Tire fit on 18x9 wheels.

Adam94GT · 09-30-2003

I'm pretty set on getting the chrome SVT Racing wheels. The 18x9 wheels they had on the FR500. While browsing for them on tirerack.com. The web site seemed to be insistent that 285/35/18 tires will not fit an 18 inch wheel that is only 9 inches wide. I find this hard to believe. Any thoughts? I don't think I can trust calling Tire Rack. As much as they may know, I think they'd just try to sell me on some custom 18x10 wheels.

Adam94GT · 10-01-2003

No thoughts??

GTRaptor · 10-01-2003

They are right...

275/35s are the limit on 9" wheels, you can go wider but the sidewall will flex and you will get premature wear on the sides, or worse, the tire can get out of the wheel.

Check this:
http://www.allfordmustangs.com/Detailed/658.shtml

Adam94GT · 10-03-2003

That's a good article. Have you considered adding approximate overall diameters to it? That could be pretty important in that I don't want my 245/40-18s in the front having a bigger diameter than my 275/35-18s in the rear. Maybe I'll go for 235/40-18s if that's the case. But I would like AT LEAST 245s in the front. You'd think someone would have come up with the optimum front/rear tire sizes for the Mustang by now. OH WAIT, Tire Rack already has! But that requires a 10" wide rear wheel

Adam94GT · 10-03-2003

After some research I found that BFGoodrich 245/40-18 tires are 25.7" overall diameter and that BFGoodrich 275/35-18 tires are 25.6" overall diameter. I'm assuming that other brand's tires will be similar diameters. I guess that's close enough for me. Now to choose the tires. I really like the Bridgestone Potenzas on my mom's car maybe I'll find some appropriate ones for mine.

Adam94GT · 10-04-2003

Any thoughts on Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Positions?