I'm trying to figure out a way to keep my stock pirellis (235/55) up front and get a nicer set of street tires or even drag radials for the rear. I want something that has an overall diameter at or slightly larger than the stock tires, preferably as wide as I can go on a 17x9.

275/50 is a strange size but would be about perfect. I can find NT450 tires in this size but they are crap. Falken makes one as well but I know nothing about it. As far as drags go, forget about it. Nothing in that size.

If I step down to 255/50 I'm almost there - but it's a hair smaller (.14" overall diameter) than the stock pirellis. I do NOT want to lower my car.

Should I just forget about it this and plan on a whole new set of wheels?

 

I have the 275/50R17 Nitto NT450 (almost 28" dia) on my stock Bullitts in the back, with the stock Pirelli's up front. I like the taller rear tire, and I think the Nittos bite better than the P-Zeros (granted, they are wider). Here's a pic -





I cannot comment on the Nittos for track use, cuz I also have 17x9" replica Bullitts for my DR's, which are 275/50R17 M&H Racemasters (28" dia) - see pic. The 275 M&H will fit on the stock Bullitt, and I now wish I had gone with the 325/45R17 M&H's (or 295 MT's) on the 17x9" rim.

But tire selection isn't great for a 17x9" rim.

 

17x9 rims are great for racing - the twisty kind, but do indeed suck for daily driving. All the good track/autoX tires are made in 17 in (a lot cheaper than 18" rubber) but the aspect ratios are all low thus the overall diameter is below 28" and you end up with unsightly gaps between the top of the tire and the fender. As you found, there are very few 'tall' tires that will fit the 9" wide rim. 17x8 or 18x9 are far better rim sizes for daily driving IMO.

 

The MT 295/45 would be great except for the fact their site recommends a 9.5" wheel. 275 seems to be about the limit for 9.0" from what I can see. And you're right, selection sucks. The NT450 just has horrible dry traction from what I've read. Nitto's site seems to confirm that.

Looks like 17x9.0 rims are a bit of a lame duck. [&:]

 

There isnt the best selection for that size, you can set you DD up with 255/50s. Nitto makes most all their tires in that size and Kumho makes a couple too

Check out onlinetires.com for a nice selection in that size and some great prices that you can have your local discounttire match or even tirerack

 

I used the MT 295/45-17 on 17x9" rims and LOVED them on the street and track. They are out of stock and won't be available again until June, so I"m temporarily on an M&H 325/45-17 on the 17x9s (M&Hs run narrow, by the way). I could take corners easily and run 1.67 sixty foots at the drag strip.

John

 

http://www.jegs.com/i/M%26H/676/ROD-06R/10002/-1/754450|36693

That might work. Spendy. On a car that gets driven on the street (not in rain however) I wonder how long these would last.

 

That's the DR I have on my 17x9's, but I wished I put the 325's on those wheels instead. As stated earlier, the M&H's run narrow compared to the MT's (compare tread width). I ran the 275's all summer - in the rain too. Although I avoided highway speeds in the rain, they got me through just fine - about 4K miles (and I'm running them this year too at the track).

 

Sounds like a set of 275/50 M&H's are on my short list then. Right after I get my LCAs in. Need some tools first before I can tackle that however. Thanks for the suggestion btw. I may go with an 18x10 at some point down the road when I truly need bigger tires (FI) but for now I bet those 275 M&H's are going to be perfect for the rear of my car!

 

Go to http://www.falkentire.com/#/Home/ and ask them to make their 452's in a size more appropriate for the 2005+ mustang. That's what I did.

I'm sick of there not being any performance tires for our cars. I don't want 18 inch rims!!!!!!!

I asked for a 295/45/17 or 275/45/17 or 275/50/17. I even asked for a 255/50/17.