69 Camaro- ?? 17" wheel and tire size to be safe?! - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

drtwo · 05-16-2014, 12:59 PM

I have a stock 69 SS camaro and want to add 17 inch wheels and am looking for a good wider look but not so big that I risk rubbing.

I understand with research here that the max to be almost safe is:

FRONT: 17x8 with 4.75 backspace with 245/45/17
BACK: 17x9.5 with 5.25? backspace with 275/40/17

1) Doesn't a 40 series in back then make the rear tire shorter(but wider) than the front?

2) If I want to be even a little safer from rubbing what would you use? I'm not going for the widest tire, just a setup that looks good!
how about: FRONT 17x8 with 4.75 backspace with 235/45/17 and BACK 17x9.5 5.25 backspace with 255/40/17
would the front tire truly be taller than the rear due to 40 vs 45 series difference?

3) Is the issue usually the width of the tire or the height of the tires with rubbing?

flyingskibiker · 05-16-2014, 09:45 PM

The width is the first number is the width in mm. It doesn't change. The next number is the aspect ratio. Yes, a 45 has more sidewall than the 40. But since it is a ratio, it may not work out to be taller. Let's see:

245/45R17 = 9.65" wide X 25.68" high X ~4.34" sidewall
275/40R17 = 10.83" wide X 25.66" high X ~4.33" sidewall

235/45R17 = 9.25" wide X 25.33" high X ~4.13" sidewall
255/40R17* = 10.04" wide X 25.03" high X ~4.02" sidewall
*Might have to see what the widest wheel that tire can be mounted on?

I use to run a 14" wheel with 60 series on the front and 15" wheel with 50s on the rear and they were pretty close in height and looked OK (filled the wells)...

The tire can either rub on the frame or wheel well lip if too wide when turning sharply. When my front springs were shot, the tires would "bottom out" on the upper, inner wheel well. So, both can be an issue if one goes to far in either direction... Personally, I don't might the frame rub. It is only at extremes and nothing sharp in that location... But even that could be solved with offset (to a point).

drtwo · 05-16-2014, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingskibiker

front: 245/45R17 = 9.65" wide X 25.68" high X ~4.34" sidewall
Rear: 275/40R17 = 10.83" wide X 25.66" high X ~4.33" sidewall

Front: 235/45R17 = 9.25" wide X 25.33" high X ~4.13" sidewall
Rear: 255/40R17* = 10.04" wide X 25.03" high X ~4.02" sidewall

so in both the measurements above the height IS actually up to 1/4 inch smaller in back, but obviously that would be minimal and not noticed.

does anyone know if the backspacing from above is correct?

05-16-2014, 12:59 PM	#1
drtwo Drives: 2SS RS Yellow, Raptor, Vrod Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South Dakota Posts: 599 View My Garage	69 Camaro- ?? 17" wheel and tire size to be safe?! I have a stock 69 SS camaro and want to add 17 inch wheels and am looking for a good wider look but not so big that I risk rubbing. I understand with research here that the max to be almost safe is: FRONT: 17x8 with 4.75 backspace with 245/45/17 BACK: 17x9.5 with 5.25? backspace with 275/40/17 1) Doesn't a 40 series in back then make the rear tire shorter(but wider) than the front? 2) If I want to be even a little safer from rubbing what would you use? I'm not going for the widest tire, just a setup that looks good! how about: FRONT 17x8 with 4.75 backspace with 235/45/17 and BACK 17x9.5 5.25 backspace with 255/40/17 would the front tire truly be taller than the rear due to 40 vs 45 series difference? 3) Is the issue usually the width of the tire or the height of the tires with rubbing? __________________ 2SS RS Rally Yellow, LS3, M6, sunroof, extra on the fast! Last edited by drtwo; 05-16-2014 at 09:31 PM.

05-16-2014, 09:45 PM	#2
flyingskibiker Drives: Cars, Trucks, Bikes, ORVs, Planes Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South SF Bay, CA Posts: 228	The width is the first number is the width in mm. It doesn't change. The next number is the aspect ratio. Yes, a 45 has more sidewall than the 40. But since it is a ratio, it may not work out to be taller. Let's see: 245/45R17 = 9.65" wide X 25.68" high X ~4.34" sidewall 275/40R17 = 10.83" wide X 25.66" high X ~4.33" sidewall 235/45R17 = 9.25" wide X 25.33" high X ~4.13" sidewall 255/40R17* = 10.04" wide X 25.03" high X ~4.02" sidewall *Might have to see what the widest wheel that tire can be mounted on? I use to run a 14" wheel with 60 series on the front and 15" wheel with 50s on the rear and they were pretty close in height and looked OK (filled the wells)... The tire can either rub on the frame or wheel well lip if too wide when turning sharply. When my front springs were shot, the tires would "bottom out" on the upper, inner wheel well. So, both can be an issue if one goes to far in either direction... Personally, I don't might the frame rub. It is only at extremes and nothing sharp in that location... But even that could be solved with offset (to a point). __________________ 1968 SS w/ 1966 427/425 Sequoia Green w/ Bumble Bee stripe. Always working on it... Drooling over the ZL1s. It will be my next car if I can manage to pull it off...