DC-NH

A friend asked me what is the largest size tire I would recommend for his Vette. I wanted to put this out to the forum.

aminnich

285/40/17s are the largest for 4 matched tires. Of course you did not say what year and what it rims/tires it came with.

Jeffvette

On a ZR-1 you can do a 315 up front and a 335 out back.

Regular C4 315 up front and out back.

DVNCI

I have 315 out back but would not advise going wider than 285 on front - made the steering considerably more heavy than the 275's

Richard G

I run 285/40/17"s at all four corners on a 94. I can rotate front to back on the expensive Michelins.
I drive on probably the worst roads in the nation, with coal trucks on small two lane roads near two power stations.
The tires do not rub fenders. Corvette is a darter with such big front tires on country roads. I run 32 lbs front and rear.
Tires are wearing evenly thru 20,000 plus miles. For me these are as big of a tire for a stock configured Corvette. If I went bigger I would have fender clearance issues on these rough roads.

DVNCI

GREGGPENN

The front isn't quite stiff/high enough to allow 315's all around. They'll rub in the front. If you lift the front suspension 1/2" - 1", then 315's would work.

BTW: On some vettes, there is a reported problem with breakdown of the front leaf. The lower your frontend sits, the more you'll have issues with rubbing. From the factory, 275's were the widest used on all four corners (and that was on late L98s). 285's were used on the rears with 245's on the front of non-ZR1 vettes with LT1s. Early L98s used 50 series tires.

BrianCunningham

My track setup is 335 on on four corners.

I run the stock 275's on the street.

Jeffvette

Actually that continued on into the LT1 with the Z07/Z51 option.

TRACKMAN2

really my buddy Ruddy nasa #33 c4 tryed to run 335 on his 92 and it broke the front fenders how are those wheel bearings comming?

ElisTwoCents

Hmmmm I run 315/35s all around on my driver. I've been running this setup for about 4 years and have no issues. No rubbing either and I still maintain a full turning radius.

BrianCunningham

My car isn't lowered, if it's really slammed they'll hit.

Coming along nicely. I think I've come up with something that will work

GREGGPENN

Last spring (as an experiment), I pulled my 11" ZR1 rears and put them on the front of my car. They are fitted with 315/35/17's.

I used tan masking tape on the wheel well lip and inside edge. I had just installed new Bilsteins (shocks). My (50K mile 89) car is not broken down or sitting low in the front (like some vettes I've seen).

I rolled it off a good sized curb (quickly). This accomplished the same thing as bouncing the car. When I looked at the fender (tape), you could see that it was barely hitting. 315's might not chew up the fender, but it would leave marks and affect the paint on the lip of the wheel well. I can't see how 335's wouldn't be worse since they are wider.

I can also see how it might work -- especially since the rubbing was minimal when vigorously bounced. Also, ZR1 wheels are offet to the outside more than GS wheels. So, GS wheels probably wouldn't rub! I did drive it "around the block" as well. The steering was somewhat stiffer/heavier though I don't think the tires followed "ruts" any more than 275's. I don't think it would be a bad (slotcar) setup -- provided clearance issues were liveable and you kept your suspension in top shape. If you're into corning ALOT, this would be cool.

bizaro

Optimum handling on a standard C4 is 275 all the way around. That wasn't your question but if your after better handling, this is the way to go.