17x9" Wheels which tire?

[stealth71]

I have a '71 Chevelle and I'm working on upgrading the wheels, tires and brakes. I can't afford the wheels I want right now, but I need bigger brakes to match the go pedal I have with the LS1 swap, 400+ rw hp&tq.

I am planning on putting C5 brakes on the car to start. It is currently a disc/drum car. With the C5 brakes I need to ditch my stock 15" rally wheels. I compromised and decided a set of Cragar Soft 8's will work for now, but I can't decide on which size tires. I have been looking at 275/40 17's, because I can get Toyo R888's and Nitto 555 RII's and they are recommended on a 9-11" wide wheel. I read a little about sidewall vs wheel size and some people recommend not going with the minumum wheel size. If I go to a 255/45 17 I will have a little less sidewall buldge, but the tire selection is very minimal.

What do you think?

[Tony_SS]

Not that I would, but I've seen people run a 275/40-17 on an 8" rim. I would run that size on a 9" rim with no worries.

I run the 555's, 285/40 on a 9.5 rim and it fits perfect IMO.

[lower90xcab]

im running a 285/40 on 10"rims....not sure why it wouldnt work on a 9"

[Throttle]

I have a 245/40/17 on a 17x8 rim on the front of my car and yes I know my front tires where on backwards.. So I would say a 255/40

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/11/2993935469_bc4d69b78f_b-1.jpg

[indebt69]

I would do a 275. My buddy has a 9.5 on a 255 and IMO it's too small. He even agrees that it's too small.