Will 335 35 17 fit up front?
 

I came across a set of A-molds that have been widened to 17x11 up front and 17x12 rear. They currently have 315/35/17 and 335/35/17 respectively and fit without clearance issues.

At first I thought great, I can run the Michelin Pilot 335/35/17 out back. But the wider front becomes a problem since it is not offered in a 315.

I know a 315 will fit up front but ive never seen anyone run larger. If the only tires I can run are R-compound, I will pass on the wheels.

The other option would be to stick with the 9.5s up front, but then I don?t need the 12-inch rears to fit a 335.

Is there a good option for these widened wheels I haven?t thought of? Kind of thinking I should pass them up and put the dollars toward a set of CCWs in 18f/19r down the road.

Re: Will 335 35 17 fit up front?
 

look up some old posts from mike. He ran 315 up front and 335s in back with some ccws (look great) and I believe that's the limit.


I don't know if he tried 335s up front, I don't think there is room.

Re: Will 335 35 17 fit up front?
 

I'm starting to look at services that can cut and widen wheels.


I picked up a set off sawblades for next to nothing that I'd like to cut and widen.


curious who does that best and costs.

Re: Will 335 35 17 fit up front?
 

To narrow or make rims wider i used Weldcraft Wheels Inc. to narrow my front 1990 rims for drag racing. Front rims 17x9.5 in to 17x6 in ,the cost back in June 2012 was $225 for each rim. Give them a call and tell them what you
went to do.
John
(www.weldcraftwheels.com)
13111 Newburgh RD.
Livonia, MI. 48150
734-779-1303

Re: Will 335 35 17 fit up front?
 

You do realize that you're considering a ridiculous amount of money, time, and effort just to increase your front contact patch by a few square inches?

The forces being put on the suspension will increase with the extra unsprung weight. This will cause the life of every component in the system to be shortened. (Bushings, the entire steering system, bearings, shocks, springs, linkages, ball joints, etc.)

Stopping distance may suffer as well due to an increase in rotating mass.

Acceleration distance is increased (you have to push the extra weight, plus increased rolling resistance of a larger tire.)

Back to the the gain of merely a few square inches of contact patch: In order to use this contact patch you will also need to re-adjust tire pressure and suspension alignment settings which were engineered with the factory suspension package for the factory tire size, wheel offset, and width. The arc the factory arms' travel is pretty much fixed.

Basically what I'm saying is even if you adjust the camber and caster static, the dynamic camber under jounce/rebound may not be desirable with the new tire/wheel combo.

Also if the sidewalls of the new tire are too stiff (or not stiff enough) this will cause a drastic affect on handling regardless of suspension adjustments. This can be somewhat masked with tire pressure adjustments, but only to a point. It can be either harmful or helpful and you won't really know until you try.

To me the cons outweigh the pros.

Proceed at your own risk. At the very least, it would give you bragging rights.

Re: Will 335 35 17 fit up front?
 

The widened wheels were used on a highly modded Z ages ago. Recalling my autocrossing heydays in the early and mid-2000s, a number of the modified C4s ran 315s up front, but I also recall a respected driver saying the wider tire dulled turn-in and made the car less agile, if more planted.

The common denominator being these were modified cars, with more power at a minimum and often suspension and chassis mods. I drove a very fast C4 for a while and used 11s all the way around but it had a full cage, no interior, tons of engine, etc. The unsprung weight issue was mitigated by light CCWs and very light, non-DOT competition tires.

So, at stock power levels, with a stock axle ratio and factory brakes, the cons outweigh the pros for the super wide wheels. I want to start dodging cones again but have no plans for track days or the kind of mods that would put more tire on the table.

As for a future set of CCWs (or the like) in 18 or 19, they are probably inevitable because of tire availability trends in 17 sizes, though my preference would be to stay with 17s.

Re: Will 335 35 17 fit up front?
 

I ran 11? wheels with 325?s on the front. No problem.

Dymag Gen 3 11? front

Re: Will 335 35 17 fit up front?
 

Thanks for the info, Brett.

Re: Will 335 35 17 fit up front?
 

I read awhile back, possible front bearings issues. I can?t locate that thread.


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Re: Will 335 35 17 fit up front?
 

when I had the ccw 19s I ran gy sc 295s up front


lousy tire, hated it. I bolted back on some old 5 spoke 95 rims with hoosiers on the back and was in love again.


those hoosiers work ok on the street as long as you are certain it's dry


like ice if not


back to the OP, I'm not sure you can make the car faster around the track. Might be good for autocross but hauling those big balonies takes hp