StangisSwag

Sup guys, im getting rims a bit later on but i was wondering what one of the better tire measurements all around would be for really good handling without too much of a sidewall btw

i was thinking i could go 255/40 (40 because i really like the way it is as it shows off more rim, currently running 60 and its awful lmao) and 235/40 on the front, input?

Norm Peterson

Less sidewall height usually means better steering response. But once you go much below 4" of calculated sidewall height (which will measure a lot closer to 3" from the wheel flange to the ground with the car weight on the wheels) you start running more risk of pinch flats and rim damage. Your handling will suck if you're on 3 normal tires and the spare. Guy down the block from where I live has two cars with really low profile tires - and he can't seem to keep all eight tires full of air for more than two or three days at a time. Sometimes not even seven of them.

IOW, don't get too carried away with having the lowest profile tires that you can find. A little lower is fine. Too much lower . . . isn't.


What size wheels do you have, and what are you looking at eventually?


I will tell you straight up that 235/40 is not enough tire for the front of these cars in 18" or 19" (and Tire Rack does not list any 235/40-20's). But if you are really interested in handling you'll want all four tires to be the same size anyway (short of running some sort of power adder). Make them all 255/40 instead, and put them on rims that are at least 9" wide (preferably 9.5"). Or 275/40-18 on rims that are 9.5" or maybe 10" wide.


The outside tires will compress even further in a turn when you're adding some lateral load transfer (incorrectly, "weight transfer") to them. The thumbnail pic shows what 255/45-18's on 18 x 9.5" wheels looks like when you're trying.


Norm

StangisSwag

what would you suggest for 18x8? that is the rim i am currently leaning towards the most, also, i have been told that 40 is the minimum sidewall to get the best of looks and no problems, i guess thats not really true huh? right now i have 225 all around thats why I though 235 would be enough for front; isnt a more meatier rear tire better for accel and cornering?

corruptor

235 will have little to no difference over 225 - only 10mm wider.

As Norm mentions, go with 9 or 9.5" wide wheels. 255s won't fit on 8" wide wheels.

As for your last question - I don't really understand what you're trying to ask, but if you're asking if you should stagger with 235 front and a wider tire in the rear, keep in mind that all else being equal, that will create additional understeer since the front tires will have less grip capacity than the rear.

StangisSwag

yeah i understand i could add understeer, but i dont think i will stagger bc the rims dont come staggered unless they are 20's (unless i change my mind and find another set in 18's/19's staggered)

Norm Peterson

A meatier rear tire is not particularly better for cornering until you tweak the suspension tuning - if anything, cornering with a front-heavy car of only moderate power might call for 'meatier' front tires just to get the car to 'rotate'. For acceleration - if you aren't getting wheelspin, you don't have any problem there that needs 'fixing'.

Fot this weight car in 18" tire sizes, you're really looking at 245 or wider in 45 profile or 275 or more in 40 profile. Those sizes are just a little shorter than the OE sizes and will leave you with a tiny bit more tire to sheetmetal gap. Anything narrower in those profiles won't have enough load capacity rating.

Why such narrow rims? 8" is too narrow for best performance with the 245/45's, and are way too narrow period for 275/40's. Ford put the 235/50's on 18 x 8.5's . . .


Norm