2nd Gen Front tires what will fit

[77ta]

Looking for the best handling combination for 17" wheels. I am pretty set that id like a 285/40/17 rear as id like to keep as much height as I can , but I am wondering about the front some say a 275/40/17 fits some say no it will rub... surely someone is running something like this on the autocross or road courses... My car is mostly street but very low miles per year, mostly a weekend toy. Upgrading suspension with full comp kit from pro touring F-body so it will be lowered some.

Thanks !!!!!!

[$Mike70Z-28]

im running 245 45 17 front back 285 40 17 the front lil of rub only whene the wheel is turned all the way and this is on a 70 camaro. 275 i think is to big

[Skip Fix]

TA or Camaro? Wheel opening are WAY different. Just found that out when I tried to swap some extra 15x8 TA snowflakes with 235-70-15s on a 79 Camaro front-no go rubbed. even my front drag skinnies look tight on the Camaro.

[79-TA]

I was wondering the same thing in an earlier thread. Year One sells 17" snowflakes that are meant to fit while wearing 275/40 17 rubber. So from what I understand, it depends on if you've got your backspacing right.

[Tom 72RS/SS]

I'm running 245/45/17's on the front and mine is lowered. I believe a 275 will give you some rubbing issues. Backspacing will be crucial.

[77ta]

It is going on my 77 Trans am and I will be running the Year one Snowflakes. I am hung up on tires I was pretty set that the Kuhmo XS was the best DOT tire that was street able in the sizes I have looked at but I read a test by Car and driver yesterday that made them sound kinda bad in every way except dry traction.... So I went back to looking at Nitto 555's..... but I figure they give up traction to the kuhmo...more of a everyday mileage tire... Mine will probably dry rot my current white letter tires are 10 years old.

The pickings in the 285/40 size is kinda slim....too it seems.

Suggestions are welcomed, please make some suggestions !!! lol !!!

Thanks

[noobwrench]

HTRZ2's in the 275/40/17 are a great tire.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Sumitomo&tireModel=HTR+Z+II&partnum=74WR7HTRZ2V2&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

Theres no way in hell that wouldnt rub on a camaro, but IDK about TA's. Thats what im gonna run for a rear tire :D

[formula]

depending on your suspension setup, a 275 will fit on a t/a. It's a no-go if you're more than about an inch and a half lowered, a no-go if your backspacing is off at all, a no-go if you like turning to absolute full lock...in other words, it can be done, I did it, but it's tighter than tight.

[79-TA]

depending on your suspension setup, a 275 will fit on a t/a. It's a no-go if you're more than about an inch and a half lowered, a no-go if your backspacing is off at all, a no-go if you like turning to absolute full lock...in other words, it can be done, I did it, but it's tighter than tight.


Well great, now I'm wondering if my car is a bit too low to do the same thing to. How far is it from the center of your front wheel to the middle of the front fender arch? (measuring from the ground would not be reliable as the wheel/tire diameter would come into play)

That measurement on my TA is just a bit over 14 inches.

[formula]

unfortunately, I have air ride...and my car's at prodigy right now...so I'm not much help at all as far as physical measurements go.

You're on TAC, aren't you? If so, PM member O'neall, I believe he's running them on his bird and may be able to help with physical measurements.

[79-TA]

TAC? Is that Trans Am Country? At any rate, no unfortunately. I am on the 78TA.com boards, but I just lurk there. Most of those guys have much higher sitting cars. Thanks anyway.

[John Wright]

Looking for the best handling combination for 17" wheels. I am pretty set that id like a 285/40/17 rear as id like to keep as much height as I can , but I am wondering about the front some say a 275/40/17 fits some say no it will rub... surely someone is running something like this on the autocross or road courses... My car is mostly street but very low miles per year, mostly a weekend toy. Upgrading suspension with full comp kit from pro touring F-body so it will be lowered some.

Thanks !!!!!!Ask Mary about her front backspacing, she was running a 17" 275 up front on her 2gen camaro, and we all know she hussles her track car.

[77ta]

I had a email conversation with David Pozzi and they are now running a 255/40/17 on the front. The 275/40/17 I think rubbed a little.. might be workable though was the jest I got from him if an occasional rub was tolerable. I have also been told by others the TA has a bit more room then the camaro though... gosh this is confusing...

I have Hooker super comp headers and fear going to a 25" tall tire and dragging them all over the place.... I cut the header flanges off and that has pretty much stoped it from dragging even after a 1/2 coil cut off the factory springs, but I am runnign a 255/60/15 tire on it now.... 27" tall... going to a a 255/40 would be a solid 1" loss in radius and ground clearance and that concerns me... then I am putting the PTFB competition springs on that are of unknown height... so it could be a bit lower, but with a lot higher rate.... So.... yep I am even more confused about what to do... I wouldl get a 255/45 but they do not have that size in the tire I want Kuhmo XS ..... They only sell a 245/45 and a 255/40....
The MX has a 255/45 and so does the Nitto 555 Extreme... but both by reports give up traction to the XS....


