What tire for a 17x8 rim? 2015 edition.

Since this place has been chattier lately, here's a topic for discussion.

My blazer has 17x8 wheels wearing (now out of production) 255/50/17 Yokohama Advan ST's. I bought them nearly 10 years ago, liked the size, liked the tire. Looking at tire rack today, theres nearly nothing in that size anymore.



So question to the group- what size to migrate towards? I'll list some pretty easy shopping criteria below, but feel free to ignore them if you find something cool you want to post a picture of.

Fits a 17x8 wheel - I like the rims, would prefer to keep them
Wide tread - more width is more better, right?
Speed rating - The Advan's were W/168mph rated. Really I don't need anything extreme, but lets say 120mph to match the speedometer.
Load rating - Stock was 102. The Advan's were 101. There will be no towing with this.
Tread - No winter use. No mud or snow required. A cool looking tread gets bonus points.
Price - Don't wreck me.

Tire rack does have a Kumho in my current size that fits the bill, but their lack of choices has me thinking that there's something better if I change up the search. Whats the group think?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Ecsta+SPT&partnum=55WR7KU31&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

wait, what's your goals with this truck?
255/40/17 is a lot shorter but a competitive tire in the street classes for autoX. which means great selection in the 200 tw tire category.
But I'm not sure that's what you're looking for.

in the other direction I'd say the goodyear duratracs are the way to go. Amazing how pricey they've gotten over the past couple years though.
I'm pretty sure I'll be headed down the duratrac road on the blazer once I wear out or sell the current tires I have

Goals? Have a fun toy to drive around in. Have a conversation topic of the day.

Autocross is interesting. With so many parts swapped on the truck I don't know what class I'd be in.

The 255/40/17 is shorter, for my own reference -
Specification  Sidewall  Radius  Diameter  Circumference  Revs/Mile  Difference
255/50-17         5.0in  13.5in    27.0in         84.9in        746        0.0%
255/40-17         4.0in  12.5in    25.0in         78.6in        806       -7.4%

CAM class is the usual domestic catch-all class that you'll probably be okay for.
Worst case you'll get stuck in XP with me, but I'm in there for a cross-company engine swap.

You really don't have much tire selection.... Time to get different wheels and get with the times haha

BFG sport comp2s come in 255/45/17
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=g-Force+Sport+COMP-2&sidewall=Blackwall&partnum=545WR7GFSPC2&tab=Sizes

of goodyear f1 something or others
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Eagle+F1+GS-D3&partnum=545YR7F1GSD3&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

or RE050s in 245/45
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE050+RFT&partnum=45WR7RE050RFT&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

but not much else...

There is some selection at 265/40-17 as well, it was the stock size for the fronts on the C5 ZO6. Depending on the manufacturer they may actually be narrower than a 255 (I've had both sizes and some 255's were wider).

well at that point a 275/40/17 was a pretty popular size (mustangs, camaros) so it may have better selection for the 280~340 treadwear area.
putting it on a 8" is doable, but it'll be a pretty pinched tire.