yeah i know you "cant" do this but......i did anyways.

ill post a couple pics when it stops raining but it doesnt look bad at all. best part was i replaced the 46k mile blowtenzas (still had tread...on 2 of the tires at least) with kumho ecsta MX 235/45/17. traction is much better and handling improved too.

 

I've heard that the 235's wear fast in the middle of the tire due to sqeezing a wider tire into stock rim
(meant for 225 tire). Just don't run with a lot of PSI.

 

I just received HTR+ tires from tirerack in 235/45 17 size, going to install them on my stock
17" as well.

 

I am running 235/45/17 Nankang NS-2 on my stock rims with no complaints at all, if anything, this is a better tire than factory, they handle so much better and tread water better, but anything id better than Craptenza's. But I have experienced no problems with the 235's, it throws the speedo off about 5mph and it makes the MPG guage read a little less than stock, but that don't bother me none.

 

I run 235/50/17 on my 2003. But the tire specs say that it can be mounted on a 7" rim. BTW, the tire is a Michelin Pilot Sport A/S

 

So whats the advantage of going with the 235's?

 

just little more rubber meeting the ground