I hate cars

Have a safe trip. I'm jealous that you're going to NY. Let me know if you take that short cut through So Cal lol.

hfd419

I was planning on having my factory set refinished and making them a winter set but damn they turned out too good. If I am looking at the Continental 255/40 17's does anyone know of a good place for a 10mm spacer for the back? Also what about extended studs where and are they necessary?

NBP04TL4ME

I personally have had 255/40s on my OEM rims both on my 04 TL and 08 TLs and never used spacers or extended studs. Bolted them on and down the road I went.

Mrtastygoody

iTrader: (1)

I assume that a 275 will be too wide, however?

subinf

Interesting. I've yet to actually find the printout of my most recent alignment.

However, my annual mileage increased to about 25k/year about 3 years ago. I've had the 255 set up for quite some time but noticed the dramatic increase in amount of inner tire wear. I think I may be able to find the last two or three alignment sheets.

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

Up to $80 rebate on Goodyear/Dunlop tires people....if interested
@tirerack

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

ignition_key

iTrader: (1)

Has anyone tried 245/40/17 vs 245/45/17?

If so pics?

I hate cars

255/40 is a tiny bit smaller diameter than stock. 245/40 is too small. The car will drive fine as long as all 4 are the same diameter but they will look funny. Better off using an 18" rim for that size. The 255/40 and 245/45 look pretty close to factory diameter.

NBP04TL4ME

You can use the following to help you get an idea of what or how you are changing sizes and geometry -

http://www.rimsntires.com/specs.jsp
http://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Tire-Size-Calculator
https://acurazine.com/forums/tire_rim_calculator.php

Minihogg

Do you use the same size tires in winter as well?? I need new winters in my OEM rims and wondering how these feel in winter conditions

NBP04TL4ME

During the Winter months where you are seeing snow, you are better off with the OEM size or narrower in general. Wider tires tend to ride on top of the snow and narrower tend to sink in / cut into the snow.

Minihogg

thank you

ez12a

now that the rain is inevitable and my Ventus V12s have tread a hair above the wear indicators i went ahead and ordered 255/40-17 Continental DWS for $145/each installed.

Should be in by next week.

On another note, G-Max tires are backordered nationwide originally the tire i wanted.

JJH

iTrader: (1)

That's an awesome price on DWS.

JJH

iTrader: (1)

http://tires.about.com/od/understand...ter-Wheels.htm

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

What warm tire psi are you guys using with this size?

JJH

iTrader: (1)

I follow the door sill PSI of 35/32 cold. Once they've warmed up a bit, usually ends up at about 38/35 or 37/34

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

Have you tested with adding around 3-4 more psi than the door tag?

Compared to stock, with these size, tire gets wider and a little shorter on the sidewall right?

I have 225, was going to go with 255 but...
Anyways, which means a little shorter width and little shorter sidewall compared to stock

Well, made me say I have to go lower psi then stock, and I was right.
With door tag psi, car was feeling like, it wants to jump off to the next lane, while taking fast turns..
28 front, 27 is my cold psi and feels perfect.

Wondered if anyone felt better by adding more psi to 255s than the door tag says

I hate cars

Pressure has more to do with tire construction than size. I've run nothing but a 255 since the OEM tires and I've had some like the BFG Gforce Sport want 45psi for best traction and on the other end the Nitto NT05 seems to be best at 35psi hot which is barely 30psi cold. I have to compromise because my trips are usually so short so I run 33psi cold so they're close to optimum while driving.

6 MT

Need to buy new tires here within the next couple weeks. Pretty sure I am going to go with the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3.

I'm trying to work out which size would be better to go with on the OEM rim. 245/45-17 or 255/40-17. Ideally I'm looking to increase contact patch over stock, but also not increase fender gap in a noticeable way (dropped on Tein S Tech).

Really I'd like to run a 265/40-17 since it is the same overall diameter as stock, but would this be too wide for the OEM rim?

pohljm

Not sure how you think a 265/40 matches stock diameter, but people run 215 on 10.5's. a 265 on a 8 isnt a problem. not somethin I would do, but no problem.

6 MT

Comparison tool here: http://tire-size-conversion.com/tire-size-calculator/

Says they're both 25.3 inches diameter?

