I need to order a new set of front tires for my car, I've got 17x9 ZR1's all around with 275/40/17 Nittos on the back. I'm checking at tire rack for something a bit narrower for the front and I want to get these Kuhmo Ecsta MX tires for the front in size 235/45/17. All the specs show it will fit up to a 9" rim and tire height will be 25.5" so it seems they will work. I'm just wondering if anyone has run a 235/45/17 on a 17x9 rim and if it looked and fit ok? Thanks.

(PS, I decided against getting the rims narrowed, I'm buying a set of Weld skinnies for the track)

 

I don't think you will have any problems putting those on a 9" rim. They will look like they "barely fit", since they are probably the same width as the rim.

I don't think I'd give up the front cornering grip on the street, just to lose an inch or two of drag and a little bit of weight. I have skinnies for the track and 275/40 KDW's on 17x9.5's in front for the street.

 

I ordered them today and actually went with them in a 245/45/17 since the specs looked like they would fit a little better than the others. I just wanted to get something a little narrower up front for the street since I wont be rotating the Nitto's anyway and I havn't yet gone to 17x11 rims out back yet. Currently I have some old style 275/40/17 Potenza's up front that measure 1" wider overall than the Nitto's I can't find specs on them anywhere but they fit strange and look kind of odd compared to the backs so I want to get rid of them. I bought this complete set of rims and tires from a guy last fall for an incredible price and he basically threw these two front tires in no charge so I didn't turn them down. (Guess I know why he didn't want them )

Thanks again for your expert opinion.

Gregg