Little help picking new tires

[PLUMBCRAZY]

Hey Folks, I have a 300A that currently has the tires it came with which are mismatched brands 225/55 front and 255/55 rear. Its not a daily driver and I am looking to upgrade to some performance tires. Nitto 555 G2 seems to be the most popular choice. The ones I selected were:
235/50ZR18 and 255/45ZR18.

The thing that I am not sure about is the difference in sidewall ratio...
Is this going to be a noticeable reverse-rake type thing?
Any help or advice is appreciated, it seems the more I read about the subject the more questions I come up with.
Thanks!

[RubberCtyRauder]

You need 245-55-18 rear.. front choice fine

[Black Terror]

Nitto Motivo in stock sizes are a good choice for all weather tires. I ran two sets before I sold the Marauder. Had Goodyear and BFG before that.

[PLUMBCRAZY]

thanks fellas, Im guessing the people that are getting the 555s have aftermarket rims and/or widened rear wheels? Since I have my stock rims, I suppose I will go for the set of motivos. thanks again.

[RubberCtyRauder]

The Nitto 555S has been replaced by the 555 G2 which does not offer both factory size tire options..only the front tire. Motivos are good and Cooper Zeon RS3A ..both offer stock sizing

[offroadkarter]

You need 245-55-18 rear.. front choice fine

He doesn't NEED them. Is it "technically correct" in the eyes of factory fitment, sure. But since the BFG KDWS tire no longer exists why bother sticking with that odd ball tire size which offers few options.

He has an 03A which lacks traction control, which means it doesn't abide by the tire stagger limitations 03B/04A's do. When I got my 03A back on the road I ran a 235/50R18 front and 245/50R18 rear for over 15,000 miles with zero issues, zero ABS lights, zero f'ks given.

OP, A 255/45/18 rear is .3in smaller in diameter over the stock front. While I doubt you'd notice it on the eyes, you might as well run the same size all around at that point so you get the benefit of better turn in up front and the ability to rotate your tires. Would help negate the inner edge wear up front and center tire wear in the rear that have been so famous over the years on this board.


This is what a 245/50 looks like on the back, this size is ever so slightly larger than a stock front.

https://photos.smugmug.com/2003-Mercury-Marauder/Ebay-Photos/i-WLLtZxL/0/ffe91ec4/X2/DSC_0064-X2.jpg




Nitto used to sell a 265/50 NT555 which IMO was the perfect size for these cars, sadly because that size was so weird they did not carry it into the NT555 G2 lineup.

If you're fine with getting a slightly older tire design, discount tire still has the NT555 in a 265/50 size. You could get G1 or G2's for up front in the stock size, your call..

https://www.discounttiredirect.com/buy-tires/nitto-nt555-extreme/p/40467

This is what a 265/50 looks like (with a 245/45 front)

https://photos.smugmug.com/Merc/2004-Mercury-Marauder/i-k5jsMFq/0/b4eb01dc/X2/DSC_2549-X2.jpg

[RubberCtyRauder]

He doesn't NEED them. Is it "technically correct" in the eyes of factory fitment, sure. But since the BFG KDWS tire no longer exists why bother sticking with that odd ball tire size which offers few options.

He has an 03A which lacks traction control, which means it doesn't abide by the tire stagger limitations 03B/04A's do. When I got my 03A back on the road I ran a 235/50R18 front and 245/50R18 rear for over 15,000 miles with zero issues, zero ABS lights, zero f'ks given.

OP, A 255/45/18 rear is .3in smaller in diameter over the stock front. While I doubt you'd notice it on the eyes, you might as well run the same size all around at that point so you get the benefit of better turn in up front and the ability to rotate your tires. Would help negate the inner edge wear up front and center tire wear in the rear that have been so famous over the years on this board.


