Gimme some wheel/tire advice. '03 Cobra 17x9 replicas.

[Jason 302]

My old 16x7 pony rims have sorta lost their appeal, and I've been doing the majority of my driving on 15" Weld Draglites with skinnies up front. They look great, but I'm tired of the skinnie's being limited in the cornering and braking department. So I've decided to buy these sometime soon...

http://www.americanmuscle.com/17x9-2003-cobra-4lug-chrome.html

Has anybody bought these rims yet? Quality and finish any good?

I'm also split between what size tires to run....245/45-17 or 255/45-17. I'm guessing with the rim being 9" wide, the 255 would be a better fit, not to mention I would probably like it being a little taller with plans to switch to 4.10's. Don't think I would have any clearance issues with this combo will I? Right now I have some 265/50-15 on the Welds and they clear my quad shocks (after I flipped them ). I also want to keep the low profile look, there wouldn't be much difference between the 245/45 and the 255/45 would there? Sorry for the long post and thanks.

 

[OonDeanisS]

theyre both the same... the 245/255 is the width of the wheel, and the 45 is the height. I'd get 255s if i were you, but i honestly dont know about the clearance. I just bought a set of machined 03's. Im just waiting now, i wish i coulda got chrome for the price, but oh well.

 

[hemi_fan]

I have 03' Cobras on my car... 255s will fit EASILY on front and rear, you probably wont need any fender modifications unless your car is really really low. A 255 will clear a quad shock, and deffinitely a flipped one. I have 275s and they're like 1 millimetre away from my quad shock, so ive gotta flip it in the spring. 255s are the way to go tho.

 

[Jason 302]

theyre both the same... the 245/255 is the width of the wheel, and the 45 is the height. I'd get 255s if i were you, but i honestly dont know about the clearance. I just bought a set of machined 03's. Im just waiting now, i wish i coulda got chrome for the price, but oh well.

No, a 255/45-17 will be taller than a 245/45-17. The "45" is the aspect ratio of the width, so being a wider tire, it will also be a bit taller. Go to tirerack.com and look up sizes and then click on specs, you'll see. Thanks for the replies guys, guess I might have to go with those 255's.

 

[iLkYsPoNy]

I just ordered the same wheels, 17x9, and I plan on running 245/45/17 in the front and 275/40/17 in the rear. I don't foresee any problems.... right?

 

[Chuckman]

the 17x9 saleens ive got in the garage have 245/45/17's on em, if i were you id go with at least a 255/45, the 245 dont bulge past the rim at all, it looks silly and it wont protect the wheel. ill be going 255/45 and 275/40 when the current tires die (or sooner, cause it really needs a stickyer tire)

 

[Strype]

245/45 will not meet the wheel all the way

 

[MAC'n89Blckstng]

255/40's in the front with 275/40's in the back and the quads swapped is the best sizes for a 9 inch rim IMO.
Here's a pic of my car with those sizes.