Anyone running 265 50 18's?

[sflrainmaker01]

Anyone running 265 50 18's in the rear? Any fitment issues? Seems like it might be a nice upgrade.

[Mr. Man]

Lot's of peeps using that size on the rear. Many using Nitto 555's

[crownvic05]

Im useing nitto nt404 285/50-18 on mustang 18x8 rims on the rear. They look beautiful.

[sflrainmaker01]

It looks like it is 20 mm wider and 2.25 mm shorter.

[fastblackmerc]

With widened wheels you can run 295 or 305 in the rear.

Need to check the recommended wheel width for the tire you are considering.

[gdsqdcr]

Nitto 555's in that size. No fitment issues at all. Center is wearing faster than the outside edges, running tires at recommended pressure. Maybe could get another 2000 miles out of them if it were a perfect wear.

[sflrainmaker01]

After checking around, I like the 255 45 18 front and 265 50 18 rear combo. I am not sure I like the look of the 295's on stock rims. However, right now, my fronts are in pretty good shape. The rears are starting to thin out. Too many second gear :burnout::burnout: I guess.:P

[babbage]

Lot's of peeps using that size on the rear. Many using Nitto 555's

I run these on all 4 corners. 265 50 18, do like the Nitto555's only for summer!

[babbage]

Stay away from 255 IMHO - this is a truck style size with a big sidewall (flex)

[gdsqdcr]

I run these on all 4 corners. 265 50 18, do like the Nitto555's only for summer!

I run mine year around, in California. Of course, I do take the truck on rainy days, would rather folks run into that then the Marauder.

[slickster]

Stay away from 255 IMHO - this is a truck style size with a big sidewall (flex)

+1k.........

[sflrainmaker01]

Stay away from 255 IMHO - this is a truck style size with a big sidewall (flex)

How does it have a bigger sidewall when the tire diameter is pretty close to the stock 235 50's? 235x0.50=117.50 sidewall. 255x0.45=114.75 sidewall. It's actually shorter. It's just 20 mm wider and 2.75 mm shorter.

[RubberCtyRauder]

How does it have a bigger sidewall when the tire diameter is pretty close to the stock 235 50's? 235x0.50=117.50 sidewall. 255x0.45=114.75 sidewall. It's actually shorter. It's just 20 mm wider and 2.75 mm shorter.


He is talking about tire size 255/55/18..not 265/50/18

[sflrainmaker01]

He is talking about tire size 255/55/18..not 265/50/18

Oh, Ok. I wouldn't want something with taller sidewalls anyway.

Do the 255 45's on the front have any rubbing issues?

[RubberCtyRauder]

I dont run them myself, but most of the members here who run the NT555 run that size up front and noone has ever written about rubbing issues

[sflrainmaker01]

I dont run them myself, but most of the members here who run the NT555 run that size up front and noone has ever written about rubbing issues

Good. Because after replacing the rears, 255 45 is what I will have my eyes on for the front.;)

[bigmerc281]

I run a 275/55/18. shouldn't have a problem with fitment and my car is lowered

[prchrman]

i love my 255/55/18s. of course i am not flat tracking or anything like that. i like the filled wheelwell look myself.

[fairlane347]

Anyone running 265 50 18's in the rear? Any fitment issues? Seems like it might be a nice upgrade.

I am running that size on the back and it looks great, a little beefier look on the stock wheel. I have Nitto 555 tire too. Go for it you will like it.

[ctrlraven]

I'm running 255/45 on the front and 265/50 on the rear. I may switch to 255/55 on the rear when I replace the tires in the spring time.

[sflrainmaker01]

I'm running 255/45 on the front and 265/50 on the rear. I may switch to 255/55 on the rear when I replace the tires in the spring time.

Doesn't the taller tire lower (numerically) the gear ratio?

[ctrlraven]

Doesn't the taller tire lower (numerically) the gear ratio?
A taller tire will lower the effective gear ratio but not by much and vice versa with a shorter tire will raise the effect gear ratio.

4.10 gears with 255/55 = 4.04
4.10 gears with 265/50 - 4.15

[slickster]

i love my 255/55/18s. of course i am not flat tracking or anything like that. i like the filled wheelwell look myself.

Yea it looks really good but at highway speeds its almost like a floating feeling! Be careful

[ctrlraven]

Yea it looks really good but at highway speeds its almost like a floating feeling! Be careful
I never noticed that when I was running the BFG KDW2 255/55 (flame tread pattern style tire). I know with my Goodyear WRT winter tires, yes, above 70 mph it feels floating (235/50 front, 255/55 rear winter setup).

[prchrman]

Yea it looks really good but at highway speeds its almost like a floating feeling! Be careful

i run some kind of Goodyear and they do not feel floaty at all. I had some falkens and bfgs (if i remember correctly) at 255/55 and the falkens were awful but others were not. more to do with tire than the size in my experience. I have ran 255/55 since the 2nd set of fronts wore out and i have 110k on mine.

[fireandice9008]

I just had the same dilemma: http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=89345

They fit fantastically, and I am very impressed with them. Put 400ish miles on them this weekend and haven't looked back. I'm also lowered front and rear, and running 245s in the front (for now).

[Trevor M]

I run 265/45's nitto nt555's on the rear and 245 on the front. I absolutely love them. I have about 5000 miles on them all summer driving. No major signs of wear yet, no rubbing, only downfall is the rain. They are a little slippery but i try my best to avoid rain in the Merc. A+++ tires. Just my 2 cents.

