new MM owner, need tire input plz

[dreydin]

so, i recently purchased my 2003 marauder with 50kish miles on it and i've run into some tire problems(mostly nails, WTF?). now, i have been browsing the boards for a good while now on any threads relating to tire sizes, ect. i read up on Breadfans "tire matrix" and have concluded that running with lower profiles(245/40 front - 255/45 rear) might not be such a bright idea because of speedometer/ABS issues...

originally i was looking at the Nitto NT 555 performance tires as the replacements but now i've shifted over to keeping the profiling more to stock while only widening them slightly. i'd love to stick 275s all around it like my dad's impala, but i know that's not possible seeing as how 255 is the limit, unless i buy wider rims.

i'm just looking for some confirmations and input... i'm not very knowledgeable in this area, which is the reason i've come here :burnout:


front - http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/findTireByBrandDetail.do?rcz=7 8752&rc=TXAINT&cs=245&pc=38503&typ=Passenger%2FPerformance&rd=18&ar=45&tc=MTAHZH

rear - http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/findTireDetail.do?rcz=78752&rc=TXAINT&cs=255&pc=38474&rd=18&ar=55


what do yall think?

ps. i <3 my car

[Marauderjack]

If you don't have TC you can run the same size all around.....If you do have TC you can still run the same size all around but you will have to turn TC off every time you start the car or you won't be able to outrun a 1961 Ford Falcon stationwagon!!!:eek: Don't ask me how I know!!??:argue:

ABS will not be effected.....as far as I know!!:beer:

You WILL want to pay particular attention to overall tire diameter since tires less than 27" in diameter will not fill out the wheel wells and look pretty goofy.....Again....Don't ask me how I know!!??:argue:

Good Luck and WELCOME to the site!!:beer:

Marauderjack:burnout:

[dreydin]

where inside my car would i be able to tell that i had TC? like where is the switch? i'm pretty sure mine doesn't have it since i have a 300A with a full size spare and gas lid button on my driver side door... the 300Bs have TC with the small spare and no gas button, right? :help:

and how would i know if the front tire is 27" in diameter? the only reason i'm not going with the Nitto's is because their profiles are too low... same with Goodyear's Eagle F1 GS-D3s. which has lead me to the BF Goodrich's g-Force T/A KDW NTs becuase they widen out like i want and the only size i'm chaning is the front from the stock 235/50 to the widened 245/45. the small difference from 235/50 to 245/45 won't make the wheel well look goofy, will it? o_O they arn't even Z rated ><

i guess my problem right now is not being able to find any other tires that match up all the way around... i want to keep everything the stock size except for the front tire widening to 245 instead of 235 and the rear widening out to 255 instead of 245... i can't find anything!! :mad2:


BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDWS - nope

BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDW - nope

Nitto NT 555 Extreme Performance - NO


the closest thing i can get to the sizing i want is with the g-Force T/A KDW-2s which arn't even ZR, they're YR and VR... what the hell does that mean? haha, this tire stuff is making me go NUTS. i honestly just don't want to **** up and regret the new tires i get, not trying to over analyze this =/ do i need to just stick with stock? x_x

i hope modding the car won't be as stressful =x

[Breadfan]

You don't have TC, so no worries. :) The button would be to the left of the steering wheel on the dash trim.

Any of the combinations listed on the last table of my chart will work for you. It's up to you which you choose, but all those should work with no problem and keep a similar profile to the car. Running same size all around will lose the "rake" look you get with smaller diameter in the front.

For out of speed issues, mainly look at the rears.

Personally I think I will go with this setup:
<table style="width: 837px;" border="1" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"><td style="border-style: none none none solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color windowtext; border-width: medium medium medium 0.5pt; padding: 0px; height: 12.75pt; color: blue; text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;" bgcolor="#ffffcc" height="17"> BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2
(http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=g-Force+T%2FA+KDW+2&partnum=445YR8GFTAKDW2&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=25)</td> <td style="border: medium none ; padding: 0px; color: blue; text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;" bgcolor="#ffffcc"> 245-45-18</td> <td x:num="165" style="border: medium none ; padding: 0px; color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;" bgcolor="#ffffcc"> $ 165 </td> <td style="border: medium none ; padding: 0px; text-align: center; color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;" bgcolor="#ffffcc"> NO</td> <td style="border: medium none ; padding: 0px; color: blue; text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;" bgcolor="#ffffcc" width="221"> BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2
(http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=g-Force+T%2FA+KDW+2&partnum=555VR8GFTAKDW2RF&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=1)</td> <td style="border: medium none ; padding: 0px; color: blue; text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;" bgcolor="#ffffcc" width="64"> 255-55-18</td> <td x:num="123" style="border: medium none ; padding: 0px; color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;" bgcolor="#ffffcc"> $ 123 </td> <td style="border-style: none solid none none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 0.5pt medium medium; padding: 0px; color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: nowrap;" align="right" bgcolor="#ffffcc"> 60.9</td></tr></tbody></table>
That will get you 245's up front, 255's in the back, and close to factory diameter in rear. Check that last table for other combos though.

Cheers!

[dreydin]

i guess i'm sticking with the stock tread until i can buy the widened rims :(

i don't understand why i can't find 245/45(or 50) ZRs for the front and 255/50(or 55) ZRs for the rear :mad: it's pretty frustrating but since the KDWS's are fairly cheap... ehh, what the hell. i'll definitely have fun in them >=)

btw, what sort of mods that are fairly priced should i start out with in my pretty much stock 03' MM? i've seen a lot of people say new gears but doesn't that wreck your gas mileage on a 4 speed? this is my dailer driver btw. oh and if anyone could give me gas mileage averages for a blown car with or without new gears that would be awesome... everything is under consideration after it gets re-tinted(replacing 35% with 20%)!


edit: @breadfan - they're Y rated though... i've been told by a few people to only go with ZRs... i don't understand the ratings too well myself but maybe you could explain? thanks! :)

[sweetair]

you've got lots of good questions. As for the tire sizes. When $allows get the widened rims w/ the Nitto's. 295 or 305's in the rears and get the 255's up front. You will like the look and the performance. As for other mods. Are you planning on a supercharger?? If so, the gears are not very important. I have stock gears and enjoy 2200 rpm @80mph. As for my mileage w/the blower....it depends. Can I keep my right foot out of it. Put in 9 gallons the other day. Averaged 14.5 mpg. That is around town so to speak. I can get 24-25 on the highway if I have to as well. It's all up to your "control". Good luck..............