What size tires ( please help )

[PhatMark]

Im thinking of getting 17" cobra r's but i dont know which tire size is best for a 17" wheel on a mark.

Please Help anybody!!!

 

[johnaec]

245/50R17 are the same diameter as stock, but 20mm, (.8"), wider. That's what I'm using.

Here's a great tire size calculator:
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

John
http://mark8.org/users/johnaec/Mark_VIII_s.jpg
'97 Mark VIII LSC
'96 T-Bird 4.6L

 

[PhatMark]

what about 255/40 R 17 would those be a good fit

 

[johnaec]

255/40R17 are over 1-1/2" shorter than stock! Speedo would be way off, and personally, I think it'd look a little funny with such short tires - 'more wheel gap too...

John
http://mark8.org/users/johnaec/Mark_VIII_s.jpg
'97 Mark VIII LSC
'96 T-Bird 4.6L

 

[DOHC MARK VIII]

I'm with John on this one. You can get wider tires which are also shorter and they may or may not rub plus your speedometer will be off. Most of those tires are for Mustangs and lighter cars going by the numbers on the side.

I also have the Ford SVT T-Bird 17" rims and use the 245/50/17 tires. They are made for a heavier car like the T-Bird or Mark VIII and my speedometer is right on at 70 mph.


** Bill **
1995 LSC-R'ed w/Recaro's and Cobra R's
Veteran of Carlisle 2000/01/02
[a href=//cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=258112]For Pic's and Mods click here[/a]

...Except for ending slavery, fascism, nazism, and communism, WAR HAS NEVER SOLVED ANYTHING...

 

[PhatMark]

Just woundering cause they are selling 17" cobra R's w/ 255/50-R17 PIRELLI tires for the thunderbird which I heard would fit our cars.

 

[johnaec]

255/50 is much better than the 255/40 you mentioned earlier, (255/50R17 is actually slightly taller than stock). But even with 245/50 on 17x7 rims, I only have about 1/4" clearance from the tire to the suspension components up front, and the 255 width would be even closer to rubbing - it would probably come down to manufacturer's differences in sidewall design for specified tread width. If they'll let you fit them before purchase to check for rubbing, you'll probably be OK. Speedo would be slightly off...

John
http://mark8.org/users/johnaec/Mark_VIII_s.jpg
'97 Mark VIII LSC
'96 T-Bird 4.6L

 

[calviroman]

I have 255/50R17 BFG KDWS on 17X8" Bullitt's. They are fine up front - but in back if you hit a big dip in the road or other suspension travel they will rub the inner fender lip. The offset of your rim will be a big factor - but I would suggest either 245/50R17 or 235/55R17. Good Luck............Cal

PS - the 255's look REAL cool - sucks that they rub

 

[PhatMark]

I just bought Geno's 17x9 Cobra R's and I got the hookup on some tires. I going with 245/45/17's for the front and 275/40/17's on the back and I went with Brigdestne potenza RE730's. I got the tires already and I'm just waiting on the rims. Should get them by the end of the week. Cant wait to put a hurtin on the new wheels. Thanks guys for your help.

 

[redn8]

Congrats, I love Geno's wheels. If only I were rich.

 

[brentalan]

Phat - So how did they work out for you?

Brent
http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/~brenth/markviii/Brent's-Mark-VIII.jpg