Rear tire width size help please.

[My Cobra]

Ok i have some 17 inch rims i am lookin to get some rear tires for. I have BFG KDW's up front i am lookin to get some nittos for the rear. How wide should i go? I see most peopel go with 275/40. I was thinkin about that. Would i have any fitment problems or rubbing? Also how wide could i go on the stock 01 rims that are on my car? thanks :gso:

[NoSlo5.0]

8" wide rim? I wouldn't go past a 255 if you give a flip about cornering. In no case would I put anything wider than a 275 on an 8" rim. 9" rims, I'd run 255's up front and 275's or 285's out back.

[_eazy_]

8" wide rim? I wouldn't go past a 255 if you give a flip about cornering. In no case would I put anything wider than a 275 on an 8" rim. 9" rims, I'd run 255's up front and 275's or 285's out back.
get 10.5 inch wides in the rear and run 315 ;)

[Hockeyb0y3]

well i got the 35th aniversary rims and i was told they are 17x7 . . is this correct? if so the tire shops say the biggest i can/should go is 235

[CallawayGT]

I'm running 275-40 with no problems on stock rims

[99BlackCobra]

With my 99 i have 275 45 17 all the way around on stock 03 chrome rims...
Turning sharp is a pain the in ass, but hook up in the rear is by far better...
I soon to be going 305 in the rear..... But That for the summer..

[AJ SnkNV]

I ran on my stock wheels, 255's on the front and a 275 drag radial in the back. I didnt have any problems

[My Cobra]

ok so 275's it is. Sounds good

[My Cobra]

Thanks for all the help. How are drag radials for use like 3 or 4 days a week driving? Tread wear is like 0?

[NoSlo5.0]

DR's will be fine, just slow way down in the wet weather!

[iluvmystang]

Lol 275s on a 7 inch wheel?

I have 18x9s with 265/35/18 all around...

[My Cobra]

hmmm i had 275's on my cobra when i got it. you scared to go wide?

[NoSlo5.0]

Are your rims 8" or 9"? I thought the 03 was when the rims went to 9"?

Bottom line is this, wider does not equate to better performance. A fat ass tire on a skinny wheel will deflect so bad while cornering that you will loose contact patch much sooner than a thinner smaller tire on the same sized rim. Increased rolling resistance will probably outweigh any traction gains when going in a straight line.

An example being the '95 Cobra R, 255's all around on 9" rims. 275's would have been acceptable, but evidently the better fitting tires turned quicker lap times...

[My Cobra]

hmmm i do not auto-X my car. I just want somethign that iwll hook good from light to light not look like a bike tire andhas a good tread life.

[NoSlo5.0]

Get the Nitto DR's for sure, I would.

[My Cobra]

what size? Will they not screw shit up pretty bad if i launch on them?

[iluvmystang]

I have 18x9 wheels all around. I have them wrapped in Falken Ziex 265/35/18s.

http://img177.exs.cx/img177/7514/daytimewheeltire.jpg

[AJ SnkNV]

I use to run only drag radials on my car and they worked out great and even handled wet weather better than the stock BFGs.

[My Cobra]

These BFG's suck. I had some kumhos before this and they hooked up the same and held up better in water.

[Sonicblue4.6]

I just got rid of my 35th anny wheels and they are 17x8.. I had Nitto 275-40-17s on the rear with no poblems at all.. Remember that nitto drag radials are not as wide as a reg 275-40-17..

Willis

[Sonicblue4.6]

This is a 10.5 wheels with 315-35 17's

http://www.mustangmods.com/data/6226/10.5_rs_rs.jpg

Willis

[My Cobra]

That looks pretty sexy. I am debating on drag radials. I hear if you launch too hard you can screw up your rear end.

[NoSlo5.0]

You'd have to have some serious stick. Worse case for you would be broken halfshafts. Unless you go with slicks, VHT, a sticky track, and a 6000rpm dump the clutch launch, you're not going to hurt anything. Around town driving with DR's probably won't gain you too much from a performance standpoint, don't you have to run about 18lbs in them at the track? Do guys run them like that 24/7? I don't know, everytime i get ready to buy tires, I consider them, then remember how I like to go through the twisty turns and decide not get them.

[CallawayGT]

Thanks for all the help. How are drag radials for use like 3 or 4 days a week driving? Tread wear is like 0?

I have been running DRs for the past couple weeks and they suck for daily driving.They spin badly when they are cold and have pressure in them.I finally got my tires in Sat., so I will be putting the NittoDRs on my spare set of rims and going back to a normal street tire.

[NoSlo5.0]

I have been running DRs for the past couple weeks and they suck for daily driving.They spin badly when they are cold and have pressure in them.I finally got my tires in Sat., so I will be putting the NittoDRs on my spare set of rims and going back to a normal street tire.

That's exactly what I wanted to hear...I no longer don't know what I've been missing, thanks.

Looks like the old Cobra R's are going to get a set for track duty...

[BruntzySVT]

RUN 315 NITTOS IN THE REAR and 275 up front!

[EddieGT]

Are your rims 8" or 9"? I thought the 03 was when the rims went to 9"?

Bottom line is this, wider does not equate to better performance. A fat ass tire on a skinny wheel will deflect so bad while cornering that you will loose contact patch much sooner than a thinner smaller tire on the same sized rim. Increased rolling resistance will probably outweigh any traction gains when going in a straight line.

An example being the '95 Cobra R, 255's all around on 9" rims. 275's would have been acceptable, but evidently the better fitting tires turned quicker lap times...


275/40's is what comes stock in the '03/04 Cobra's 17x9" rims... They fit perfect. I wouldn't go any wider, though.

I'd get replica rims with 9 up front and 10.5 on back if I ever upgraded to 315's or anything wider for the rears.

The GT 17" rims are 7.5" I believe. I wouldn't put 275's on those, for the same reasons NoSlo has already explained.

[BruntzySVT]

275/40's is what comes stock in the '03/04 Cobra's 17x9" rims... They fit perfect. I wouldn't go any wider, though.

I'd get replica rims with 9 up front and 10.5 on back if I ever upgraded to 315's or anything wider for the rears.

The GT 17" rims are 7.5" I believe. I wouldn't put 275's on those, for the same reasons NoSlo has already explained.

Nittos run smaller then all other brands...315 on a 9" rim fit perfect...if u get a 10.5 rim and try any 315 ur giong to have running issues!

[Sonicblue4.6]

It is a 17x8 not 17x7.5


Willis

[NoSlo5.0]

What the crap do you guys mean about Nitto's running narrower than advertised? Is a 275 tread section not always 275mm? Why would they call it a 275 if it were a 255? Throw me a bone...

[Laguna Seca R]

You won't have any fitment issues... I have 295/35/18's out rear on mine with a 1.5" drop. No problems at all. These tires are shot now so I am going with 305/35/18 next.

[Hockeyb0y3]

I just got rid of my 35th anny wheels and they are 17x8.. I had Nitto 275-40-17s on the rear with no poblems at all.. Remember that nitto drag radials are not as wide as a reg 275-40-17..

Willis

ahh sweet, someone told me they are 17x7 but if they are 17x8 im getting 275/40s