Widest tires for 9" wide rims

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04-11-2010, 08:13 PM

2010V6Stang

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Widest tires for 9" wide rims

Hey guys I am looking to get a set of drag rims and tires and I was looking at some 17x9 chrome bullitts and im just wondering what is the widest safest size tire I can use on a 9" wide rim? Also I currently have 8" wide rims and running 255s can I go to 275 on 8"?

Last edited by 2010V6Stang; 04-12-2010 at 06:39 AM.

04-11-2010, 08:27 PM

peetiewonder

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u could run 275/50 on a 17x8 the rim range for that is a 17x7.5-17x9.5 thats probably the widest tire ur gonna find generally in the right size for a 17x8 or 17x9 u could always go with a smaller diameter tire though.

Last edited by peetiewonder; 04-11-2010 at 08:29 PM.

04-12-2010, 06:39 AM

2010V6Stang

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could i run 315s on a 9", i found 315/40/17s

04-12-2010, 11:09 AM

Norm Peterson

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 2010V6Stang

Hey guys I am looking to get a set of drag rims and tires and I was looking at some 17x9 chrome bullitts and im just wondering what is the widest safest size tire I can use on a 9" wide rim?

275/40

Quote:

Also I currently have 8" wide rims and running 255s can I go to 275 on 8"?

Not for unrestricted normal use. By that I mean most anything except:
trailer-queen show cars
ALL of the driving is extremely short trips - like a dragstrip or autocross run, measured in seconds to a couple of minutes, tops
extremely temporary emergency use where you have absolutely no other option

255 is already at the limit for 8" wide wheels. Going wider will tend to cause extra tread center wear and make the tire run a little warmer (due to extra 'squirm'). Reducing the inflation in an attempt to "fix" the tread wear issue will make the tire run even hotter still. Not a good idea.

Norm

Last edited by Norm Peterson; 04-12-2010 at 11:13 AM.

04-12-2010, 11:10 AM

2010V6Stang

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Also what exactly would be the advantages and disadvantages of a wider tire for the track? I know it will have more traction, but also more weight. Does a wider tire mean better times?

04-12-2010, 11:12 AM

2010V6Stang

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

275/40

Not for unrestricted normal use. By that I mean most anything except:
trailer-queen show cars
where ALL of the driving is extremely short trips - like a dragstrip or autocross run, measured in seconds to maybe a couple of minutes
extremely temporary emergency use where you have absolutely no other option

255 is already at the limit for 8" wide wheels. Going wider will tend to cause extra tread center wear, and reducing the inflation to fix that will make the tire run hotter. Not a good idea.

Norm

Thanks Norm, so If wanted to go 315s for the track I would 10" wides?

04-12-2010, 11:20 AM

Riptide

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You'll want a 10" wide rim for a 315.

A 285 is about as wide as you can go on a 9.5" rim just for comparison's sake.

04-12-2010, 12:04 PM

Norm Peterson

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I think you'll find most tire mfrs recommending at least 10.5" for a 315 wide tire and 305 being tops for 10".

If by 'track', you mean either an eighth or quarter mile dragstrip and only drive on that combination there, you're probably OK. I would strongly suggest against running the Maxton Mile with that combination, though.

Norm