Widest 17" tires that will fit?

[NY Pete]

215/50r17 is stock, correct? Will 225/45r17 or 235/40r17 fit if the appropriately sized wheel is fitted (7.5" width)? My car will come with 205/55r16's, so I'm figuring the 225/40r17's are closer to maintaining overall height between the two tire/wheel combos...

[NY Pete]

oops, I just realized I probably should have posted this in the tire & wheel forum...

[Sub-Vibe-R]

Take a look here to see if tire size will fit:http://www.c5-corvette.com/tirecalc.htm orhttp://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.htmlVery usefull while time to upgrade tireBy using the SEARCH fontion, you can see those 2 prev threadhttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=1066http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=171

[Stang2Vibe]

I'm guessing that the 245/55 ZR17's I have from my Mustang aren't going to fit. Darn. Here goes another $700 for tires.

[MadBill]

Quote>I'm guessing that the 245/55 ZR17's I have from my Mustang aren't going to fit. Darn. Here goes another $700 for tires.Don't be too sure! Nobody's going to believe this, but I did a bunch of measuring with a 2" x 4" and cardboard profiles (very hi-tec) of various tires, at all steering angles and suspension positions that I could get and concluded that with the right offset, I can fit 275/40 x 17"s on the back (slightly taller than stock 215/50s) and would have only the slightest contact with the plastic liners on the front. (245/40s (1/10" smaller than my 205/55s should clear.) I happen to have a set of Firehawks in this size, on Camaro rims with 46 mm offset, so I'm making up 12 mm thick adaptors and will try them out. If it works, I save ~ $2k, if it doesn't , it won't cost me much. (Kids, don't try this at home until I know for sure it will work)PS: No ABS, so I can use different front/rear diameters.

[NY Pete]

Camaro bolt pattern is 5x120.65, Vibe is 5x100... and your 12mm adapters you're making aren't thick enough to allow a stud (even between the existing lugs) to protrude... maybe you have something up your sleeve, but my first impression is that it might not work...

[MadBill]

I understand your concern, NYP! It's a liitle tricky, but here's how it works: The adaptor plates are 12mm (1/2") thick. This is just enough to countersink them full depth on a 100mm BC and install lug nuts cut down to ~ 7/16" (11mm) high, leaving sufficent thread for full strength on a 12 mm stud and just enough hex section to engage a socket . The stock studs are trimmed off to 12 mm long, so's not to protrude above the face of the adaptor. The Camaro 4-3/4" BC is drilled 1/2 way between the 100 mm BC holes and countersunk from the back side for 1-1/2" x 1/2"NF flat head allen bolts, leaving enough material at the front face for a few threads to located same, supplemented by Retaining Grade Locktite. The adaptor is bolted on and the stubby nuts torqued to 76 lb-ft (77 if you have a Matrix!) The Camaro wheel is then fitted over the allen bolt shanks and fastened by standard 1/2" NF wheel nuts. Next fall, the adaptors are removed, and the 15" Steelies re-fitted using standard nuts. The shortened studs are still long enough to safely retain same. Whew! Nothing to it!PS: Did I mention these suckers are 10" wide?

[NY Pete]

huh. You did have something up your sleeve. Just remember to post pics!

[MadBill]

Will do! Hopefully in a couple of weeks max.