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    Results 1 to 12 of 12
    1. #1
      Join Date
      Dec 2002
      Location
      New York
      Posts
      408

      255 on a 17*8 or 17*9.5 wheel

      Looking to get a new set of rear wheels on the 68 Camaro - looking to go with a 255 size. Better to put them on a 17*8 (4.8 BS) wheel or 17*9.5 (5.5 BS) wheel. Doing the calculation - either one will put the tire in the same location - wonder what would look better - TT II wheel - Thanks

      Looking to do 235 on 17*8 (4.8 BS) in the front.



      Thanks


    2. #2
      Join Date
      Feb 2007
      Location
      Tinley Park, IL
      Posts
      1,163
      Country Flag: United States
      Either will work, but I would do the 8" wide wheel in the back with a 255 tire.

      If you use a 9.5" wide wheel, that is about 38mm wider than the front, but the rear tire is only 20mm wider. This would result in the rear tire looking a little bit 'stretched' to fit the rim, compared to the front. I like the sidewall fitment to be equal front to rear, or just a touch of sidewall bulge in the back.

      Nick ~
      1969 Cutlass

    3. #3
      Join Date
      Dec 2002
      Location
      New York
      Posts
      408
      That was my concern as well - the "bulge" look compared to the front.

      I have about 4.5 inches from the face of the rear wheel mounting surface to the outer wheel well in the rear - outer fender is NOT rolled.

      With a 255 tire - it would be around 4.19 inches and a 265 would be around 4.39 from the mounting surface.

      Perhaps I can squeeze a 265 - but what should be the "safe" distance / clearance to the outer fender lip -from the tire? 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch?

      BTW - Car is 2 drop in rear - DSE leaf springs

    4. #4
      Join Date
      Dec 2002
      Location
      New York
      Posts
      408
      Any additional thoughts? Looking to make a purchase soon. Thanks

    5. #5
      Join Date
      Nov 2006
      Location
      Hildebran, NC
      Posts
      992
      Country Flag: United States
      You could probably run a 255 on the 8 in the front too??

      I have 255/40/18 on 18"x8" front and rear, all are 5.25" BS. (on a Nova)
      Mine are a tad bulged.
      I think 255 looks best on a 9" wide wheel.

    6. #6
      Join Date
      Feb 2007
      Location
      Tinley Park, IL
      Posts
      1,163
      Country Flag: United States
      Quote Originally Posted by 68 SuperRam View Post
      That was my concern as well - the "bulge" look compared to the front.

      I have about 4.5 inches from the face of the rear wheel mounting surface to the outer wheel well in the rear - outer fender is NOT rolled.

      With a 255 tire - it would be around 4.19 inches and a 265 would be around 4.39 from the mounting surface.

      Perhaps I can squeeze a 265 - but what should be the "safe" distance / clearance to the outer fender lip -from the tire? 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch?

      BTW - Car is 2 drop in rear - DSE leaf springs

      Are you using a generic calculator to come up with these specs based on tire sizes? I can tell you that tires of the same size from different manufactures are not the same size. The height will be accurate, but the widths can vary a lot. And by width(s) I mean... tread width, sidewall to sidewall width, and even mounting bead width.

      I am running 284/40/18 on a 9" wide rim, which is a bit wide for just a 9" wide rim. I found that a 285 Conti was almost a full inch narrower from bead to bead than the same size Michelin I was considering. I went with the Conti's because they fit the 9" wide rim better.

      Nick ~
      1969 Cutlass

    7. #7
      Join Date
      Jul 2008
      Posts
      453
      Country Flag: United States
      I'm running Cooper Zeon RS3-G1 255/40/17 on a 17x9 rim if you need a visual for comparison. Great tire, but too hard to really get traction for autocross/dragstrip.

      If you go with 8" wheel you may have a little float as the tire is wider than the rim, sidewall has room to move. With 9" the tire is square with the wheel so you'll get better response when cornering.

      0818201738e_HDR~2 by Jeff Bowne, on Flickr

      https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...ps3xdqmt8h.jpg
      *Jeff*
      Project Salty - 1964 4 door Malibu, beaten, neglected, red headed foster child
      Cammed LQ4 / T56 Swap Project Thread <-click to read! 😁

    8. #8
      Join Date
      Dec 2002
      Location
      New York
      Posts
      408
      FYI - I have been using the rimsntires.com website to do a size comparison, but agreed that manufactures tires will definitely vary.

      Thanks for the pic of the 255 on a 9 in rim - looks like good - to the earlier point the 255 on 9.5 wheel might be stretching from an appearance perspective.

    9. #9
      Join Date
      May 2020
      Posts
      29
      Not sure if you’re still looking for input on this but I am running a 18x9.5 (5.25” bs) with a 275 in the rear of my 68 Camaro. It’s working great and fits with no issues.

    10. #10
      Join Date
      Mar 2024
      Posts
      1

      Wheel size

      Bruce 1968
      I was looking into running a 18x9.5 on my 68 in the rear . I have mainly stock suspension except 2 inch lower in front . What are you running in front and what is the front and rear tire sizes ? I was originally thinking of doing 17’s due to any rubbing issues but like the 18 look .
      or I see some people running 17 in front and 18 in rear .

      thank you

    11. #11
      Join Date
      Jan 2006
      Location
      Cornettsville, ky
      Posts
      874
      Country Flag: United States

    12. #12
      Join Date
      Jan 2006
      Location
      Cornettsville, ky
      Posts
      874
      Country Flag: United States


      at the end you can see what it looks like better. I didnt really have a good still photo.





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