Question for those running 18" wheels
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Shreveport LA
Question for those running 18" wheels
I'm looking into purchasing a set of 18x11 / 18x10 wheels for the C4. I spoke with John at CCW and we narrowed it down to two configurations. Both configuration use 10" wheels on the front, but the rear wheel/tire sizes vary. I need help deciding which would be best.
The first option would be to go with 18"x11" wheels on the back using 295 series tires. The only trouble I have with this is that I'm running 315's now, and I'd hate to step down in tire size, especially on a taller wheel. Not sure it would look right.
There are no 315 series tires available for 18" wheels that either he or I know of.
The second option would be to use 18/11.5" wheels in the back and step all the way up to 335 series tires. Trouble with this configuration is that it would require me to add GS flares to the car and I'm not sure if I'm a big fan of any type of bolt-on wheel well flares. I could go without the flares but a black car with mud throwing meats hanging out the side is just asking for a mess IMO.
In need some input and opinions on whether going the 295 tire route is going way too thin, etc. Any ideas?
The first option would be to go with 18"x11" wheels on the back using 295 series tires. The only trouble I have with this is that I'm running 315's now, and I'd hate to step down in tire size, especially on a taller wheel. Not sure it would look right.
There are no 315 series tires available for 18" wheels that either he or I know of.
The second option would be to use 18/11.5" wheels in the back and step all the way up to 335 series tires. Trouble with this configuration is that it would require me to add GS flares to the car and I'm not sure if I'm a big fan of any type of bolt-on wheel well flares. I could go without the flares but a black car with mud throwing meats hanging out the side is just asking for a mess IMO.
In need some input and opinions on whether going the 295 tire route is going way too thin, etc. Any ideas?
Race Director
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From: College of Charleston, SC
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Re: Question for those running 18" wheels (ROME)
I'm pretty sure there is one tire made in 315 for 18" rims, don't know the name though. Check in the Wheel Tires section
Safety Car
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From: Pinellas Florida Misfit
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Re: Question for those running 18" wheels (ROME)
I personally think a 295 is to thin on an 11 inch rim... even on the Z06 uses a 10.5 inch wide wheel. The GS fender flares will hold with double-sided tape, but even then I think the bottoms would still be sticking out where the flares end.
I know a fellow forum member zrracer runs a 17 inch CCW on the rear and an 18 on the front to get the correct tire sizes for his car. If I'm not mistaken he runs a 325 series on the front and a 335 on the rear, but this is on a ZR so the tuck in nicely.
I know a fellow forum member zrracer runs a 17 inch CCW on the rear and an 18 on the front to get the correct tire sizes for his car. If I'm not mistaken he runs a 325 series on the front and a 335 on the rear, but this is on a ZR so the tuck in nicely.
Burning Brakes
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From: Fremont CA
Re: Question for those running 18" wheels (ROME)
315/30R-18 is OE size on current 911 Turbos (or the GT2, I can't remember). Tire Rack has a Pirelli in that size. TireRack Search Page
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Re: Question for those running 18" wheels (chaos on wheels)
A 315 tire would only be about 3/4 inch wider than a 295.
I would go with the 335 and see if you can get the proper backspacing to make it fit without sticking out.
I have 11" on the rear of mine with 315's and they barely stick out. Maybe a 1/4 inch, not even.
I would go with the 335 and see if you can get the proper backspacing to make it fit without sticking out.
I have 11" on the rear of mine with 315's and they barely stick out. Maybe a 1/4 inch, not even.
Safety Car
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From: Austin Texas
Re: Question for those running 18" wheels (ROME)
Tell John to get you the backspaceing he gave me for my 18" x 11.5" CCW's. I went with same size front-rear so it didn't matter which rim I needed to put the slicks on. I forget what it was...I think we went to 6.5" backspace, but John can tell you for sure.
I run 12" on the rear & 11.5" on the front, and they fit fine. I barely get some rubbing on the trailing links under very hard cornering. A 12" tire is a 304.8 mm cross-section.
