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Jazzer The Cat -> RE: I'm lossing sleep! help me choose! (4/14/2008 6:33:07 AM)
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The overall tire diameter will not change a whole lot going from 8" to 9" rim, but the relative space on the sides will. This, I believe, is part of the issue you have with space you see. My guess is that if you were to put a straight edge parallel with ground and measured space between the top of the tire and the fender, it will not be 3 fingers thick. I would guess that you are holding your 3 fingers at near 45° angle between the side/top of the tire and fender, am I correct? If so, then getting a wider rim, and a wider tire (and possibly a higher profile) will reduce that gap. Remember, a 285/35/17" tire is "taller" then a 255/35/17" tire because the 35 number is the % of hight vs. width of tire in question. If you go with 9"s and 10"s you WILL reduce the gap in question unless you go ultra-narrow and profile. My 295/30/18"s are 25" around and 11.9" wide section width on a 10.5" rim (exactly what I am running) as per Michelin website. Look up your tires on website and see how they compare on your width rim. When I go 315's I will have same rim, same profile but tire will be 12.6" wide and 25.5" diameter (as measured on an 11" rim per website) I will gain over 1/2" width and hight because 30% of 315 is more than 30% of 295. My dimentions will not be exactly the same, but only slightly taller and narrower because of 10.5" rim. Try an experiment to confirm some of this. Jack your car up from the "A" frame just behind front wheel (this will keep the suspension from opening up as little as possible). Loosen lugs 1/2" and slide the wheel outward and step back and check it out. I think you will be pleased with result, even though you have done nothing but limit the gap between face of wheel and side of fender. This will put the tire closer to the finder and should limit the gap you see. This is what I did when I wanted to figure out how much of a spacer I wanted on my rear wheels. Getting Bullets or Saleen replicas are going to be 9" and 10", so the wheel WILL be moved outward. Going those dimensions will FORCE you to use lower profile to keep tires pretty close to overall diameter you have currently so you have clearance. If you stay 40 or 45 series tires, you will almost assuredly rub on something. The LAST thing you want to do is catch the front lower corner of fender on a hard turn with a bump as the fender will be damaged by the tire pulling it out, and the tire will most likely be cut by fender and may possibly need to be replaced! I will pull my car out this afternoon and take some pics. I will get a tape measure and get some pics down side of car so you can see what it looks like. I would have a hard time going higher profile in either front or back as I will most likey hit fender. I had to add additional roll to front fender after I installed the 275's as I had a very minor "catch" while cornering. If you think my tires have too much space, and is OK if you do, you will not be able to get less as the Mustang fender, as it is currently designed, will not allow it. Jazzer
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