I know this may be a matter of preference but I need new back tires and I`m sort of wondering which way to go. I originally had 235/40-17 tires but Hankook doesn`t make that size anymore. If I go 235/45-17 the tires will be about an inch larger in diameter but if I go 245/40-17 then they will be a little wider but only very slightly larger in diameter. The rears are 8" rims which are at the minimum requirement for 245 width tires. This is probably the best shot I have from the rear of the car showing the current tires. Any thoughts?
Well, Hankook recommends an 8" to 9.5" rim for the 245 with 8.5" being the ideal so I think an 8" would be fine. I do need to check the inside clearance to the strut as I`m not sure how close my current tires are. I guess with the little larger tire it would slightly help with my highway driving with the 3-speed auto.
Another positive thing about the 235/45-17 is that it is almost identical in diameter to the 215/60-15 that came on the car. Your speedometer will be more likely to be accurate, unless you've changed a bunch of things around.
That's what I've got on mine, too.
Edit - At one time I had 245/45-17s on it. They fit my 8" wide wheels okay. Not perfect, but okay. ------------------ Raydar 88 Formula IMSA Fastback. 4.9, NVG T550
Praise the Lowered!
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 11-26-2013).]
Yea Raydar, I checked the aspect as compared to originals when I was shopping for tires and wheels and that`s what I found. I should have know something was up because I didn`t think that Hankook would stop making a fairly popular size tire and when I looked at my old post showing when I first got the tires and wheels I had mistakenly put 40 series as specs. I have them ordered from TireRack and should get them tomorrow as they have them in the warehouse in Louisiana.
[This message has been edited by TXGOOD (edited 11-27-2013).]
I ran 255/40/17s on 17x8 wheels for years, including at a bunch of autocrosses. It's not ideal, but it fits. The contact patch for 255 on an 8" wide wheel probably ends up being the equivalent of a 235 or 245 on a properly sized wheel.