255's to 285's
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Eau Claire Wisconsin
255's to 285's
The guy I bought my 94 from, for what ever reason, put 255's on the rear as aposed to the factory 285's. I want to put the factory size back on in the spring. Does anyone think I would feel a noticable change in how the car handles? Anyone go from 255 to 285 in the rear or vise-a-versa?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
My '85 came with stock 255/50VR-16's back in 1984. I decided to replace them with new tires a few years back as the originals had just gotten so hard. I knew I would have to switch to a 17 to get the tire I wanted so picked up a set of AFS's in 17" with the correct offset for my '85.
I wanted to use the, then new, Goodyear GS-D3's, so I went to Tire Rack's site and used the '96 Corvette to search for tires. I ended up with 255's on the front and the 285's on the rear. No clearance issues what-so-ever.
An awesome tire by the way...
Good luck... GUSTO
I wanted to use the, then new, Goodyear GS-D3's, so I went to Tire Rack's site and used the '96 Corvette to search for tires. I ended up with 255's on the front and the 285's on the rear. No clearance issues what-so-ever.
An awesome tire by the way...
Good luck... GUSTO
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The reason that the factory used a 255/45 front tire was to reduce wandering and "darting" when the car was driven on roads that had grooves or channels from heavy use. There should have been no good reason for the smaller tires in the rear unless the previous owner bought another pair of 8.5" wide wheels for the back and mounted the small tires just for the ability to rotate tires.
You should not feel any difference by going with the correct 285/40 size for the rear. If anything, there will be some increase in dry traction due to the slightly larger footprint of the tire on the road surface. Are the rear wheels 9.5" wide?? You will need that size to properly mount the 285 tire.
You should not feel any difference by going with the correct 285/40 size for the rear. If anything, there will be some increase in dry traction due to the slightly larger footprint of the tire on the road surface. Are the rear wheels 9.5" wide?? You will need that size to properly mount the 285 tire.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Eau Claire Wisconsin
Yes, the rears are 9.5's and the fronts 8.5's. I have no idea why he would have put 255's on the rear. BTW they are Good Year Eagle F1's and they are an awesome tire, wet, dry and at the track just in case anyone was thinking about getting them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Prior owner probably rotated his tires (front to back) and didn't realize the size difference.
