Buying new tires, staggered or not?

Getting ready to finally get rid of the salad shooters and get new rims (torque thrust)and tires. Definitely going to 17's. On the front I'm going to put 275/40/17 and need help in deciding to put the same on the back or to go with the staggered look and 315/35/17's. What's the advantage of the staggered sizes or am I better off just going with the same size all around. I drive the car about 2 to 3K miles a year with at least 1 trip to the drag strip which I have a set of drag radials mounted on an extra set of stock rims for that. Also read that it's alot of work to get the 11 inch rims to fit without rubbing even with the 56mm offset. Considering either Nittos or Falkens for tires.

Which Nittos were you thinking? Same model front and rear? Personally, I'm thinking of running a Nitto 555R in the rear, and a 555RII in the front.

A 275 555R provides a good bit of grip.

The advantage to non-staggered sizes is that you can rotate front-to-rear. Most of the performance tires you're looking at in these sizes are going to be directional, which means they can't switch sides, and that would mean no rotating at all.

If you don't care (which you probably don't, given the 2-3k/year), then the advantages to going 275 in front and 315 in the rear are:
* more straight-line traction
* looks cool

And the disadvantages are:
* 315s take some work (not much) to mount without rubbing on the fender lip
* higher cost
* more weight (unsprung :() compared to 275s all around

I agree. Other than the appearance and slight grip advantage in straight line acceleration that the 315 has to offer. The choice between the two are very similar. Of course the 315 weighs and costs more.

Thanks, I might just stay with the 275's then. It limits my choice with the 315's and I hate to modify the wheelwheels. Was thinking of the nitto 555's, not sure if I want to mix and put Nitto drag radials on the back, I heard they are are the best for street use. I never take the car out in the rain unless I'm caught out. I have BFG drag radials on a spare set of salad shooters for the drag strip but I like how she barks 2nd gear without the drag radials on when I accelerate so I might stick with street tires all the way around.
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If I go with the 275 all the way around I'm also considering the Faulken FK 452's and BF Goodrich G force super sport a/s besides the Nitto NT555 extremes. Any opinions?

Don't know if this helps you or not, but I have OE ZR1's 17x9.5 with Firestone wide Ovals 275/40/17 front and 17x11 MT ET streets 315/35/17 rear. I've done absolutley NO modification to the wheelwells and NO rubbing.
Thought about selling the rears and going 9.5's all around. I like the Firestones.

may just sell'em all and look for Welds...

point is...not every car needs major mods to run the 11's

The Falken 452's are good tires, Ive been running them in a 275/35/18 and 275/40/18 sizes with no complaints except i wish they would last longer then 15k, but then I don't think any tires I've had lasted more then 15k.:lol:

If I go with the 275 all the way around I'm also considering the Faulken FK 452's and BF Goodrich G force super sport a/s besides the Nitto NT555 extremes. Any opinions?

I have those BFGs, 275 all around. They're okay for traction as far as all seasons go, but fairly noisy and they tramline like no other. I won't buy them again. If you drive your car in fair weather only, I wouldn't bother with them. Their main advantage is that they aren't completely useless in snow/ice while still offering respectable performance.

I have 275/40/17 nitto 555 etreme's at all four and love them. Good traction in the dry and good in the wet, and handle pretty well too.

Looking at getting the rims from the tire rack but they are recommending a 17X9 rim for the front and a 17X10.5 for the rear with the same 275/40-17 tire. Why is this?

I don't think they ever recommend a tire that's wider than the widest tire available from the car manufacture .
It's probably for insurance purposes, so they don't get sued.

IMO, tell them what size tire you want, which I presume is a 315/35/17.
If they won't mount them up,take your business elsewhere.