This is what a 245/50 looks like on the back, this size is ever so slightly larger than a stock front.

https://photos.smugmug.com/2003-Mercury-Marauder/Ebay-Photos/i-WLLtZxL/0/ffe91ec4/X2/DSC_0064-X2.jpg




Nitto used to sell a 265/50 NT555 which IMO was the perfect size for these cars, sadly because that size was so weird they did not carry it into the NT555 G2 lineup.

If you're fine with getting a slightly older tire design, discount tire still has the NT555 in a 265/50 size. You could get G1 or G2's for up front in the stock size, your call..

https://www.discounttiredirect.com/buy-tires/nitto-nt555-extreme/p/40467

This is what a 265/50 looks like (with a 245/45 front)

https://photos.smugmug.com/Merc/2004-Mercury-Marauder/i-k5jsMFq/0/b4eb01dc/X2/DSC_2549-X2.jpg

He wrote a 255-45-18 for rear..that is shorter than 235-50-18 in front,that's why my correction . He can get whatever trips his trigger and if it's wrong then tuff

[offroadkarter]

He wrote a 255-45-18 for rear..that is shorter than 235-50-18 in front,that's why my correction . He can get whatever trips his trigger and if it's wrong then tuff

Right, I noted that. He'd need a shorter front (like a 245/45) or just run all 4 the same size.

I'm just saying I know people on this board still love to have tire size debates 16 years later and some people are afraid to leave the 245/55 rear size. I'm seeing posts this month in other threads saying well I don't know what to do so I'll just get more 245/55's.

I remember after the KDWS was discontinued people were buying NOS tires from 2002 (in like 2011) because, well, what else could we use?

[RubberCtyRauder]

I'm not having a debate, he listed two tire sizes not compatible front to rear. He even mentioned reverse rake. I was advising his tire size for rear was not correct . I don't run stock sizes on either end

[Comin' in Hot]

255/55r18 on the rear tons of options, some are even z rated like the factory tires. Its very close to factory size too.

[PLUMBCRAZY]

Thanks again for all the replies and input, I just bought NT555 265/50 and 235/50. The pics that were posted sealed the deal for me. Discount Tire said they were "On Order" which didnt sound too promising, but it looked like Walmart had some left too. (For a dollar less!)

[88Mercury]

Well if that does not work out for you, I put General G-Max in the factory sizes on a couple months ago. So far they have been really good. General was one of the only companies that still made front and rear tires in the original sizes. I used to run all 4 with the front size so I could rotate but I wanted the rake back so I switched back.

[Invective]

Hey Folks, I have a 300A that currently has the tires it came with which are mismatched brands 225/55 front and 255/55 rear. Its not a daily driver and I am looking to upgrade to some performance tires. Nitto 555 G2 seems to be the most popular choice. The ones I selected were:
235/50ZR18 and 255/45ZR18.

The thing that I am not sure about is the difference in sidewall ratio...
Is this going to be a noticeable reverse-rake type thing?
Any help or advice is appreciated, it seems the more I read about the subject the more questions I come up with.
Thanks!


Don't be afraid to look at Cooper Tire. Just ordered a set (none in town!) of Cooper Zeon RS3 A in the correct 235 50R-18 and 245 55R-18 sizes. Best bang for the buck and among the highest customer satisfaction.

[jgc61sr2002]

Don't be afraid to look at Cooper Tire. Just ordered a set (none in town!) of Cooper Zeon RS3 A in the correct 235 50R-18 and 245 55R-18 sizes. Best bang for the buck and among the highest customer satisfaction.



I concur, I prefer the Cooper Zeon tires.

[Bradley G]

I got a set of General tires also in the stock sizes .
So far so good.
They are a few months old and no issues so far.

[jaywish]

Coopers

http://www.mavistire.com/productcart/pc/_shopbyvehicle4.asp

Made in USA by a USA owned co.

[a_d_a_m]

I just bought NT555 265/50 and 235/50. Those sizes will look good.
Also concur with everyone who said Cooper tires are good. Haven't had a bad set yet.

Still liking my 285/50/18s out back, but that's for another thread... :D