[goat guy]

Putting a set of 17x9 wheels on a 73-77 lemans. What would be good tire sizes to use to fill the wheel well?

[PDC]

255/50/17 rear - 27” Diameter
255/45/17 front - 26” Diameter

Fills the wheel wells nicely and gives a slight ‘raked’ profile.

This is with Hotchkis Small Block coils up front and Hotchkis leafs with 1” lowering blocks out back.

[goat guy]

Thanks, nice pictures and car

[PDC]

Thank You! Many curse words and even more dollars in the rear view mirror of Big Green, but it has been pretty hassle-free the last few years!

[goat guy]

Great! What brand of tires are they? Seems the 255 50"s don't have too many selections. Would like to get the BFGoorich tires. Suppliers? Thanks

[PDC]

These are Nitto 555 tires. Nitto may be the last manufacturer to make these. Tire Rack doesn’t carry them. My local tire shop ordered them from their supplier.

I am tempted to snap up another set just in case this somewhat less popular size gets discontinued.

https://www.nittotire.com/passenger-...formance-tire/

[Skip Fix]

I've seen some guys use 275-40-17s on the rear.

[PDC]

Originally Posted by Skip Fix

I've seen some guys use 275-40-17s on the rear.

Yes - the only issue for me is that the 275/40/17 checks in at under 26" tall - something like 25.6" Unless the rear end sits really, really low, a 25.6" tire leaves quite a bit of empty wheel well on the rear of a 2nd Gen F-Body and can look a little out of proportion. I have seen cars lowered down to the grass that look incredible with the shorter profile tire, no doubt.

[goat guy]

Nitto does not list the 255 50-17 on there web site any longer. Where could you get those size tires???

[PDC]

Check the Nitto 555 G2. The G2 is the street / summer tire. The hyperlink I posted should take you to the G2. It shows the 255/50/17.

It is correct that Nitto does not offer the 255/50/17 in the competition or drag radial.

[The Champ]

Tirerack has two options for 255/50/17's. Summit has 2 Nitto options.

Also, a 245/50/17 is only slightly shorter and is more readily available. Tirerack has 23 different options available.

[Skip Fix]

Yes those do leave too much room. Be nice if there was a 275 or 295 in 17 that was taller.

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by PDC

255/50/17 rear - 27” Diameter
255/45/17 front - 26” Diameter

Fills the wheel wells nicely and gives a slight ‘raked’ profile.

This is with Hotchkis Small Block coils up front and Hotchkis leafs with 1” lowering blocks out back.

Do the front tires hit the subframe at full turn?

[PDC]

Nope. No interference up front at full turn. And that’s with factory control arms. Hotchkis control arms provide even greater clearance.

[goat guy]

What would be a good vendor to get those size tires from? Is Nito a good brand? Any other brands with those sizes available?

[PDC]

Originally Posted by goat guy

What would be a good vendor to get those size tires from? Is Nito a good brand? Any other brands with those sizes available?

Another member noted that Summit stocks the Nitto 555 G2 series. I just checked and they’ve got the 245/50/17 on the shelf ready to ship and they show the 255/50/17 as available Oct. 2. Decent price, too.

I have had little luck finding these sizes in another brand. A few other brands will have one size, but not the other.

I’ve got no complaints with the Nitto’s. They didn’t break the bank and they look great on the YO 17” rims. The 555 G2 is a summer only performance tire - I don’t drive competitively, so I can’t comment on grip / cornering / braking performance.

[goat guy]

I found them at a place Simpletire.com. They had a good price, free shipping, and both in stock in the G2. Ordered them. Be here next week. Thanks for all the information.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by PDC

Another member noted that Summit stocks the Nitto 555 G2 series. I just checked and they’ve got the 245/50/17 on the shelf ready to ship and they show the 255/50/17 as available Oct. 2. Decent price, too.

I have had little luck finding these sizes in another brand. A few other brands will have one size, but not the other.

That was me...

255/50/17's aren't made by a lot of companies - but as I pointed out in my post - Tirerack has 23 different options of the 245/50/17 available.

I personally have Continental Extremecontact DWS 06 245/50/17's on the rear of my '64 GTO.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes

[PDC]

Originally Posted by goat guy

I found them at a place Simpletire.com. They had a good price, free shipping, and both in stock in the G2. Ordered them. Be here next week. Thanks for all the information.

Please post pics! Looking forward to seeing your car with the new wheels & tires!

[goat guy]

Will do!