Just got back from Solo2 two day school out at Norton Airforce base in San Bernardino in CA, it was a BLAST!!! On to my tire question... I have 17x9 (front) and 18x9.5 (back) for rims, currently the tire size I have is 255 40 17 (front) and 275 35 18 (back). I now know I want more size up front, so I was thinking of 275 40 17 front which I know is ok due to it being the same rim/tire combo size on the SS, but would it be ok to go to a 295 35 18 on the rear 9.5" wide rim? I realize I am keeping the same staggerd ratio more or less, but I felt the added width on the front would make a nice difference. The car felt pretty neutral overall. So what do you think?

 

What wheel width do they recommend for the 295?
If it will go on, I'd get it. I'm wearing out a set of 255 hoosiers, and when they are gone I know I'm going to a larger tire. Mike

 

Shoot, I just checked and 10-11.5" is recommended.

 

Go to TireRack and pick a tire. Then click on specs and most of them have the design wheel size.

 

Design rim width is only the width of the rim on which the tire dimensions were measured (it may be referred to as "Measuring Rim Width"). Tire Rack specs also list the mfr's recommended range of rim widths; for auto-x (and high performance cornering in general) you want something up at the wider end of that range unless you are constrained either by class rules or by major problems with available offset and/or "it won't fit" issues.

Norm

 

The range is what I was referring to. I could run my street 275's on my 11" wheels. It would be an interesting test to see how the 275's on 9.5" and 11" compare to 315's on 11". Might not be as much of a difference as you might think. Then again.....

 

I wouldn't think a 295 on a 9.5" would buldge that much? I was looking at Kumhos website at the ECSTA MX.

 

I wouldn't. Too much tire for the rim size. Not only that but you're not gaining much in the rear: (all approximate)

255 = 10.0"
275 = 10.8"
295 = 11.6"
315 = 12.4"

 

Do you think I should stick with my current sizing or go with 275 all around? I just thought it would be wierd to have 275 all around due to the staggered rim sizes in both diameter and width.

 

I would definitely run 275's in the front (which is almost too large for a 9" wheel) but with a 9.5" width in the rear, I would not go wider than a 275.

 

SS wheels are 9" and they were 275 right from the factory?

 

You're right. But they are borderline as far as size. It's not that it won't work, it's just not the optimum setup.