[Tom Wells]

Hi Bruno,

I have an E-M also. Vintage 2001.

It has the Ford/Jag suspension but I don't know whether that will make any difference to the maximum wheel or tire widths you can use.

It _will_ make a difference in the back spacing as the Corvette suspension makes the wheel flanges sit further outboard, so the back spacings most probably will be more than what I used.

I have 17" x 9-1/2" rims in front, and in the rear 17" x 11".

Tires are 275/40-17 in the front and 315/35-17 in the rear. These are wider than what you plan to use, so you could use narrower wheels at both ends and most likely avoid problems.

So far, I've had no trouble in the front.

In the rear, one of the limiting factors is the seat buckets! The inside of the tire will touch the molded fiberglass at full compression of the back shocks, and it also touches the inside of the fender lip. We ground off a bit of the fender lip which reducees the ZZZZZZZZZZZZTT!! noise that accompanies the tire touching but doesn't eliminate it. Modifying the seat bucket looks to be way too much trouble...

What I plan to do is stiffen the back springs about 10% which should help a little.

BOTTOM LINE:

If you use a 17 x 10-1/2" rear wheel it may fit OK if the back spacing is right for your car. The 17 x 9-1/2" wheel does fine on mine in the front.

PROBLEM:

Just did a quick check at Tire Rack and couldn't find any 305/xx-17s at all! No 35s and no 40s.

WARNING:

Be sure you try any wheels on the car to see if they are going to fit. If they don't fit (wrong back space or whatever) be sure you can swap them for some that do fit! Your car/body combo may be different from mine - these are all hand-built bodies and frames...

Hope this helps,

Tom