Another Tire and Wheel Question for You Guys.

[CodexGigas]

Bear with Me, I'm still Learning the whole Tire and Wheel Numbers Game.
Ok, So after doing some Research on the new Wheels I want to get, Everybody Says 275/40/18 would fit all around with the Wheels I got.
The Wheel Width for the 17 Inch Tire Says Wheel Width (in): 8.000 in. and almost every Tire I find Asks for a Minimum Recommended Wheel Width of 9.00 in.
So that means I have to go with a different size Tire for the Front? Or can the 275/40/18 Fit?
Matter of Fact, Even the 18's Says the Wheel Width of 8.000 in.
These are the Wheels I'm Interested in getting.
The 17's http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mbw-23193
And the 18's http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mbw-23205
Need Your Insight on this Guys, It would be greatly Appreciated.

[rustomatic]

A 275 sounds huge for an 8-inch rim--for functionality, you do not want to go with a (beyond) max-width tire on minimum rim width. I have 225s on 8-inch rims, and they are just about perfect, but some might say that a 215 is actually perfect for an 8-inch rim, relative to getting the best grip and handling from the tire. There are of course other motivations to consider...

[CodexGigas]

From what I Researched a 235 /40R18 would Fit nicely on those kind of Wheels. Anyone else got any Advice?

[JayR]

What are you working on? Rustomatic is right, that is way too much tire for an 8 and won't likely fit in the front of most cars anyways. On top of that, the 17/18 stagger is a bit old fashioned and if you can fit anywhere near a 275 on the front, you can fit an 18 on the front so there is no reason clearance-wise to run the 17 which will look oddly disproportionate to the 18 in back on anything bigger than a Vega.

[CodexGigas]

What are you working on? Rustomatic is right, that is way too much tire for an 8 and won't likely fit in the front of most cars anyways. On top of that, the 17/18 stagger is a bit old fashioned and if you can fit anywhere near a 275 on the front, you can fit an 18 on the front so there is no reason clearance-wise to run the 17 which will look oddly disproportionate to the 18 in back on anything bigger than a Vega.

I got an 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.

[JayR]

We have done a few Grand Nationals and Monte Carlos which safely hold 8s and 9s nicely but we haven't done a Cutlass but I suspect them to be in the same ballpark and there's no way it will hold a 275mm tire up front and be able to turn lock to lock but should fit ok out back. A 1975 Cutlass on the other hand would probably hold one up front.

And given the size and shape of the body and wheelwells, I would do 18s front and rear.

[CodexGigas]

So what Size Tire would You Recommend for the Front and what Size for the Rear? Cause I really want to start Looking into copping some new Wheels and Tires.

[JayR]

Probably start around 245/40 and 275/40 AFTER you take a bunch of careful measurements.

[silvermonte]

Codex- If I remember correctly on my 88 cutlass the front wheel well opening on the front is about 1 inch lower then the opening in the back. Only reason I even found that out was I had 15s on the front and back with 26" tall tires and the front was tucked alot more then the back and I started measuring and that was the reason. This was years ago and Ive changed alot of things since then so you might want to find a way to jack your car up and get the frame level then measure the to the top center of the wheel well to make sure Im not crazy, but that might help with sizing choices.