16" Wheel fitment question
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they wouldn't look skinny at all! I think they'd look great. And if you can get some 275/40R17s in the back 8)
SRD did some good work for you props to him. Fwiw a friend has a stock height GNX with the factory 16x8s not sure how backspacing compares but it has a great aggressive stance and look with no rub. It also seems to be a good balance between cornering & straight line traction.
Seen 275/40/17 drag radials on back with I think 245/45/17s up front that also looked great & still had good straight line traction. Trying to buy my 442 back and if I did it would need wheels as the owner was turning it into a drag car & its now wearing pizza cutters up front. Idiot junked the factory 442 ralleys & the backs were widened to 15x8s. :-( Im sure he could have at least sold them. Anyway I was looking at possibly using 18s with 245/45/18 up front and a 275/40/18 drag radial in the rear for traction & gearing. But part of me likes the sleeper /factory look of the original ralleys.
Seen 275/40/17 drag radials on back with I think 245/45/17s up front that also looked great & still had good straight line traction. Trying to buy my 442 back and if I did it would need wheels as the owner was turning it into a drag car & its now wearing pizza cutters up front. Idiot junked the factory 442 ralleys & the backs were widened to 15x8s. :-( Im sure he could have at least sold them. Anyway I was looking at possibly using 18s with 245/45/18 up front and a 275/40/18 drag radial in the rear for traction & gearing. But part of me likes the sleeper /factory look of the original ralleys.
Thanks for all you guys help. This has helped me so much.
How are Falken ZIEX ZE-502 tires? I can get the 245/45/17 for the front and the 275/40/17 for the rear at a decent price where I am getting my wheels for free mounting and balancing. Before I was thinking about the Kumho Ecsta AST. Would I be alright with the Falken?
Or what about Sumitomo tires?
And if I went with the 17" would I go with the 17x7, 17x8 or 17x9? The 17x7 have a 4.0 backspacing, the 17x8 have a 4.5 backspacing and the 17x9 have a 5.5 backspacing.
How are Falken ZIEX ZE-502 tires? I can get the 245/45/17 for the front and the 275/40/17 for the rear at a decent price where I am getting my wheels for free mounting and balancing. Before I was thinking about the Kumho Ecsta AST. Would I be alright with the Falken?
Or what about Sumitomo tires?
And if I went with the 17" would I go with the 17x7, 17x8 or 17x9? The 17x7 have a 4.0 backspacing, the 17x8 have a 4.5 backspacing and the 17x9 have a 5.5 backspacing.
Falken ZIEX ZE-502 
... my brother put a full set on his last car, a 87 Firebird. The Falkens, are cheap for a reason... they are incredibley soft, and yet offer poor grip. And the soft compound means you'll wear the tread down before you know it.
They are also a tuner brand, so somehow they are skinnier than they spec them for. For example, my brother's 275s are no wider than my BFG 245s.
I would consider looking at Sumitomo, Nitto, or even Kumho, before Falken.
these are also tuner brands, but I've seen nicer tires and better performance from them. They are also wide like their Amercian counterparts like BFG and Goodyear.
you could opt for the Falkens, but you'll need tires pretty soon again. Or you could get tires from say Nitto, and they'll last alot longer. Nitto just came out with a 275/50R17, which a taller and more proportional tire for our cars. A friend of mine just got a set on his 69 Cutlass, which is lowered, and they fit great. I believe they are 245/50R17s infront.
to run a 245, you need a 17x8 wheel
to run a 275, you need a 17x9 or even 17x9.5 wheel
it looks like the 17x9s have alot backspacing... so you will likely need a 1" adaptor.
Or, you could run 245s on 17x8 all the way around.
... my brother put a full set on his last car, a 87 Firebird. The Falkens, are cheap for a reason... they are incredibley soft, and yet offer poor grip. And the soft compound means you'll wear the tread down before you know it.
They are also a tuner brand, so somehow they are skinnier than they spec them for. For example, my brother's 275s are no wider than my BFG 245s.
I would consider looking at Sumitomo, Nitto, or even Kumho, before Falken.
these are also tuner brands, but I've seen nicer tires and better performance from them. They are also wide like their Amercian counterparts like BFG and Goodyear.
you could opt for the Falkens, but you'll need tires pretty soon again. Or you could get tires from say Nitto, and they'll last alot longer. Nitto just came out with a 275/50R17, which a taller and more proportional tire for our cars. A friend of mine just got a set on his 69 Cutlass, which is lowered, and they fit great. I believe they are 245/50R17s infront.
to run a 245, you need a 17x8 wheel
to run a 275, you need a 17x9 or even 17x9.5 wheel
it looks like the 17x9s have alot backspacing... so you will likely need a 1" adaptor.
Or, you could run 245s on 17x8 all the way around.
Ok, here are the tires that I could work in on my budget when going with the 17" wheel.
The Falken ZIEZ ZE-502, the Hankook Ventus V4 ES H105, the BF Goodrich G-Force, the Sumitomo HTR A/S P01, the Riken ZR Raptor, the Cooper Zeon RS3-A, and the Kuhmo Ecsta ASX KU21. The Falken are the cheapest with the Kuhmo the most expensive. I can also get a 75.00 mail in rebate on the Cooper Zeon RS3-A.