[sflrainmaker01]

I run 265/45's nitto nt555's on the rear and 245 on the front. I absolutely love them. I have about 5000 miles on them all summer driving. No major signs of wear yet, no rubbing, only downfall is the rain. They are a little slippery but i try my best to avoid rain in the Merc. A+++ tires. Just my 2 cents.

Cool. It seems like that 265 45 is alot shorter than the stock tire. I wonder what the effective gear ratio is running that setup with a 4.10 gear set? ctrlraven?

[MM2004]

Nitto 555 Extreme -
Front - 255/45/ZR18
Rear - 265/50/ZR18

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/Marion_Car_Show_2011_049_copy. jpg

Mike.

[sflrainmaker01]

:awe:AWESOME! Your car looks fantastic! :up: :drool:

[RubberCtyRauder]

A 265-45-18 is 1.25 inches shorter than factory size..it will look small in the wheel well. You have an 04 so you have traction control..must maintain a 3% or so difference in front to rear height. (unless he meant to type a 265-50 for rear and the 255-45 for front)

[sflrainmaker01]

A 265-45-18 is 1.25 inches shorter than factory size..it will look small in the wheel well. You have an 04 so you have traction control..must maintain a 3% or so difference in front to rear height. (unless he meant to type a 265-50 for rear and the 255-45 for front)

Yeah, that size is more like what a Mustang would have.

[Vortech347]

The lower the profile you go the more important wheel width comes to play. With an 8" wide wheel unless you want ill handling and excessive center wear its best to stay with a 255.

Since at the factory they went to the trouble of staggering wheel sizes on these cars anyway they should have done a 9" wide rear wheel.

[sflrainmaker01]

The lower the profile you go the more important wheel width comes to play. With an 8" wide wheel unless you want ill handling and excessive center wear its best to stay with a 255.

Since at the factory they went to the trouble of staggering wheel sizes on these cars anyway they should have done a 9" wide rear wheel.

I agree, but think about how much $$ they saved by using an 8" wheel...:rolleyes:

[ctrlraven]

255/45 Front, 265/50 Rear stock ride height (pics are from Feb 2012)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/472775_2384748516661_158971985 _o.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/478532_2384747196628_152524634 2_o.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/414002_2344108980698_214229229 _o.jpg

[sflrainmaker01]

Thanks for the nice pics! What brand are those rears ctrlraven? I see the fronts are Generals. That is a great setup. :burnout:

[ctrlraven]

Thanks for the nice pics! What brand are those rears ctrlraven? I see the fronts are Generals. That is a great setup. :burnout:

Rears are Nitto NT555 Extreme ZR

[sflrainmaker01]

I know this is a bit off the original thread question, but would a 275/45/18 work in the rear? It seems that it should more than offset the 3% factor.

Also, how would that shorter tire affect rear gearing (assuming 4.10 ratio)?

I went to go to the track last night (1st time ever :rolleyes:) and noticed that the center of the rear tires is at the wear bar.:mad: That really dampened my spirits. Especially, since I had planned on doing a couple nice burnouts (been a while since I peeled a wheel, lol :burnout:).

[RubberCtyRauder]

275-45-18 is too short to use with 235-50-18 front if you have traction control. it is only 1.8% difference. it will prolly still need widened rim. And it is 2.6% difference with a 255-45-18 front tire so that's a gamble if it will effect traction control..

[sflrainmaker01]

275-45-18 is too short to use with 235-50-18 front if you have traction control. it is only 1.8% difference. it will prolly still need widened rim. And it is 2.6% difference with a 255-45-18 front tire so that's a gamble if it will effect traction control..

ok thanks.:beer:

Also, since these are the fanciest wheels I have ever owned, does the shop have to do anything special to prevent damage when they change the tires?

[RubberCtyRauder]

only thing I can think of is they do not take clamp on style wheel weights..Need to use the self sticking ones that adhere to the inside portion of the rim

[crownvic05]

For the guys running 265 50 18 on all 4 corners, can you please post some pics. I am interested in that size.

Also, if anyone is running 255/55-18 up front, please post some pics. Thanks

My setup right now is 245/55-18(fronts/goodyear) and 285/50-18(rears/nittos).

I can get some nittos for the front to match my rears in 255/55-18 or 265/50-18 but not 245/55. If 255/55-18 fits with no issues then I wouldnt mind running them.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/isatisfy2003/IMAG0102_zps8e499c75.jpg (http://s457.photobucket.com/user/isatisfy2003/media/IMAG0102_zps8e499c75.jpg.html)
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/isatisfy2003/IMAG0096_zps0b46a307.jpg (http://s457.photobucket.com/user/isatisfy2003/media/IMAG0096_zps0b46a307.jpg.html)

[sflrainmaker01]

crownvic05, this is off topic, but are your tail lites tinted?

[crownvic05]

crownvic05, this is off topic, but are your tail lites tinted?

Yes they are. 3 light coats of niteshade for the tail lights and 4 for the reverse.

[sflrainmaker01]

Looks real nice! :)

[crownvic05]

Thank you sir.

[lifespeed]

Stay away from 255 IMHO - this is a truck style size with a big sidewall (flex)

I ran some Yokohoma Advan 255/55-18 in the rear and found exactly what you described: floppy sidewalls. Expensive lesson. :(