Tire Question

[WS6MAN]

Hey All,
1st post here. I have a 2000 T/A WS6 275/40/17 i would like to go with a lower profile tire any suggestions i thought about either 235/40/17 or 225/45/17? any suggestions appreciated.
I would like to keep traction and handling without compromise so if i have to ill keep the original size i would just "prefer" lower profile.

Thx,
WS6MAN

[HottestZ28]

If you go any thinner of a tire you are going to lose traction unless you buy drag radials or something like that, personally if you wanna go thinner go with a larger rim and lower profile tire like 275/40ZR17 or 285/35ZR18

[N20LT4Bird]

If you go with either of the tire sizes just mentioned, you will have a shorter sidewall, but a skinnier tire as well. 235 mm vs. 275 mm stock. You dont want to do that. If you bumped up to the 18 inch size mentioned, that would be your best bet IMOP.

[Injuneer]

Disadvantages of a 235/40-17:

-smaller contact patch
-less flex in sidewall = poorer straight line traction and harsher ride
-thinner sidewall height increases chances of damage from potholes and curbs.
-24.4" diameter is about 1.25 smaller than stock, and will cause your speedo to read 5% higher than actual speed and odo to rack up 5% extra miles, unless you have the computer reprogrammed.
-approx 300# less load capacity than a 275/40

The 225/45-17 adds to that list:

-not recommended by manufacturers for your 9" wide wheels.
-2.7% speedo/odo error.

Are you doing this strictly for "looks"? 'cause IMHO is isn't going to look very good with narrow tires stretched over wide wheels.

An alternative approach would be to go up to a 17x11 rim in the back and use a 315/35-17 tire. The sidewall height will be exactly the same as the 275/40, but the added width of the section/tread will make it "look" lower in profile.

[wolfdogs]

woah ........here!


"low profile" means "aspect ratio". ie.: sidewall height..nothing to do with rolling diameter or overall height of the tire. your "optional sizes" are the same aspect ratio as the O.E. tire......you dont gain anything..you lose contact patch size...you are downgrading your handling.

a lower profile would be a 285/35r17 thats a rolling o.d. of 24.88" which i a little less than an inch shorter than your o.e. tire..but a larger contact patch and smaller sidewall height.

thats as low as you can go on your 17" rim thats 9" wide.