Tire size for 17X8 rims??

Ok, I have searched on here endlessly and can not find out what is the biggest size tire I can run on a 17X8 rim? I want ALL 4 tires to be the same size. What size is the biggest I can put on front? 235/45/17 or 245/45/17?? How does the rear tire look using the same tire?? Does it fill the wheel well out?

Let me know!!!
Also, pics of all 4 wheels the same size help too!!

These are going on a 71 Buick GS, so 70-72 Skylark/GS!!!!

Thanks,
Brian

 

245-45 would be the max i'd go with
you could always step up to a 17x9.5 rim and 275-40 all around with spc 1in drop springs full set of 4 springs only cost 289 through scandc.com

 

This is a good combo.

Front Tires BF Goodrich G-Force T/A KDWS 245/45R17
Rear Tires Mickey Thompson Drag Radials 275/40R17

Wheels
Front 17 x 8" Billet Buick Rallye Wheels
4.75" Back Spacing

Rear 8" Billet Buick Rallye Wheels
4.75" Back Spacing

 

Thanks everyone for your replies. Guess I will see if I can price out the rim package with P245/50R-17 tires. Does anyone have pics of this tire/rim combo? How about 245/45/17's?? Anyone got pics of that setup?

I am looking for all 4 tires/rims the same, so lets see some pics!!!

Thanks,
Brian

 

This is up for some debate. I would look at the tire manufacturer specifications and see what they recommend for minimum wheel width. I would cram the biggest tire that the manufacturer allows you to. That recommendation is usually on the safe side and you wont see a bulge if you go with their spec.


That being said, different manufacturers have different overall widths because of the way they measure the tire width. Here is an example below. On the left is a 275/40/17 from FALKEN with a 275/45/17 Mickey Thompson on the right. Hard to tell in the pic but the Mickeys are significantly wider. (Ignore the height difference).

The 245/45/17 look like rubber bands personally, so I would recommend going with a 245/50 instead. It should fit just fine.

I think a 27" tire looks nice on our cars. Factory sizes were ~26" I beleive.

 

yea sumitomo brands runs really small also

kuhmo is a nice tire for the price, got them on the maverick...think spt probably going to get the kuhmo xs tires for the lark

 

Google [B]Todd Miller-Car Craft[/for great pics.

 

I have a 68 and tried at 275 40 17 on the rear and thought it was too small at 25.7" went with at 275 50 17 (nitto was the only one I could find this in )that is almost 28" i think and it fills the gap nice and is about all that would fit. Not sure how much this will help since out wheel opening profiles are differento No:

 

D'oh!

Actually I misinformed when I said the tire on right is a Mickey Thompson, its actually a Nitto!

Its the exact tire youre talking about 275/50/17.

 

Here's mine with 17x8's on the rear with 275/40/17's and the fronts are 17x7's with 245/45/17's. The wheels are from Coys. I also have Eibach lowering springs on the car. I like the look but I think a slightly taller tire would look better.

Ken

 

I am probably just going to go with P245/50R-17 sized tires on a 17x8 rim all the way around. Does anyone have any pics of this tire setup on either the front or back of their cars???


Brian

 

yea that's it alright:TU: fits nice I will try and post some pics.

 

Not the right size tire and not the right car but it will give you an idea of what your slightly shorter sidewall would look like. My 255 50 17's are right at 27.1" tall and the 245 50 17's would be 26.6" tall which, as Larry said, will be right at what the stock sized tires were. Most GS guys like to run the 245 60 15 tires and they fit well. My car came with 27" tall factory 215 75 15 tires and before my 17's I ran 255 60 15 tires which are sized identically to the 17's(except rim size). The 245/17 tire should clear everything on your car as well as the 245/15 tire would.

http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=231180

 

I found some nice comparison pix;

Same car, no other changes except for wheels and tires (Both 17 Inch)

White Wheels = 245/45 fronts and 275/40 rears (BrandName = FALKEN)
Black Wheels = 245/45 fronts and 275/50 rears (BrandName = NITTO)

 

And one more pic of the white tires while the car is standing still. I really think the 275/40's look like rubber bands on our cars and the pix above its decieving because the car is accelerating heavily.

 

heres a great calculator for comparing different sizes..


http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tirecalc.php

 

Here is another good calculator: http://www.rimsntires.com/specs.jsp

I like this one since you can put in your wheel specs and compare offsets and widths.

Josh