Nitto 555 D/R madness... Please Help...

Hammer · 07-27-2000, 09:59 AM

Will be buying some Nitto 555 D/R soon.
I have the stock 17in rims...
I plan on getting the 245/45/17s (stock size) but I hear that the 275/40/17s will fit safely. Is this true? My Goodyear guy didn't recommend the larger size on the stock rims.
(I've worked with him for a long time..)

I also plan on getting a set of four, since I don't have the cash for extra "drag" rims right now. So would it be better to go with the stock 245/45/17s so I can rotate them?

Thanks...

------------------
1998 Mustang GT
13.97@103
"Traction Impaired" or "Nitto Needy"

Pilot Proverb:
If all you can see out of the window is ground that's going round and round and all you can hear is commotion coming from the passenger compartment, things are not at all as they should be.

97snakedriver · 07-27-2000, 11:23 AM

Yep. You can fit 275 Nitto Drag Radials onto an 8 inch rim with out any problem. The largest recommended size is 255, but the Nittos run small, so 275s fit just fine.

You can also safely put 275s on the front without any rubbing or what not.

But at the same time, why not just keep your old tires on the front, mount the drag radials on your existing wheels, and keep the rear tires in a closet somewhere?

It would be a waste to put drag radials on the front. They'd wear out before you'd get a chance to rotate them.

If you need to, you can rotate between your "closet" tires, and the ones on the front of your car.

St_Brawler · 07-27-2000, 02:39 PM

I used to run 255's on my stock rims up front (A520 from yokohama) and when I used to turn it would rub on the sawy bar and inner plastic. I have cobra R rims and still run the 255's with out a prob. I think 275 on the front will rub, specially if you lowered your car.... I know a guy that ran 275 all around on his Cobra and before he droped his car they fit, after he said they rubbed and so he got a smaller tire up front.

97snakedriver · 07-27-2000, 04:05 PM

I have 275/40s on all four corners. Lowered about an 1 1/4. No rubbing, even with the steering wheel locked both ways.

Did your friend add cc plates when he lowered it?

------------------
1997 Cobra
Suspension: Steeda G Trac. Tokico Illumina shocks and struts, Sport Springs, upper and lower control arms, cc plates, rear adjustable sway bar, front sway bar, subframe connectors, bushings, Cobra R wheels

Exhaust (soon): FRPP ceramic headers, Bassani X-pipe w/ cats, Dynomax Ultra Flow cat-back

Bolt-ons: 4.10s, Steeda Tri-Ax, Pro-M 80mm, K&N, Steeda Underdrive pulleys, Steeda timing adjuster (soon)

[This message has been edited by 97snakedriver (edited 07-27-2000).]

97snakedriver · 07-27-2000, 05:42 PM

Oh yeah. The offset of your wheels will also have an effect on rubbing.

St_Brawler · 07-28-2000, 09:58 AM

Yeah I think he did add cc plates..... actually I'm pretty sure he did.

97snakedriver · 07-31-2000, 01:59 AM

After a lot of asking, talking, and reading, back spacing is the determining factor. 95 Cobra Rs with 275s do not rub on the front. Lots of other after market wheels will. There is a signifigant handling advantage to having lots of rubber up front. Before you buy wheels check out the back spacing specs.

Hammer · 07-31-2000, 09:00 AM

As far as wheels are concerned, I'm running the stock 17x8 wheels in front and back.
I don't know what the backspacing is on those wheels....

------------------
1998 Mustang GT
13.97@103
"Traction Impaired" or "Nitto Needy"

Pilot Proverb:
If all you can see out of the window is ground that's going round and round and all you can hear is commotion coming from the passenger compartment, things are not at all as they should be.

07-27-2000, 09:59 AM	#1
Hammer AKA "Dr. Evil" Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: South Fork Ranch Posts: 1,721	Nitto 555 D/R madness... Please Help... Will be buying some Nitto 555 D/R soon. I have the stock 17in rims... I plan on getting the 245/45/17s (stock size) but I hear that the 275/40/17s will fit safely. Is this true? My Goodyear guy didn't recommend the larger size on the stock rims. (I've worked with him for a long time..) I also plan on getting a set of four, since I don't have the cash for extra "drag" rims right now. So would it be better to go with the stock 245/45/17s so I can rotate them? Thanks... ------------------ 1998 Mustang GT 13.97@103 "Traction Impaired" or "Nitto Needy" Pilot Proverb: If all you can see out of the window is ground that's going round and round and all you can hear is commotion coming from the passenger compartment, things are not at all as they should be.

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07-27-2000, 11:23 AM	#2
97snakedriver Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Blacksburg, VA Posts: 1,526	Yep. You can fit 275 Nitto Drag Radials onto an 8 inch rim with out any problem. The largest recommended size is 255, but the Nittos run small, so 275s fit just fine. You can also safely put 275s on the front without any rubbing or what not. But at the same time, why not just keep your old tires on the front, mount the drag radials on your existing wheels, and keep the rear tires in a closet somewhere? It would be a waste to put drag radials on the front. They'd wear out before you'd get a chance to rotate them. If you need to, you can rotate between your "closet" tires, and the ones on the front of your car.

07-27-2000, 02:39 PM	#3
St_Brawler Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 77	I used to run 255's on my stock rims up front (A520 from yokohama) and when I used to turn it would rub on the sawy bar and inner plastic. I have cobra R rims and still run the 255's with out a prob. I think 275 on the front will rub, specially if you lowered your car.... I know a guy that ran 275 all around on his Cobra and before he droped his car they fit, after he said they rubbed and so he got a smaller tire up front.

07-27-2000, 04:05 PM	#4
97snakedriver Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Blacksburg, VA Posts: 1,526	I have 275/40s on all four corners. Lowered about an 1 1/4. No rubbing, even with the steering wheel locked both ways. Did your friend add cc plates when he lowered it? ------------------ 1997 Cobra Suspension: Steeda G Trac. Tokico Illumina shocks and struts, Sport Springs, upper and lower control arms, cc plates, rear adjustable sway bar, front sway bar, subframe connectors, bushings, Cobra R wheels Exhaust (soon): FRPP ceramic headers, Bassani X-pipe w/ cats, Dynomax Ultra Flow cat-back Bolt-ons: 4.10s, Steeda Tri-Ax, Pro-M 80mm, K&N, Steeda Underdrive pulleys, Steeda timing adjuster (soon) [This message has been edited by 97snakedriver (edited 07-27-2000).]

07-27-2000, 05:42 PM	#5
97snakedriver Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Blacksburg, VA Posts: 1,526	Oh yeah. The offset of your wheels will also have an effect on rubbing.

07-28-2000, 09:58 AM	#6
St_Brawler Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 77	Yeah I think he did add cc plates..... actually I'm pretty sure he did.

07-31-2000, 01:59 AM	#7
97snakedriver Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Blacksburg, VA Posts: 1,526	After a lot of asking, talking, and reading, back spacing is the determining factor. 95 Cobra Rs with 275s do not rub on the front. Lots of other after market wheels will. There is a signifigant handling advantage to having lots of rubber up front. Before you buy wheels check out the back spacing specs.

07-31-2000, 09:00 AM	#8
Hammer AKA "Dr. Evil" Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: South Fork Ranch Posts: 1,721	As far as wheels are concerned, I'm running the stock 17x8 wheels in front and back. I don't know what the backspacing is on those wheels.... ------------------ 1998 Mustang GT 13.97@103 "Traction Impaired" or "Nitto Needy" Pilot Proverb: If all you can see out of the window is ground that's going round and round and all you can hear is commotion coming from the passenger compartment, things are not at all as they should be.