88 GT with 17" cobra r wheels... what size tires??

[Cutter1024]

I bought a 88 GT with 17" cobra r wheels. It has 235/45/17 all the way around, and when turning sharp, the fronts rub a little. Anyone else have these problems? What size should I go with in the front? Also whats the biggest I can go in the rear? The tires are wearing very bad on the outside of all 4, so i guess it needs a alignment also. Also are the wheels 17x9?

Thanks

 

[rwood126]

You can do 245/45/17 front and 275/40/17 rear or 245/45 all around.

 

[Cutter1024]

But the 235's are rubbing on sharp turns in the front. I was thinking of doing the 275's in the rear, or maybe a 255, and keeping the fronts a 235. Would that be ok?

 

[5point0dude]

That would be ok. You could run either a 275 or 255 out back and not have any rubbing issues. It's kind of strange that your 235s are rubbing, what kind of tires are they? I have 17x8 Cobra R's and 245/45/17s all around. I get a slight rub when the wheels are turned at full lock. But it's not a big deal.

 

[RsStanG1987]

try running a 235/40/17 on the front and some of the rubbing should go away.

 

[Bullitt347]

I run a 225/45/17 front and a 255/40/17 rear. No rubbing issues under any conditions.

 

[MR 5.SLOW]

235/45/17 fronts and rears 245/45/17 cobra rims

 

[LarsD]

I run 245/45/17 around on mine and only get a slight rub on the quad shocks when the suspension is articulating. Although I get some rub in the front, its the rim on the lower A arm.

ETA: These are 01 Bullitts in 17X8.

 

[Onefine88]

I run the mentioned Cobra Rs on my orange'87 vert with 235/45 up front and 255/40 in the rear. This is with FRPP B springs so it sits low. The only rubbing is up front only on the inside of the rim rubbing the lower A arm when turned to lock.
I've had these rims on two different fox's. The 9" wheel up front will rub somewhere I promise.

I have 8.5" 93 Cobra replicas on my '88vert. 245/45's up front and 275/40's in the rear. No rubbing whatsoever with the same spring settup.

 

[Georgia Snake]

Tires

View attachment 63420 I am running 255/45-17 Nittos all around on my 92 mounted on the Cobra "Fan" wheels with no rubbing issues. I do think also my wheels have a slightly different off set than the Cobra "R's"

 

[CDQICKGT]

Measure your front rim width. I bought a set cobra r's from a guy on here, was supposed to be 17x9, when I measured them they were all17x10

 

[Shaolin Crane]

i run 275 all around

 

[venom97]

^ same here but mines a 91.

 

[nick6690]

It shouldnt be the tires rubbing, its probably the rim itself. I have the same problem at full lock with my 17X9 cobra r's. You can see where the inside of the rim was rubbing on the a arm. I have the same size tires as you also.

 

[Georgia Snake]

tire rub

Just thought of something I think we have all over looked here. The 88 does not have the revised front ground effect piece behind the front bumper cover like my 92. yall are aware I am sure that when Ford went to the larger diameter wheels ie the 16" ponies and the 17" Cobras they ever so slightly changed the shape of that front piece for extra clearance. I just happened to remember this as my son has an 88 GT Vert and he and I had discussed that and compared his to mine. Maybe get the piece from a 91-93 and give yourself that extra little bit of clearance.