Thanks

[John Wright]

Dave's springs will be a much higher rate than the factory springs were, so you might be able to get away with less ride height and still not drag the bottom or rub the tires inside the fender liner.


Did David and Mary say where the rub was?...I'm thinking it may have touched the sway bar on lock to lock turns.

[79T/Aman]

go with a 255-45-17 in the front and 285-40-17 in the rear I run this combo on my car on 17 X 9 zero (5" back space) offset same as the YO wheels, I understand the tire issue and wanting the best but honestly there little difference at your level, it may in fact be better with a bit less grip to learn to handle the car after you've built it, but again if the cars will seejust street use you will not get to push it hard enough to feel a difference

[dcozzi]

Regarding the rub location, the tire hits the swaybar. Mine did with 265's on the front but it was tolerable. Just "chromed" the location a bit on the sway. It also can rub the inside rear of the fenderwell at full lock. I also had a polished spot back there.

I am also looking to run a 275/40/17 on the front of my '70 so, this is very interesting. Since I have the fenderwells out of the car, I was wondering about massaging the rear fenderwell area to fix the one rubbing area but it makes no difference if the sway is still in the way in the front of the well.

Look at it like a mechanic I knew used to say, "You can put as wide a tire up front as you want. So what if it rubs a little. You will look good while you make 3-point turns in and out of your parking sopt."

[John Wright]

Another thought...more caster will move the tire towards the rear of the fenderliner...2nd gens generally can use as much caster as you can get.

[77ta]

Thanks for all the input please keep it coming.
I was talking to a guy via Pm with a 79 with Vette Brakes springs lowered about where I think I'll be he says he does not rub at all with the 275/40....

Dave any suggestions on Tires... I really don't want to have to buy again later.... that is why I am looking so hard at the Kuhmo XS .. It is the same tire the Possi's run on the 73 Camaro.

I will probably run my 15" white letters mostly on the street and just put the 17's on for times where I am going for a track day or a club run through the hills or something.... but who knows it may be hard to take them off once I put them on...

[79-TA]

I will probably run my 15" white letters mostly on the street and just put the 17's on for times where I am going for a track day or a club run through the hills or something.... but who knows it may be hard to take them off once I put them on...

That is basically my plan . . . Kumhos for competition events or maybe special drives and then the good ol' RallyII wheels and Radial TA's for normal driving. It barely rains here in SoCal, so the wet grip doesn't concern me too much. Also, the wet grip on the XS is still much better than that of a normal tire. If you get the setup on your car before me, make sure to update this thread and tell us how it goes. Thanks and good luck.

[John Wright]

Keith has run a 275/40/17 on his early 2gen before...

Here's a pic with them on all four corners on 17x9 rims

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/IMG_0752JPG-1.jpg


17x9" Soft 8 wheel with 275/40/17 Kuhmo slick. Tire is actually a bit wider than most 275's. Fits well, with little room to spare!

Just thought you might like to see a set of 275's on a car.

[BonzoHansen]

Another thought...more caster will move the tire towards the rear of the fenderliner...2nd gens generally can use as much caster as you can get.

I have ~6* caster and my 245/60/15s rub the rear of the inner fender near the middle of the i/f, maybe a bit towards the fender side. Might hit the sway too, I'd have to look - the hotchkis bar is big. Car sits kind of low in the front but I think it would still hit the i/f if the car was higher. I figure the extra caster pushed the wheel back 'just enough'. I figure anything I go with will be at least .5" shorter than the 245/60/15 (26.6") so I should be ok. Or I modify the i/f. :)

[dcozzi]

[QUOTE=77ta;561135

Dave any suggestions on Tires... I really don't want to have to buy again later.... that is why I am looking so hard at the Kuhmo XS .. It is the same tire the Possi's run on the 73 Camaro.
QUOTE]

As you probably already found out, there are not really any better deals than the Kumhos. All the other wider/larger rim tires jump up in price. For a good tire you can run on the street and track, the Kumhos cannot be beat fro the price. I think I am going to use them. Heck, they are already track tested on our cars thanks to Mary and Dave Pozzi!

[77ta]

PTFB Springs came in yesterday so I expect the rest of the stuff will arriving soon. I plan to order the Kuhmo XS 275/40/17 fronts and 285/40/17 rears if I don't find anything today that tells me not too.

I'll let y'all know how it all works out !

Thanks

[buickfunnycar.com]

PTFB Springs came in yesterday so I expect the rest of the stuff will arriving soon. I plan to order the Kuhmo XS 275/40/17 fronts and 285/40/17 rears if I don't find anything today that tells me not too.

I'll let y'all know how it all works out !

Thanks

Should work fine,although a bit tight,you gotta nail your b/s just right to pull that off.
I like a 255/45 or 255/40 front tire best on these cars...

[77ta]

Several have told me that they work 275/40/17 on the front with the Year One 17" snowflakes... I hope they are right. If they had offered the tire in a 255/45 Id went with it.
255/40 looked a bit short.