I'll be running 17x8.5 in the front. What size can I put in there? Will 255/45/17 be too big? I was told by Skulte that 245/45/17 would fit no probs but are these the widest? Thanks.

 

i have 255's on my 16" wheels and they only rub a little bit when i turn the wheel to full lock. 245's will definitely fit, but you can get away with 255's if you really want to.

 

I don't know what if anything you've done to youe suspension, but my brother has 275/40/17's up front and 315/35/17's out back on his 87 IROC that is lowered. They rub a little in the front at full lock, but you do need to massage the metal in the wheel well to clear them a little. In the rear, he's got IRS so it's a bit different set up, but there was a little wheel opening massage back there too. The best thig to do is test fit what you want, and adjust until you find the widest tire that rubs the least. With my Bell Tech spindles, my 245/50/16's rub on drops in the road, but I'm going with 275's up front. I'll just do a little of that famous bend to fit, paint to match body work.

 

Nothing done to the suspension yet, thinking of putting in some Eibach Pro's.
If I run 245/45/17 in the front and 275/40/17 in the back will that look even?

 

I'd go with some 265s. The 275's will be too tall. It will jack up the rear end making it look like a redceck-rod. No offense if you're a ******* or like that look though. just my opinion and experience. Have fun with it.

 

As a point of reference, a 275/40/17 has the same rolling diameter as a 245/50/16. Well actually,a 275/40/17 has a diameter of approx 25.6614 inches, where as a 245/50/16 has a diameter of approx 25.6467 inches. That means that the 17 is 0.0147 inches taller. 1/64 of an inch is 0.0157. The 245/45/17 is actually taller than the 275/40/17 by 0.0197 inches (approx 1/80th of an inch). The only reason I know these numbers is because I did the math to decide what size tire/wheel to buy for my car. I've looked at so many tire sizes, that I started to lose track of their dimensions, so I made me a little table at work so that I don't have to do the math everytime I look at tires. You just never know when you'll see a tire on sale, and I hate having to return things. I know that wheel width and tire brand impact just how tall a tire is once it's mounted and installed on the car, but I'd assume that when you bought wheels, they'd be the proper width for the tires you want. I'm really not an ****-retentive a$$hole, I am a CAD Operator (fancy way of saying a drafter) in a structural engineering firm and around here, we do a LOT of math. Good luck with your tires & wheels, I'd love to see pics when you're done.

 

I have a '91 bird drop top lowered 1.25 and 1.00 front and rear with 17 x8 wheels all around 245/45 in front 275/40 in rear. This set-up does not rub and the car could stand to be lowered another inch. I am in the process of measuring to fit 274/40's in front on a 9.5 wheel and 315/35 in the rear on a 11 inch wheel. If anyone has this set-up I would like your input.