255/45/20...will it work?

[dross93ranger]

I have been messing with a tire calculator for 2 days to the point to where I am giving myself a headache lol. I see where most people with 20s are running 255/35/20 tires. I am not crazy over this look because it leaves too much fender gap and not enough sidewall. My van is a 2wd 2000 which is stock height and I was wanting to run 255/45/20 tires on a 20x8.5 wheel. Will this work?

[misterfx8]

i know what you mean about the 35 series tire. Been there done that. I learned the hard way. I just pick up some new wheels and tires. Went from 20x8 0 offset with nitto nt555 245/35-20 to 20x8.5 8+ offset with parada spec x 255/40-20 and let me tell you what a difference. I am glad i went bigger. Some websites suggest 235/45 or 245/40 or 245/45 or 255/40 and or 255/45. I think 255/45 will work for stock height. When i had my first 20x8 on stock height i had alot of room. But when i dropped it down 2 inches in the front and 3 inches in the back. I had to roll the front lips on the front fender. Letting you know if you plan to drop to drop yours in the future.

[dross93ranger]

Awesomw, thanks man. Do you have any pictures..Oh and it may get a 2/3 in the future.

[Bis]

i know what you mean about the 35 series tire. Been there done that. I learned the hard way. I just pick up some new wheels and tires. Went from 20x8 0 offset with nitto nt555 245/35-20 to 20x8.5 8+ offset with parada spec x 255/40-20 and let me tell you what a difference. I am glad i went bigger. Some websites suggest 235/45 or 245/40 or 245/45 or 255/40 and or 255/45. I think 255/45 will work for stock height. When i had my first 20x8 on stock height i had alot of room. But when i dropped it down 2 inches in the front and 3 inches in the back. I had to roll the front lips on the front fender. Letting you know if you plan to drop to drop yours in the future.

Can't wait to see the pics of the new combo man!

[Bis]

i know what you mean about the 35 series tire. Been there done that. I learned the hard way. I just pick up some new wheels and tires. Went from 20x8 0 offset with nitto nt555 245/35-20 to 20x8.5 8+ offset with parada spec x 255/40-20 and let me tell you what a difference. I am glad i went bigger. Some websites suggest 235/45 or 245/40 or 245/45 or 255/40 and or 255/45. I think 255/45 will work for stock height. When i had my first 20x8 on stock height i had alot of room. But when i dropped it down 2 inches in the front and 3 inches in the back. I had to roll the front lips on the front fender. Letting you know if you plan to drop to drop yours in the future.

How long does a set of tires last you?
Just called my shop and they were kind of appauled that I would do 20"s on this van. They were like: "You will be changing tires every few weeks". I take it their comments were related to the weight I carry in the back.

Does going up in wheel size come with that side effect? (lower thread life?)
Anybody?

PS: Are you selling your wheels now that you have a new combo?

[Bis]

i know what you mean about the 35 series tire. Been there done that. I learned the hard way. I just pick up some new wheels and tires. Went from 20x8 0 offset with nitto nt555 245/35-20 to 20x8.5 8+ offset with parada spec x 255/40-20 and let me tell you what a difference. I am glad i went bigger. Some websites suggest 235/45 or 245/40 or 245/45 or 255/40 and or 255/45. I think 255/45 will work for stock height. When i had my first 20x8 on stock height i had alot of room. But when i dropped it down 2 inches in the front and 3 inches in the back. I had to roll the front lips on the front fender. Letting you know if you plan to drop to drop yours in the future.

Havent heard back from misterfx8 in a while but I am now certain that using the 255/40-20 will more than likely cause you trouble and modifications will be needed.
I would love to know how misterfx8 got his newer/bigger tires tucked in there just right? He must have done some work to the fender/wheel well when he lowered it before?
You can follow the full episodic, dramatic, story on what I am doing to fix the rubbing on my 2001 van here:

https://www.astrosafari.com/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=12112

I am fairly certain that 255/45-20 and bigger will NOT fit at all unless you trim the bumper tips a bit and do some mods to the fender area by the doors.

Let us know how you do, every Astro/Safari is different so what might work for one may not work for the other and viceversa.