Largest tires possible on Eibach-lowered Marauder with 19" rims?

[studio460]

Hi all! Long time no talk! After two years, I've finally decided on some 19" x 8.5" rims (AJA JH8s from TireRack). They seem to have the correct offset (45mm) and backspace (6.54"). Anyway, my Marauder also has the Eibach springs, so the car is dropped about an inch. I was previously running these Nitto 555s on my stock 18" Marauder rims:

Fronts: Nitto NT-555 245/40/ZR/18
Rears: Nitto NT-555 255/45/ZR/18

These low-series Nittos dropped the car another inch, but at a pretty severe cost in ride quality. I want to "fatten up" the series on the fronts from the '40' to at least '45.' I've also been looking to "fill up" my Marauder's wheel wells for a while now, and that's why I'm making the move to the 19" rims.

The TireRack site matched up my black, AJA JH8 19" rims with these Hankook tires:

Fronts: Hankook 245/45/ZR/19
Rears: Hankook 275/45/ZR/19

Not exactly thrilled with the Hankooks, since they cost as much as Goodyear's top-of-the-line Eagle F1s. But the Goodyears don't come in those sizes for 19" wheels. Also, the Hankooks are only 0.5" larger in diameter than the stock KDSWs that come with the car. So, I was thinking of going bigger than the TireRack site recommended, but I'm not sure how much bigger I can go. I figure that I can go up to 255s in front, and up to 305s in the rear, correct?

My ideal tire sizes would be something like this:

Fronts: 255/45/ZR/19
Rears: 295/45/ZR/19 *[actually, I've found that I can't go any higher than 275 with an 8.5" rim.]

But, no single manufacturer seems to make a size combination like this in the same product type. Again, my main question is: How large can I go with 19" rims in a one-inch lowered Marauder? Can I still go up to 255s in front, and up to 305s in the rear, even with 19" wheels (I definitely want to keep the 1" rake differential)? Thanks for any replies!

After some searching, it looks like the Hankooks are kind of the only game in town for that particular combination (that, and the $416 P-Zeros!). Guess I'm going Hankook! Check 'em out—they have a VERY interesting tread pattern!

[sd8683]

What are you doing with the stock rims? If you plan on selling them I'd be interested

[studio460]

FYI: All four stock rims have curb damage. Will probably hang on to them in case I go back to stock someday.

[RoyLPita]

Try this: http://powerdog.com/tiresize.cgi

Use the current 18 inch size and put in what you plan on getting and see if they the are same height or close to it. This might help with your clearance issue.

Don't be a stranger. We miss your Jay Leno car pics.

[CRUZTAKER]

NBC!!!

How the hell are you man????:D

Long time no hear from...glad to hear you still Maraud.

[2,4shofast]

The 19" tire size you posted for the Hankooks will fit fine just ensure you get the proper offset.

[magindat]

The 255/45 up front on 19's will rub. Leave it at 245 and hope it doesn't.

As for the back, I have squeezed 295/45/20 in there. It was NOT easy.

The 275/45/19 should work well. I don't think you'll find much bigger approved for an 8.5" rim. I had to go to 10" for my 295's.

Last but not least. You would be wise to stay right where you are with tire sizes. The sizes you mention are not enough to set off the ABS. Much bigger in t he back and kiss your ABS goodbye and get used to driving with the 'brake' dash light always on.

This is not an empty rant. It's experience. I think your size choices are good. Let the rear down a little with the air bags and you'll be happy.

[studio460]

Thanks guys! Thanks for everyone's advice! Hey, Cruz, howya doin? Well, just as I was leaving for work this afternoon, the UPS guy came and delivered . . . THREE tires and wheels! Not to worry, a second UPS guy came an hour later with the fourth tire and wheel! I only had time to put two wheels on the car before I had to leave, but . . . OMFG!!! Perfection! The 19s look GREAT. Not too big. Not too small. The Hankooks look even better. Not too big, not too small. And between the new 19-inch wheels, and the bigger tires, they proportion out, and fill up the Marauder's wheel wells VERY nicely. The stock wheels with the lower-series Nittos never really did it for me. That tire and wheel combo just looked too small in the Marauder's cavernous wheel wells.

