16s & 17s?

[lindy 911]

I was having my 6 x 16 Fuchs re-worked into 9 x16 for the rear of my '78 SC. Problem is there are only a few tires available for these wheel sizes. I am contemplating going to a 9 x 17 in the rear and run a 245-40-17 and run 225-50-16 in the front. The diameter of the two are almost identical.

Anyone see a problem?

Thanks for the help!

Lindy

[IROC]

There are no issues with running 16s on the front and 17s on the rear. The diameters of the tires don't even have to be close. I have 245/45-16s on the front and 275/40-17s on the rear of my car...

If you go with a 9x17 in the rear, I would use a 255/40-17 tire, though.

[lindy 911]

Thanks for the help. I'm having my wheels done by Trudesign in Denver. Looking forward to the end results!

Lindy

[KTL]

Agreed. 16x9 is a poor choice if you're having Jim make you 9's. The 17 in. selection is SO much better these days!

[lindy 911]

Thanks Kevin, you're right about the tire selection. 225-50-16 is about all you can get anymore in a street tire. I was a little nervous about the different sizes, 16's front and 17's rear, looking funny but now I think they will be fine. I really like the dish of the 9's, I've always liked a big lip.

Thanks again.

Lindy

[JeremyD]

Why don't you have Jim make you a set of 7.5 x 17 fronts out of another pair of 6's??

[lindy 911]

The set up front used to be in the rear and are 16 x 7. The stock sizes in '78 were 16 x 6 in the front and 16 x 7 in the rear. I'm going to see how they look when Jim is done with the new 17 x 9 in the rear and the 16 x 7 in the front. If it looks goofy I'll send the 7's to Jim and have them made into 17's as well.

Lindy

[911pcars]

While acknowledging there are much fewer choices and in the 17" size, the demise of 245-45x16 tires is slightly exaggerated. While Tire Rack doesn't stock them, other companies do. Here's a lineup from Tire-Easy.com (no affiliation).

Nexen N 3000
245/45 ZR16 94W BSW
only $78.60

Fulda Carat Extremo
245/45 R16 94Y Rim protection
only $55.40

Fuzion ZRi
245/45 R16 94W BSW
only $108.40

Yokohama AVS ES 100
245/45 ZR16 94W BSW
only $130.60

Kumho, Hankook, Continental, BF Goodrich and Toyo also make tires in this size.

Type "245-45-16 tire" in a google search.

Sherwood