285/40-17 on all corners?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 429
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From: Plains Ga.
285/40-17 on all corners?
I was wanting to know if I put 285/40-17 tires on all four wheels would it create any problems? I have "A-mold" 9.5" x 17" wheels on all four corners.This is a '96 coupe LT1 w/auto. I would like to do this for the purpose of rotating the tires. Please advise.
Thanks,
JTHVETTE
Thanks,
JTHVETTE
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 2
From: Champaign, IL
St. Jude Donor '05
your car might be a little more likely to hydroplane in wet conditions or to follow grooves in the road but other than that I don't see any issues unless the front tire might rub a little on the plastic when turned all the way
Large Impressive Member
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
285s won't rub at all. I know someone running 315s in the front and they only rub when turned to lock.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
"...your car might be a little more likely to hydroplane in wet conditions or to follow grooves in the road..."
Why would they hydro or follow grooves more? You mean simply because of more tire surface in contact with the road? I don't get that one. Typically, you hydro due to suspension geometry (not as strong a reason), worn tread, and tire design. Plz explain your reasoning. I'm interested.
As to whether it's ok to use larger, 285 tires up front, I'd agree with the above posters; I've talked with a few owners who have larger tires on the front than stock. No rubs or other problems. Presume this also means you'll get non--directional, non-asymetric tires so you can do a full, modified criss-cross rotation which is the most life-extending method.
Drive on and enjoy.
Why would they hydro or follow grooves more? You mean simply because of more tire surface in contact with the road? I don't get that one. Typically, you hydro due to suspension geometry (not as strong a reason), worn tread, and tire design. Plz explain your reasoning. I'm interested.
As to whether it's ok to use larger, 285 tires up front, I'd agree with the above posters; I've talked with a few owners who have larger tires on the front than stock. No rubs or other problems. Presume this also means you'll get non--directional, non-asymetric tires so you can do a full, modified criss-cross rotation which is the most life-extending method.
Drive on and enjoy.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 2
From: Champaign, IL
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by LT4CompYell
"...your car might be a little more likely to hydroplane in wet conditions or to follow grooves in the road..."
Why would they hydro or follow grooves more? You mean simply because of more tire surface in contact with the road?
Why would they hydro or follow grooves more? You mean simply because of more tire surface in contact with the road?
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by LT4CompYell
"...your car might be a little more likely to hydroplane in wet conditions or to follow grooves in the road..."
Why would they hydro or follow grooves more? You mean simply because of more tire surface in contact with the road? I don't get that one. Typically, you hydro due to suspension geometry (not as strong a reason), worn tread, and tire design. Plz explain your reasoning. I'm interested.
Why would they hydro or follow grooves more? You mean simply because of more tire surface in contact with the road? I don't get that one. Typically, you hydro due to suspension geometry (not as strong a reason), worn tread, and tire design. Plz explain your reasoning. I'm interested.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Aurora CO
I don't have 285s but I do have 275s all the way around on 9.5" rims. No problem whatsoever. One of the reasons that Chevrolet went to 255s on the front was that they wanted to introduce more understeer at the limit. They could do this with the smaller tire.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid NC
285s won't rub at all. I know someone running 315s in the front and they only rub when turned to lock.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
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From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid NC
One of the reasons they went to the smaller 255/45s on the standard suspension LT1s in later years was to cut down on wandering on grooved roads. I've run those, 275s and 285s on the front and the larger ones do increase this tendency somewhat. It's also common knowledge that for a given tire design, the wider they are, the greater the possibility of hydroplaning.
To keep it simple when it comes to hydroplaning wider tire = more surface area which makes it easier for the water to lift your tire from the road! Same reason why lowering your airpressure in soft sand helps stop the tendency of your car digging in and burying itself in the sand.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid NC
One of the reasons they went to the smaller 255/45s on the standard suspension LT1s in later years was to cut down on wandering on grooved roads. I've run those, 275s and 285s on the front and the larger ones do increase this tendency somewhat. It's also common knowledge that for a given tire design, the wider they are, the greater the possibility of hydroplaning.
The stock, Bridgestone Potenza RE-030 didn't wander. Replacement of all 4 with same size Bridgestone S02 Pole Positions didn't wander. Replacement with S03 Pole Positions, same size, were crazy with wandering--almost to the point of unsafe.
New set, same model tire, given to me by Bridgestone wandered less. New set Sumitomo HTR+, no wander at all on grooved highways.
All of these tires were absolutely solid in rain at very high speeds. True, I never went to larger sizes...I accept that a larger size might very well have caused hydroplaning in the wet. But wander seems to be a different story.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 2
From: Champaign, IL
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by LT4CompYell
wander seems to be a different story.
do you have a shot with the hood up?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
From: Plains Ga.
285/40-17 on all wheels?
I would agree that there may be an increase in the possibility of "hydroplaning" due to the increase in tire width. I was mainly concerened about interference with the suspension. The car came with Nitto 555's on it. The person I bought it from had a new 285/40-17 tire that he gave me. Since I need to replace the front tires only, this would allow me to use this tire on front. Does anyone see a problem with this?
JTHVETTE
JTHVETTE
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,874
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From: Littleton CO
Originally Posted by JTHVETTE
Does anyone see a problem with this?
edit - The 285's in fron also look cool as heck.
Last edited by jrp; Jun 30, 2005 at 09:31 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Poop land
Originally Posted by BrianCunningham
My 335's on all 4
Holy God! I bet if you drove those wide a$$ tires in the highway, they would follow every line on the road that semi trucks make when they scrape. Does this setup wander in the highway as people claim? I'd like to try 315s all around one day and see for myself. I bet this is a killer setup for autoX events!!