I will more than likely be just riding on these in the summer, fall and spring and taking them off in the winter.
These are the tires that have in my budget where I will be buying my wheels which comes with free mounting and balancing.
Also, where can I purchase a 1" adaptor and how much do they usually run? Easy install?
And with the 245/45/17 in the front I will see very minimal rubbing or none at all correct? Same on the rear with the 1" adaptor?
The Falken ZIEZ ZE-502, the Hankook Ventus V4 ES H105, the BF Goodrich G-Force, the Sumitomo HTR A/S P01, the Riken ZR Raptor, the Cooper Zeon RS3-A, and the Kuhmo Ecsta ASX KU21. The Falken are the cheapest with the Kuhmo the most expensive. I can also get a 75.00 mail in rebate on the Cooper Zeon RS3-A.
I will more than likely be just riding on these in the summer, fall and spring and taking them off in the winter.
These are the tires that have in my budget where I will be buying my wheels which comes with free mounting and balancing.
Also, where can I purchase a 1" adaptor and how much do they usually run? Easy install?
And with the 245/45/17 in the front I will see very minimal rubbing or none at all correct? Same on the rear with the 1" adaptor?
I can only speak about the BFG G-Forces from experience. The G-Force's are a great line of tire. In my experience the KDW is the best... I have an older model of them on the car now. Soft tire, amazing grip, yet they last very long...
The KDWS are used on the new line of Mustangs... they are an okay tire, good in the rain. But they are quite alot stiffer than the KDW.
not sure about the Sport or Super Sport A/S
I've always heard good things about Hankooks, and have heard no complaints about Sumitomo...
I hope that helps...
Adaptors... BEWARE of cheap "cast Aluminum" ones. Avoid the TransDapt 1" adaptors, they are cheap for a reason... They will shatter or break under heavy loads. Not to mention, they come with "universal bolt pattern" which is the last thing you want on an adaptor.
Adaptors aren't cheap unfortunately... expect $80 each. Pay for quality Billet Alloy or Steel ones, with hardened knurled studds that are pressed in.
The KDWS are used on the new line of Mustangs... they are an okay tire, good in the rain. But they are quite alot stiffer than the KDW.
not sure about the Sport or Super Sport A/S
I've always heard good things about Hankooks, and have heard no complaints about Sumitomo...
I hope that helps...
Adaptors... BEWARE of cheap "cast Aluminum" ones. Avoid the TransDapt 1" adaptors, they are cheap for a reason... They will shatter or break under heavy loads. Not to mention, they come with "universal bolt pattern" which is the last thing you want on an adaptor.
Adaptors aren't cheap unfortunately... expect $80 each. Pay for quality Billet Alloy or Steel ones, with hardened knurled studds that are pressed in.
I stand corrected. After calling to check on the backspacing of the wheels they told me that the backspacing of the 17x8 are 4.5 and the backspacing of the 17x9 is 5.0 backspacing. Would I still need the adaptor with the 5.0 backspacing in the rear with 275/40 tires? Also, would the front rub with the 245/45/17 in the front.
I'm thinking about either the Hankook, Sumimoto or the Cooper tires. Debating on going with the Hankook. Researched them and have found some pretty good reviews on them.
I'm thinking about either the Hankook, Sumimoto or the Cooper tires. Debating on going with the Hankook. Researched them and have found some pretty good reviews on them.
before investing in some pricey adaptors, pick up a couple 1/2" spacers to try. See how that fits... remember, you can get spacers as small as 1/8", so you can play with fine tuning the fit.
You might need some extended studs if you decide to run spacers.
you shouldn't have any issues with 245s infront on 17s. If you do, again you can experiment with small spacers.
the only thing to keep in mind is, the farther you push your wheel off the hub with spacers, the less threads your lugnuts catch on the stud... So extended or larger studs may need to be used.
Extended studs are 2-7/8" long and come in a variety of sizes. Primarily used in drag cars, or cars with specialty wheels, they're quality parts. I've got some ARP ones on mine.
You might need some extended studs if you decide to run spacers.
you shouldn't have any issues with 245s infront on 17s. If you do, again you can experiment with small spacers.
the only thing to keep in mind is, the farther you push your wheel off the hub with spacers, the less threads your lugnuts catch on the stud... So extended or larger studs may need to be used.
Extended studs are 2-7/8" long and come in a variety of sizes. Primarily used in drag cars, or cars with specialty wheels, they're quality parts. I've got some ARP ones on mine.
I have BFG G-Force Sports right now and I think they're a great tire. They suck in snow but so do most tires. Wet weather is great and they do well on the autocross for a low-mid price tire. When I posted those links I was after the cheapest tire so you could get the car on 17s at about the same price. Personally I don't like Falkens. I put a set on a Chevette I drove in college. It was lowered 3" and set up to handle like a go kart. Wore out my 13" Yokahamas and put on a set of Falkens because they were cheap. Night and day difference in handling. You do get what you pay for sometimes.
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