Tire size for 17x7s?

[Orkin]

I just got some ADR Comp 7 17x7 rims with 40mm offset, and I'm trying to decide what tires to put on them. I've been shopping over at TireRack.com, and I'm leaning towards the Avon Tech M550 A/S...but I'm not sure what size to get. Some say you should get the widest tread possible to increase traction, while others say you should get more narrow tread, because you get less sidewall overlap, and therefore, less tire flex and better handling. Right now I'm leaning towards the latter school of thought, instead of the former. Though I'd be happy to hear anyone else's take on this.

Right now I'm thinking either 215/50, 215/55, or 225/50. I'm looking for a tire that will handle the best, without throwing off my speedo too much. My current tires (Yokohoma Avid H4s 215/60/16) put my speedometer just about right at 793 revs/mile.

The 215s are 5 lbs lighter each than the 225s, and would (as I understand it) give less flex. So I'm leaning towards the 215s, but which one? According to the specs on TireRack, the 215/50s are 813 revs/mile, and the 215/55s are 789 revs/mile, so that would point towards the 215/55s to match my existing tires, but all the tire size calculators I've seen say that 215/50s would be a better fit.

That's pretty much where am at on this. If anyone has a suggestion, I'd be happy to hear it!

 

[marvsho17]

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[BlackandBlue]

I run 225/50R17 Pilot A/S's on 17x7 for winter wheels on my ATX and very happy with them. They are not cheap, but defiantly worth the money for the wear and performance factors. I have had just about every size tire on a SHO over the last few years and the 225/50R17 ride the best for 17” wheels. My 235/45 on 17x7.5 summer wheels feel like bricks compared my winter wheels.
Eric

 

[Mr Anonymous]

235/45/17 Will usually give you the best fit without risking rubbing anything as well as a ride quality pretty close to stock.

 

[SinisterSHO]

On a 7" rim, I'd go with a 225/50/17

 

[K-Dawg]

I have 215/50/17s on my 17x7s and my next tires will be 225/50/17s.

 

[DDakRT]

Go with 235/45/17s

 

[laxmax327]

now im not sure about this. just some logical (to me atleast) thinking. wouldnt cramming a bigger tire on there give you more traction for launches but hurt handling? while a narrower one would be stiffer and offer better handling while not as great launching traction? am i at all right?

 

[SHOSIG]

235/45-17 are too wide for a 7" wheel. 225 would be the best fit, giving you a good contact patch and keep the sidewalls from flexing too much during cornering.

 

[jedhead]

I would go with 225's. You want handling stay away from all-seasons and get summer only tires. Huge difference in performance.

Bob

 

[SinisterSHO]

235/45-17 are too wide for a 7" wheel. 225 would be the best fit, giving you a good contact patch and keep the sidewalls from flexing too much during cornering.

Exactly. Wider is better, but you need rim width before tire width. I could probably have fit a 245 on my 7.5" rim, but I knew it would be too wide. The tire store recommended a 225/45/18. I got the 235/40/18, it looks great, and handles awesome.

 

[wuzzzer]

I've had 215/50/17 for several years without any problems.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

235/45-17 are too wide for a 7" wheel. 225 would be the best fit, giving you a good contact patch and keep the sidewalls from flexing too much during cornering.

I've driven 30+ SHO's with 17x7's, and 235/45's are the perfect size tire for a 17x7 wheel. We've had a number of customers try other sizes only to find that the car drove like it was on rocks or would bump steer so bad it was dangerous. The only other size that is close to being "just right" is 225/50/17.

Take a look at the best-performing convention cars over the past few years, both at the road course and drag events, and you'll find the top of the class cars with 17" wheels are all running 235/45's. Experience trumps bench racing and theory every time!

 

[SHOSIG]

7" wide wheels do not allow 235 size tires to "expand/settle", forcing the tire to "crown" somewhat. Most people compensate for this by adjusting air pressure so that the tire does not wear down the center. Some vehicles, it's not too much of an issue, but the correct fitment is the correct fitment and just because it's been done many times does not imply that it is the correct application. It may mean one thing coming from "bench racers", but when it comes from someone who has been in the tire/wheel industry for 12 years, it's another .

 

[drivinhard]

235/45/17 is perfect for a 17x8

For a 17x7, I'd run 225/50/17.

 

[coldsho]

what about 7.5inch wide rims, race tires, 225s or 235s?

 

[jedhead]

I am considering 225/45-17 for my 17X7.5 rims mainly because I have a larger selection of competition tires at lower cost.

Bob

 

[ManySHOs]

what about 7.5inch wide rims, race tires, 225s or 235s?

I run 235/45 on 17x7.5 but I don't know if that's optimal or not. If I had 17x7, I'd run 225's; if I had 17x8, I'd run 235's.

Ian

 

[K-Dawg]

I figure that there is some reason that every tire manufacturer recommends that a 235/45/17 tire be mounted on at least a 17x7.5" wheel.

 

[SHOSIG]

7.5 wide wheels can fit a 235/45-17 even a 245/45-17. Sometimes stuffing the widest tire on a wheel is not optimum. Everyone would have to decide which is best for their personal preference, some may like the width of a 235 or 245 and never see track duty, just mainly for looks, or even a softer ride. To each their own, when it comes to tires, there are a lot of choices.