ordering rims tommorow

[c_c]

I'm going to the local tire shop tommorow to order new rims and tires. I'm getting torq thrust II's 17x9.5 on the front and 17x11 on the back. I was going to stay with the same size as stock (16x8 I think) so I could reuse tire but in my year of driving I have tortured those back tires and their shot ( that'll have to stop once I get those 11's though cause I assuming their not cheap) Anyway I was wondering If I should get 11s on the back or should I get the 9.5s instead. What are the advantages of 11's or do they just look cool

[Z Ya Later]

I'm going to the local tire shop tommorow to order new rims and tires. I'm getting torq thrust II's 17x9.5 on the front and 17x11 on the back. I was going to stay with the same size as stock (16x8 I think) so I could reuse tire but in my year of driving I have tortured those back tires and their shot ( that'll have to stop once I get those 11's though cause I assuming their not cheap) Anyway I was wondering If I should get 11s on the back or should I get the 9.5s instead. What are the advantages of 11's or do they just look cool

Well, if you're gonna run 11s on the rear, that'll let you run 315's in the rear (some "massaging" may be needed). The advantage to the wider tire is a larger footprint, giving you better grip in the rear. However, it also means slightly less power transmitted to the ground since it will take a little more to spin 315s. I'm sure Fred can chime in and expand on this much more.

[Craig 94 TA GT]

Yup, the added rotating mass will decrease RWHP by a few. Here are the dyno results: http://www.ws6.com/wheels.htm going from stock 17x9 WS6 rims to 11" ones.
But the added gains in traction should make up (and more) for the loss of a couple RWHP.

[c_c]

So your saying even though I will lose a ponies at the wheels I become quicker because of better traction. Like maybe a tenth off of my 1/4 time
if Im lucky

[Injuneer]

I run the 17x11's on the street with 315/35-17 BFG Drag Radials. They are almost enough to let the car hook and I'm pushing 500flywheelHP through a TH400 with a high stall converter and 4.11 gears. Previously I ran 17x9.5's with 275/40-17 GY GS-C's and the slightest twitch of the throttle seemed to spin the tires... and that was with 3.73's.

The wider contact patch of 315's should also help with ultimate cornering capabilities (within the constraints of the solid rear axle design).

I believe the TT II's have a 7.75" backspace on the 17x11's, and that should avoid most of the rubbing on the inner fenders (less hammering required), and minimize the interference with the corner of the jounce bumper bracket (less grinding required). But it will increase the chances of the fender wheel opening "lip" catching the outer edge of the tire wall on hard jounce and cornering. I had a problem with mine (AFS with 7.93" backspace) rubbing on really hard shifts when the car still had the M6 tranny. You need to watch it very carefully, and if you are having a problem with the lip rubbing the tire, you roll the inner edge of the lip up against the inner fender and the problem will be minimized. You could also check the rear centering of the body over the rear axle. The space from the fender lip to the tire should be about the same on both sides, and if it isn't you would need an adjustable panhard rod to recenter it.