11GTBlu

My '11 GT came with 19's (non-Brembo) and need a set of snowtires. Have found out 17" Bullitt wheels (with 235-55/17 tires) don't clear the front calipers; 18" wheel seems to be minimum that'll fit and I have a set on the way.

For tires, 235-50/18 would be the stock set up. I found a set of 235-55/18 tires -- but wonder if there will be a clearance issue as they are going to be just a little taller than stock (55 vs 50 series).

=> Any opinions...or better yet...hands-on experience with whether or not 235-55/18 tires fit without issue?

(FYI, most of you probably already know this -- but apparently 2011 GT has larger brakes than 2010 GT...even if you don't go Brembo).

mdg

why not just keep your current setup? if it snows like hell, snow tires will not make that much of a difference.

Nuke

235/55/18's are just a bit less than 1" taller than 235/50/18's. They should fit but will throw your speedometer off by more than 3% (about 2 MPH) at 60 MPH unless you have a tuner to correct it.

Are you sure that stock 18's are 235/50's? Sounds off to me. I'd think the 235/55's were stock for 18" wheels but that may be true for the 05-09's.

smokinAMD

Snow tires not making a difference? That's the funniest thing I've read all day, thanks for the laughs.

I would try to squeeze the narrowest tire possible onto the wheel without stretching it too far. 215's might work, and they'd help eliminate the snow shoe effect and help cut down through it and get you some more traction.

11GTBlu

Thanks for the info. I've been doing more research...and with the 18x9 rims, it looks like 225/40 or 235/45 are the skinniest tires that'll fit the rims.

Nuke

You need to use this: http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp

with 225/40/18's your speedometer will be over 7 mph off.

eolson

Just get a set of the stock 05' 18x8.5 wheels or 18's for 2010' and get 235/50/18 Snow tires, that is a very common size tire, and is the stock size that came with the 05's.

Hell, most of us have our stock 18x8.5's sitting in the basement because of brake upgrades, you pay for shipping, I'll send you my 64W Bullits stock 06' 18x8.5's. Erik

mdg

Glad to see you're easily amused. I said if it snows like hell, that they would not make a difference.

Nuke

Dedicated snow tires along with extra weight over the rear wheels make the Stang tolerable as compared to downright lousey. HOWEVER, the problem is the depth of snow where you're pushing snow with the undercarriage to the point that it'll pack and raise the car such that the tires can no longer get any bite (which will occur more so with a wet snow as compared to powder). This, I assume, is what he means by "snows like hell", although that will occur after a good 4-5 inches of unplowed snow falls. In most northern locals, 3"-5" is just a nuisance snow and quite a few 4x4 owners don't even engage 4WD at that point.

Bottom line, if you MUST drive your Stang in snow, do all that is possible to improve your chances.

mdg

I couldn't have said it better, thanks Nuke.