Tire advice needed - wheel width

[xxfonziexx]

I'm looking for a new set of tires for my Marauder. It's a Marty tuned Trilogy car, and the stock tire size with mid-range all seasons kind of sucks for traction in the back. I'm looking for better tires, with as much width as I can get away with in the rear.

It's an 04 with traction control, so I'm trying to keep the front/rear differential. There are not a hell of a lot of options, but I've currently put together two plans:

1) Bridgestone Potenza Sport. 275/45R18 for the rear, 235/45R18 for the front.
This should work on stock wheels (probably at the limit for the rear width), but they're about 3% shorter than stock. Maybe the slight gearing change there will be a benefit though. :)

2) Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. 295/45R18 for the rear, 235/50R18 for the front.
The Pilot Sports are the better tire, but I don't feel confident in that size working with stock wheels.

Any input or other suggestions?? Has anyone had success with a 295 tire on stock wheels? Does anyone want to sell me a set of widened rear wheels? :cool4:

[Comin' in Hot]

People have put 295s on stock wheels without issue, but the manufacturers do not recommend it.

Have you thought about having yours widened? Maybe contact Wheel Collision Center and see if they'll do it locally, if not, you could send them off to Weldcraft in Livonia, MI.

I wouldn't go with a lesser than stock height sidewall, it never looks right especially if the car is not lowered.

[xxfonziexx]

OK, that's good news, I think. At least I can pull that off as a short term solution and then work on wheels.

I don't know why, but I didn't think about just widening mine, but that's a really good idea. I'll definitely try the local place and see if they could do it. That sounds more appealing than shipping them to MI for sure!

THANK YOU!!!

[xxfonziexx]

I did get the 295s for the rear. They're definitely a bit wide for the stock wheels, but they do work fine for anyone considering that in the future.