In need of some opinions

[The Stickman]

Ok peoples here's the deal. I am putting on a set of Boss 304 wheels with BFG G-Force Sport tires. I know that the rear tires will be 275/40-18. My problems are that my car seems to me to create an optical illussion and makes the rear tires look smaller than the fronts when the tires are the same size. Now part 2 of my post which coinsides with the tire issue deals with spacers. The clearances are tight and I think i need them but advice is appreciated. Ok lets start with the first pics.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/100_3136-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/100_3137-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/100_3138-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/100_3139-1.jpg
Ok all the pics above are with 275/40-18s front and rear with a 1.5 inch spacer in the rear because there is about a 1/2 inch clearance on the inside of the wheel well if a spacer is not used. There is also a 1 inch spacer on the front as the wheel is about touching the swaybar if a spacer is not used. The bracket that the brake line/hose connects at is close by about an inch or less. Also by spacing out the rear wheels it seems to help with the optical illusion.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/100_3142-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/100_3145-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/100_3146-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/100_3148-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/100_3150-1.jpg
Now the pics above are with 275/40-18's and a 1.5 inch spacer on the rear and no spacer on the front. As said before the wheel and rim are within a few slices of paper of the swaybar at full lock. They do seem to have more clearance around the wheelwell though as with a spacer the tire touches the plastic fender liner at full lock. So my questions are should I run 275/40-18's on the front or go with something smaller. I like the 275/40's because for one they are cheaper than the other smaller tires and as they are on sale at Tirerack. Who wouldn't want bigger tires on their car at a lower price? The other question is should I run the 1 inch spacer on the front or can I get away with not running it? Thanx so much for any and all opinions.

[Scott Parkhurst]

I get what you're saying, but saying it doesn't make it work.

The rear wheelwells on this car are larger than the front ones. Note the air gap around the tire front and rear. The gap around the front tire is minimal, while it's rather large around the rear tire.

If you'd have gotten a taller tire for the rear (275/45, vs. 275/40) the taller tire would have fit the rear wheelwell better and had less of an air gap.

Moving the wheels inboard and outboard by using spacers isn't going to make that much of a difference.

If you want to run similarly-sized wheels and tires all around, but give the illusion the rear tires are bigger, you can run the taller tire as I suggested, run wheels with differing wheel depths (a deeper dish wheel looks wider, even if it's the same width) and playing with the stance (a tiny bit of rake makes the rear tires look bigger).

[bigvegan]

Your wheels/tires look fine, so add the spacers as you need to to make everything safe and reliable, and enjoy driving it.

Having the same size tires all the way around is handy for a variety of reasons (rotation, replacement, less understeer when driven hard, etc., etc., etc.), so if your front tire is inside the fender when you add the spacer, stick a fork in it, you're done.

YMMV.

[Mkelcy]

I'm assuming that the "spacers" you're referring to are bolt on - they bolt to the axle/hub and the wheels bolt to them. If not, I'd seriously consider getting bolt-ons or reconsidring what you're planning to do.

[The Stickman]

Ok here is what Ihave done and will probably endup doing. I have rolled the lip on the rear fenders because with the 1.5 inch spacers it cut my old tires that were on the car. I plan on using the 1 inch spacer (which is the bolt on type as was the 1.5.) on the back and no spacer in the front. But as the wheel and tire comes close to the sway bar I will have my wife weld onto the turning stop on the arms that way I simply can't get close to the bar. I realize this may take away some of my turning radius but I think it is a good solution. I will probably run a 275/40 on the front although Tirerack raised the price on thos so I may go with either a 245/40 or 275/30.