Im going to be getting either BFGoodrich 295/35/18 DR's or 305/45R-18 Nitto NT55r DR's...and i was wondering if i will be needing to pound in my fender well a little bit. Im almost positive i do because i also have a 1.5inch drop. So if anyone has pounded in their fender wells. Can you tell me how much you had to, and if there is an effect on the interior of your car, like the hatch area.

Thanks

 

The only way you can put a 305/45-18 on a 4th Gen is with a torch and a can opener. That tire is almost 29" in diameter. Based on personal experience, I can tell you a 28" is the max you are going to fit in the wheel opening. I've seen a 29.5" slick on a 4th Gen SS, and it only fit after a lengthy trip to the body shop.

You will also need some really steep gears to support a 29" tire... if you already have 3.73's, they will act like 3.32's (if there were such a ratio) with that tire.

 

ok thanks....so it seems to me that nittos are out of the picture now. But you havent heard anything bout BF's?

 

The Tire Rack specs show the BFG 295/35-18 g-Force drag radial with an 11.7" section width, and a 26.2" diameter, recommends a wheel 10" - 12" wide. That compares to a BFG 315/35-17 Comp T/A DR at 12.4" section width and 25.6" diameter, 11" - 12" wide wheel. I'd say that as long as you have the correct offset on your wheels, you will be OK with the 295's.... I've got the 315's and it took a little hammering and cutting the corner off the jounce bumper bracket. If your car is lowered, the larger diamter will hurt a little, pushing the tire a little farther up into the whell well arch.

The key to the answer is what is the rim width and offset?

 

Well the reason why im looking at 295's is because i have 18x9.5's and the sales rep. at discount tire and he said that they can easily put 295's on 9.5 inch rims. But i think just to be on the safe side im going w/ 275's. i initally wanted the 295's because of the bigger contact patch, but there is hardly a difference between the 295's and the 275's.
Thanks alot!!
Zack