How small is too small for 17" tires?

Dr.Scientist · May 16, 2011

I have the factory 17" wheels that came on some of the 94 GT stangs. Those tri-star looking ones.

The factory tire size is 245/45/R17. But I was thinking of going 245/40/R17. Do yall think that would be a good idea? I'm looking to make the car look just a tad lower, and I need new tires anyway. I can't afford the whole lowering process at this time, but I can afford the used tires that I have to buy anyway. And, it would make the car look just a bit lower. But would the ride quality suffer? Would I scrape on stuff? Is it even a good idea at all?

OnyxCobra · May 16, 2011

I wouldn't do it, I think shorter tires look dumb because they look too small for the car and increase tire gap to the fender. It's also going to throw off your speedo. If you want to lower it a little on the cheap then cut the springs.

Dr.Scientist · May 17, 2011

I currently camber plates so I don't think I should lower it at all till I get them. I really do wish I could. I hate the factory 4x4 look. I'll just go with the stock tire size for now, thanks for the recommendation.

Dan_T_Mustang · May 17, 2011

Yeah I have 245/40/17 on my front's currently since I bought my wheels with these tires and it has SO much wheel gap, just don't look right!

Dr.Scientist · May 17, 2011

Think you could post me up a couple pics? I was wondering what it looked like.

a306juGRnot · May 17, 2011

if you do go 245/40 than i think you should also have to lower it...if you dont, you prolly wont like how it will look. like the guy said ^^^above, you might be closer to the ground but overall, you will actually look higher than you were before cuz of the wheel gap increase.

Nacho98 · May 17, 2011

OnyxCobra said:
I wouldn't do it, I think shorter tires look dumb because they look too small for the car and increase tire gap to the fender. It's also going to throw off your speedo. If you want to lower it a little on the cheap then cut the springs.

Word, for every half inch shorter the overall tire diameter gets, the gap between the wheel and fender will grow a quarter inch, even if the car is lower overall. It's also a small enough change to throw the speedo/odo off just a bit, but probably not a big enough change to be able to calibrate for it, if the speedo is mechanical (which I believe it is...?).

Just go with the 245s, and when funds allow, lower it properly...I feel your 4x4 pain.

joekd · May 17, 2011

245/45/17 is a 25.7" tire, 245/40/17 is a 24.7", pretty big difference if you ask me

Dr.Scientist · May 18, 2011

Looks like I'll be sticking with the stock tire size for sure.

But now I have a couple questions about cutting the springs. How do you know how much to cut? And once you cut it, won't the spring be gouging the rubber silencer, and the A-arm? Since now the end of the spring doesn't come to a nice, rounded off end.