66coupedude

hello. i have a 66 coupe.i have installed the wheel adapters to fit bullit type wheels.17x8. i was running 245/45/r17's all the way around.just had 205/40/r17's mounted on the front for more clearance. the rims stick out past the tires and looks odd. the tire company said the max width of the rim is 8". my tire guy said they mounted and balanced fine. i can live with the look and the fact if i ever hit a curb my wheel will be toast but i am more concerned with saftey.just curious if anyone has delt with this before.

thanks

cliffyk

Falken says a 205/40-17 can go on an 8" wheel, however that's the maximum recommended width, Of greater concern would be that those puppies are nearly 1-1/2" smaller diameter than the 245/45's--that's going to reduce ground clearance by over an inch, and mess up wheel alignment (caster and toe-in mostly) a bunch...

corvetteguy

If you are going to hit a curb, it won't make
a difference how the rubber meets the rim.
You are going to scratch or dent the rim
anyway.
You can alwys install a set of curb feelers
like they had in the 50's.

Jfsram

I wouldn't have any saftey concerns with the rim vs tire width.

Hitting a curb, sure it makes no difference if the tire or rim stick out a bit more but parking a car against a sidewalk will be different. A bit a tire sticking out will allow you to feel the curb with the tire before the rim touches it. I hate touching the sidewalk with my sidewall, even with beaters but I'll take it over touching it with the rim anyday.