Any particular reason you advise against it?

JJH

iTrader: (1)

Nope not a problem at all. Gerzand on here runs 275 drag radials dropped on coils on stock waffle type-s rims.

I hate cars

One thing to keep in mind is the rubber compound is way more important than tire width. For example a 215 sized drag radial is going to have considerably more traction than a 345 sized street tire. I recommend the 255/40 size since I have over 80,000 miles with this size. I don't think 265/40 would be a problem. If it were a very short sidewall I might be worried but I think you'll be fine. I've never had any rubbing whatsoever even with the car loaded with people and bottoming over bumps. I had 9 people in it one time and no issues with the tires anyway.

The 265 would help with the fender gap over the 255. That's one thing I like about the 255s. I dont want my car to look slammed and with the slightly smaller diameter I was able to come down that much more while still retaining a gap.

guitarrsx

those tires do look pretty nice on the stock rims.

kingkong_dav

Im about to run 255 40 17 w bridgestons reo70. My michy r going bye bye

KidZero3

Ok, i know this post is pretty old, but it deserves a renewal! Ive gone through 22 pages and i havent seen a pic of 255/45/17 yet! Please post one if you have one!

BeemsTL

iTrader: (1)

So I'm curious if my setup will rub. I have 17x8 +28 lowered about 2.5 inches. No fender gab front and tuck rear a little. Right now on 245/45. My toe in killed the tires so I need new ones. I want to run 255/40 but I'm concerned it may rub. Might have to do 245/40?

08WDPTL

after 22 pages of reading (over a few days), I decided to go with 245/45/17 AS/3's. Got them installed yesterday at Costco. Sorry about the crappy cell pics.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

thats the wrong tire size...
that's why you havent seen it....

BeemsTL

iTrader: (1)

Nobody runs 255/40 lowered on coilovers? And if you have stock wheels spacers to be near the offset I'm running?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

not sure, what you are wanting to know...
your rim specs are super weak and will allow you to put the 255 tire on without a problem.
However, you have coilovers that are adjustable.
if it rubs, smart guy...raise that mother fucker up a little.

Mrtastygoody

iTrader: (1)

I have them on XXR 530's with a +30 offset and I'm rubbing like crazy cuz I didn't do any research. However, it looks VERY beefy and I love how it fills up the arches. With stock rims, or anything with +45, you should be fine. I think. Hit me up if you want pics, this thread is pretty dead by now.

Stephen00TL

AcRightLINY

About to pull the trigger on some 255/40/17 Conti DSW's. Thanks to this thread!

NBP04TL4ME

You will be glad you did!!

Corey_Straker

I figured I would revive this thread. Just had 255/40R-17 installed on my 07 TL-S and I absolutely love it. The traction is incredible. I used the recommended pressures stated in here. I went with a Bridgestone Potenza RE-11. All said and done it cost about $800 installed.


http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...psvgsnic6i.jpg

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...psoutwwuyu.jpg

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...psc8amr6fj.jpg

Hatfield1013

Damn, wish I would've read this thread before ordering 235/45s for my new TL-S. Trying to avoid anymore curb rash than it already has. Oh well, next time I will remember (hopefully).

VisualEchos

iTrader: (1)

This section is actually incorrect.

"...because the weight of the car is pressing on a more focused set of contact patches."

Changing the tire size only changes the shape of the contact patch. Basically a 205 tire will have a longer front-to-back, and shorter side-to-side contact patch than a 275 on the same car. The size of the patch itself is determined by the weight of the vehicle, and pressure in the tire.

But in general what they are saying is correct, to "cut" through snow most effectively you want a contact patch that is longer front-to-back, and shorter side-to side. Just the opposite of what you would want for cornering on dry pavement.

MarcoNorthPolo

Thread resurrection time! And what better thread than the granddaddy of tire threads. For anyone who is using 255/40/17 tires right now, do you have any current or recent pics from side on and/or 3/4 view? I am seriously considering this size for my next set of tires and a good percentage of the pic links from this thread are no longer valid. I am wondering about what the 255 looks like for wheel gap on a non-lowered TL.


*Edit* I was exhausted when I finished going through this thread. It took me quite a while!