8's or 9's?

[sbmackie]

Anybody been through this?

I currently have 7's and 9's x 16 on my SC. I am finding it difficult to find the tires I want that will fit the 9's (size preference 245/45). There are LOTS of 225/50's in the compound I want, which will fit 8's. Yes, there are Kumho's, Hoosiers, etc that will fit nicely on the 9's, but am trying to avoid the two sets of wheels thing. I can get several 140 and 160 UTQG rated tires in the smaller size, but only one in the larger size (Sumitomo HTZ's I think they are called). I am using the tire rack as my source.

So: Is it worth it to swap out the 9's for 8's? Basic use is auto cross, DE, the odd track day, and pleasure driving. 3500 miles a year.

The 9's are heavier then the 8's, but the 245 tire size is nice. Will the 8's support the 245's if I later want to go to a track tire?

Standing by incoming.

sbm

[AirCooledExcellence]

I've been through the same as you, there's not much choice of rubber out there for the 9's. I settled for Hankook RS2's in the end.

I have heard of folks fitting 245 tyres on 8's so you should be OK.

[JeremyD]

Originally posted by AirCooledExcellence
I've been through the same as you, there's not much choice of rubber out there for the 9's. I settled for Hankook RS2's in the end.

I have heard of folks fitting 245 tyres on 8's so you should be OK.

+1 - try www.tire-easy.com too

[don911]

I had Hankook R2S 245/45/16s on 8s and they fit fine. I compared the hankooks to my RA1s and the RA1s were wider.

FYI I think the Hankook R2S is a great tire for the money and it comes in 245/45. I've heard it's a good autox tire but only used it on the street.

[widgeon13]

Since 225/50X16 was originally fitted to 7's, it makes sense to me that 245/45X16 will work fine on 8 or 9's. I have 225/50 on 8's but will go to the 245's when these wear out.

[Bill Verburg]

Toyo RA1 and MPSC are both available in 245/45x16

I don't know whats up w/ some of the venders that used to be on the ball, but there are a lot of tires in sizes that are available from other sources that certain vendors claim don't exist.

Yes, TR is one of those that used to be good but apparantly aren't stocking many of the tires or sizes we use.

[sbmackie]

Anybody got the following pics: an 8' rim with a 245/45 on, and a 9' rim with a 225/50, both on cars so I can see what it looks like?

Do I gain anything with the wider rim if I 'stretch" a 225 to fit?

Does the extra 40MM of rubber make (245 vs 225's in back) any appreciable difference, (I have sport bilsteins back and front, lowered, Carrera sways and a 26MM torsion bar)?

And thanks for the tip on tire easy .com. Yep, tire rack said "we don't have it", and tire easy does.

Scott

[IROC]

Originally posted by sbmackie
Anybody got the following pics: an 8' rim with a 245/45 on, and a 9' rim with a 225/50, both on cars so I can see what it looks like?

Do I gain anything with the wider rim if I 'stretch" a 225 to fit?

Does the extra 40MM of rubber make (245 vs 225's in back) any appreciable difference, (I have sport bilsteins back and front, lowered, Carrera sways and a 26MM torsion bar)?

I have 245/45-16s on 8x16s in the front of my car (Toyo RA-1s). I personally think the 245 works fine on the 8. The pic below doesn't show the tire/wheel specifically, but maybe you can get the idea (it doesn't "bulge" out for sure):

[sbmackie]

Are those 8's in the rear as well?

sbm

[vntgspd]

For autocross, "stretching" the tire on the rim is advantageous. It stiffens the sidewall and improves responsiveness. I suspect it increases ride harshness as well.

I have run 215 to 225 section tires on 9" rims for years with no issues. I am now running 225 section tires on 8" rims and with I could go to 9s.

I've heard great things about the Hankooks as well.

[IROC]

Originally posted by sbmackie
Are those 8's in the rear as well?

sbm

Thanks. The rears are 9x17s with 275/40s...

[KTL]

Show Me Your 911 with 8s and 245x45x16

245 on an 8 is perfectly acceptable. Not optimal but works perfectly fine. I've run 245/45 Michelin Sport Cups and Kumho Victoracers on 8 in. wheels for a few years now. Works just fine. The upside to the 8 is that 225 or 245 is a good fit. 225 on a 9 can be really stretched and awful looking if you chose a narrow 225 tire.

[widgeon13]

Originally posted by IROC
Thanks. The rears are 9x17s with 275/40s...

So you run 17's on the back and 16's on the front. I was thinking of doing that but decided against it. Can you throw in a side view of the car.
Thanks

[IROC]

Originally posted by widgeon13
So you run 17's on the back and 16's on the front. I was thinking of doing that but decided against it. Can you throw in a side view of the car.
Thanks

Not a great side shot, but... I did this about 10 years ago. Back then there was not a great selection of 17 inch tires and I couldn't get anything wider than a 215 or 225 in the front, IIRC, so I went with the 16s. Funny how now I have a hard time finding the 245/45-16s...

[Oliver Klosov]

I have 7"s and 8"s fuchs. I wouldn't want any thing more. They look and fit great! How much do you need? Are you racing on some track? I can corner and rip... They're beautiful and just enough. Get what you want, but I really like what I have... Another county heard from!

[450knotOffice]

IROC (Mike),

What did you have to do to get the 275's to fit in back and the 245's to fit in front? Did you have to go with big camber and move some oil lines?

[Tsunamiboy]

Bump

[IROC]

Originally posted by 450knotOffice
IROC (Mike),

What did you have to do to get the 275's to fit in back and the 245's to fit in front? Did you have to go with big camber and move some oil lines?

Nothing exotic, really. The front wheels are a custom offset (the backspacing is about 5.75") and the rears are standard 930 offset (5.5" backspacing?). I didn't have to move any oil lines or grind any bolts down like many folks. I am running about 1.25 degrees of negative camber all around. I have not had any rubbing issues at all. Maybe I got lucky... :>)

[sbmackie]

So, is there any gain for me having 9's on the back if I can run 245's on an 8?

Scott

[JeremyD]

Originally posted by Oliver Klosov
I have 7"s and 8"s fuchs. I wouldn't want any thing more. They look and fit great! How much do you need? Are you racing on some track? !

These are 8" 951 fronts and 9" rears - so I guess the answer would be yes...


As far as 9's vs 8's - really the only difference besides the 1" width is the lugs are a little more countersunk on the 9's vs the 8's.