normal tread pattern....I dunno why, just is...but they cut in really nice in handling I like the particular combo I got working NOW on the car the nitto's 275 in rear.....

:friends:

 

[Sky65]

FALKEN S/Tz-01 is the only other one I could find. I went with the Nittos.

 

[gravytrain]

Sky65 wheel and tire combo?

Sky65 I really like your C2!! Like the look of your wheels and tires. Your wheel sizes are the same as mine and my 66 coupe is flared at all four corners also. It's off the frame right now and hopefully goes back together by May. I had been thinking 40/45 series tires for awhile but like the look you have with your wheel tire combo. I have a couple questions about the fit of your wheels and tires. Stock backspace on your wheels? Offset trailing arms or stock? Shortened rear spring or stock length? If you were to do it over again would you drop the size of the rear tire a little to lessen the chance of body contact? I PM'd you also, didn't know which you might get to first.

 

[gravytrain]

Hijacked!

MYBAD79.... just realized after hitting send that I was hijacking your thread. I apologize, but if I decide on this tire size I'll be asking the same question.

 

[MYBAD79]

I called Discount Tire and Tire Kingdom, checked Tirerack as well..... it seems there are only two tires in this size.... I like the meaty sidewall but who knows if this tire is available in 2-3 years when I need new tires.... too risky.....

 

[turtlevette]

275/50/17 is almost 28" high. Starting to look like a truck tire at that point.

it actually is probalbly a truck tire.

 

[MYBAD79]

275/50/17 is almost 28" high. Starting to look like a truck tire at that point.

it actually is probalbly a truck tire.

Should be 27", just like the stock size.... oh, forgot to mention: I would install that tire on a 9.5" rim

 

[mrvette]

275/50/17 is almost 28" high. Starting to look like a truck tire at that point.

it actually is probalbly a truck tire.

NOT from Nitto it's not.....

nice square flat tread almost as wide as the bulge....

:harhar:

 

[turtlevette]

(275*0.5*2)/25.4 +17 = 27.83

(255*0.6*2)/25.4 + 15 = 27.05

 

[Sky65]

(275*0.5*2)/25.4 +17 = 27.83

(255*0.6*2)/25.4 + 15 = 27.05

You are only talking 3/4" larger diameter than stock. That is 3/8" more sidewall. Not much. They are also V speed rated. I have the Nitto 450 on the 65. 255/50 17 on the front and 275/50 17 on the rear. I like em.

 

[mrvette]

(275*0.5*2)/25.4 +17 = 27.83

(255*0.6*2)/25.4 + 15 = 27.05

I didn't know how they calculated that, so cool, I dunno the actual stock tire diameters for this car, as the very very VERY olde tyme spare is all I have to go with as the tires on the car when I got it were not much and tired as me....so instead of wasting money on 15" garbage, which were getting thinner even 15 years ago, I went 17" just after the rear suspension rebuild....

:search::beer:

 

[mrvette]

(275*0.5*2)/25.4 +17 = 27.83

(255*0.6*2)/25.4 + 15 = 27.05

You are only talking 3/4" larger diameter than stock. That is 3/8" more sidewall. Not much. They are also V speed rated. I have the Nitto 450 on the 65. 255/50 17 on the front and 275/50 17 on the rear. I like em.

LOVE that car, looks NASTY,

Same tires I have in the rear.... same size also in front....I have VBP wheel adapters though using C4 wheels....

:yahoo:

 

[MYBAD79]

(275*0.5*2)/25.4 +17 = 27.83

(255*0.6*2)/25.4 + 15 = 27.05

You have 275-40 on yours, right ?
(275*0.4*2)/25.4 + 17 = 25.66

How much did you lower your car ?

(295*0.5*2)/25.4 + 15 = 26.61 (these are my rear tires)

I just measured and it's a little under 26"


(255*0.5*2)/25.4 + 17 = 27.04

It probably makes a difference how wide the rim is, 275-50 on 9.5" rim is probably very close to 255-50 on a 8" rim.....

 

[MYBAD79]

You are only talking 3/4" larger diameter than stock. That is 3/8" more sidewall. Not much. They are also V speed rated. I have the Nitto 450 on the 65. 255/50 17 on the front and 275/50 17 on the rear. I like em.

That looks great :1st:

Are the rims different width front/rear ??

 

[Sky65]

You are only talking 3/4" larger diameter than stock. That is 3/8" more sidewall. Not much. They are also V speed rated. I have the Nitto 450 on the 65. 255/50 17 on the front and 275/50 17 on the rear. I like em.

That looks great :1st:

Are the rims different width front/rear ??

Yes. 8" wide 4" BS on the front. Same as a stock C3 wheel. Rears are 9" with 5" BS. That puts the outside of the wheel and tire in the same location as a stock C3 wheel.

 

[MYBAD79]

Did you (or could you please) measure what the difference in diameter is ?

I am guessing it's not much because of the wider rims with the 275s.

 

[Sky65]

Did you (or could you please) measure what the difference in diameter is ?

I am guessing it's not much because of the wider rims with the 275s.

It would be difficult to accurately measure the diameter. The rears do look slightly larger in diameter than the front. Personally I like the look. Nitto's website specs;
http://www.nittotire.com/#index.tire.nt450.sizes

 

[mrvette]

I love my combo, if either Nitto or BFG stop making tires, I"m going to be rocket pissed.....