I have a "thicker" series set of tires now, than when I had my ultra-low series Nittos, so I'm really looking forward to a less bumpy ride as well. Those Nittos were torture over bumpy roads. But, with the Eibachs and the Nittos I used to have, the car had dropped two whole inches, making cornering NOTICABLY faster. But, I do really like the look of the Hankook 45-series in the sizes I got. They really "fit" the car. As I mentioned, this Hankook combo was the only game in town, and happily, they seem a match made in heaven for 19-inch rims. Again the sizes I got were:

Fronts: Hankook 245/45/ZR/19
Rears: Hankook 275/45/ZR/19

Magindat: I think 275s are, in fact, the limit of what you can put on a 8.5-inch rim. Whoa! I didn't notice at first read—you've got 20s in the rears! That must look COOL! BIG and FAT! (I mean, big and PHAT!) Why didn't I think of that? So, 295/45/20s in the rear? Wow! Again, that must look b*tchin' . . . what do you have in the fronts?

Don't know if the fronts rub yet or not. My rear air suspension is now toast, so I gotta fix that too, before I can drive it around again. It took me over a year to make this decision—I've been driving around in a Ford minivan since (stop it!), and the Marauder was wasting away in the driveway on four flat, rotting Nittos, while my tire/wheel indecision whiled away the months. See, I didn't want to buy new tires, until I found new, bigger wheels that fit. It was a viscious circle, lemme tell ya. Checking this offset and that backspace—what a nightmare. I could never find the "perfect" wheel, or the "perfect" tire combo. Never found "perfect." But, this is pretty darned close. FINALLY, I'll have my Marauder back . . . soon (damned air suspension). Oh, oh! I almost forgot the best part! I bought some zinc-plated, cross-vented and drilled rotors too! Should get those tomorrow! Shiny, new, zinc-plated rotors, spinning through those thick, black spokes is gonna look soooo COOL!

Soon . . . PICTURES!!!

[magindat]

Magindat: I think 275s are, in fact, the limit of what you can put on a 8.5-inch rim. Whoa! I didn't notice at first read—you've got 20s in the rears! That must look COOL! BIG and FAT! (I mean, big and PHAT!) Why didn't I think of that? So, 295/45/20s in the rear? Wow! Again, that must look b*tchin' . . . what do you have in the fronts?

245/45/18 on 18x7.5 +40
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/5/4/8/DSCF6218.jpg

Congrats. Glad you likey. Show us pics!

[Glenn]

Wow!! Networkshooter - what a voice from the past. Where is your "girl in the Maurauder" sig picture??? What NO SC by now!!

Glenn :burnout:

[studio460]

Wow!! Networkshooter - what a voice from the past. Where is your "girl in the Maurauder" sig picture??? What NO SC by now!
HA! Hey Glenn! Yeah, long time no talk! I traded the "girl in the Marauder" for a MUCH younger model. I didn't even think about Marauders or superchargers for two years! Very hot, but too young, so now I'm back with the "original" model. Such is life . . . BACK TO MARAUDER STUFF!!!

I finally drove the Marauder again today after almost two years of it sitting in the driveway. Anyway, NO RUB! The Hankooks are working out great! The rear air suspension compressor doesn't seem to work, but it seems I still have some air pressure in there somehow, and the rear ride height is luckily just about right for those big, 275/45/19s I've got back there. Just did an oil flush, and filled her up with a fresh serving of Mobil 1. Gonna finally put on my Stallion torque converter, Metcos, and some 4:30s in this week! Woo hoo!

[Da Dark Jedi]

Welcome back Shooter :banana:... I was thinking about you and some of the other guys from back in the days, and here you are.:):)

[Seneca]

Welcome back Shooter!. with some many fading away it's nice to see one return from the past! Seneca

[Glenn]

Good luck Shooter on the MM. Glad you still have it. Get those mods installed right away and your interest in the MM will continue to increase. So if your back with the older model, let's see a new sig!

Glenn :burnout:

[studio460]

Thanks for the warm welcome-back, guys! I see some familiar sigs, but some names have changed. 04Marauder, I KNOW that PLATE, for sure! Best Marauder plates ever!

Thanks again, Glenn! Yup, looking forward to the newly installed mods later next week. No supercharger for this Marauder (that's why the more aggressive 4.30s), so I'm stuck with NA mods at this time. In fact, I gave my girlfriend all of my "supercharger money" (about $8,000) when I left her three years ago so that she could afford to move into a new place. Would prefer to buy a "younger" Marauder to put one in, or buy one with one already installed (the ideal case). I could KILL myself for missing out on buying Zack's super-PRIMO '04 Trilogy he just sold.