I run 295's all the way around on mine for street tires. The difference between a 295 and a 315 is .78". I could use more tire on the car, but 295's are fine and everyone has them. A 335 is 13.2" wide, and will be difficult (interprete that as impossible) to fit under any fender unless you do a wide-body ZR1 kit on your C4. GS flares will cover the tire, but you'll have the fender coming down on the tire when the suspension goes to fully compressed. Lots of damage will be the result.
I run 12" on the rear & 11.5" on the front, and they fit fine. I barely get some rubbing on the trailing links under very hard cornering. A 12" tire is a 304.8 mm cross-section.
I run 295's all the way around on mine for street tires. The difference between a 295 and a 315 is .78". I could use more tire on the car, but 295's are fine and everyone has them. A 335 is 13.2" wide, and will be difficult (interprete that as impossible) to fit under any fender unless you do a wide-body ZR1 kit on your C4. GS flares will cover the tire, but you'll have the fender coming down on the tire when the suspension goes to fully compressed. Lots of damage will be the result.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Shreveport LA
Re: Question for those running 18" wheels (Joe90)
Way cool Joe :yesnod: That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for. I'm probably going to imitate your setup exacty. I really like the looks of it. Thanks :cheers:
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Oceanside CA
Re: Question for those running 18" wheels (ROME)
I run 18x10 OZ Monte Carlo's all the way around. For the front I run 285-35's and the rear are 295-35's. They look really good in my opinion. What you want to avoid is going too narrow a tire since the sidewall will look rounded off. Also you want to keep the same ratio of rim width to tire size front to back etc.. ( According to Tire Rack in not so many words. ). I made the mistake of going with 255/40's on the front and a. it looked weird and b. you get different feedback front to rear since the 255 on the 10inch front has more/less flex than the 295 on the 10inch on the rear. Ideally if you go 11.5 rim on the back,
use the same math as the front: so say you go:
295 on a 10 inch front... either stick with a 10 inch rear or go
( 295 * ( 11.5/10 )) = 339 which would make it a 335.. )
Ideally I'd go with a 10 inch wide rim all round. and go 285/295 like
I did which really matches closely to the factory heights or go
295 all round so you can rotate it.
use the same math as the front: so say you go:
295 on a 10 inch front... either stick with a 10 inch rear or go
( 295 * ( 11.5/10 )) = 339 which would make it a 335.. )
Ideally I'd go with a 10 inch wide rim all round. and go 285/295 like
I did which really matches closely to the factory heights or go
295 all round so you can rotate it.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Carlsbad, CA CA
Re: Question for those running 18" wheels (sinc93)
The only 315 30 18 is the pirelli P-zero rosso.
If you go 295 30 18 it will be shorter than your 315 35 17 combo right now. I am running this combo on my steel blue and the 315 combo on my GS, both are Yokohama AVS sports. Yes it will look skinner from the back but if you look at it from the side it looks way better than 315 17 combo because the sidewalls are so short.
I know how it is stepping down to a narrower tire, but it all depends on what kind of 315 you have right now. Go to tireracks website they have each tires "section width" under the specs, and you will be suprised that some 295s are almost as wide as a few 315s. For example, the AVS 315 is wider than the GSC 315s. Do some research and you will probably end up with a 295 that is VISUALLY just a wide as the 315s you have now.
If you go 295 30 18 it will be shorter than your 315 35 17 combo right now. I am running this combo on my steel blue and the 315 combo on my GS, both are Yokohama AVS sports. Yes it will look skinner from the back but if you look at it from the side it looks way better than 315 17 combo because the sidewalls are so short.
I know how it is stepping down to a narrower tire, but it all depends on what kind of 315 you have right now. Go to tireracks website they have each tires "section width" under the specs, and you will be suprised that some 295s are almost as wide as a few 315s. For example, the AVS 315 is wider than the GSC 315s. Do some research and you will probably end up with a 295 that is VISUALLY just a wide as the 315s you have now.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 473
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From: Shreveport LA
Re: Question for those running 18" wheels (Joe90)
Joe,
Would you figure an 18x11.5 with the proper back-spacing (as you mentioned) would allow the Pirelli P-Zero 315/30 to work with the stock wheelwell? Judging from all of the responses, it looks like this might be the closest I can get to filling up the wheel well without rubbing.
Zelement,
Do you have a link, or is there a chance you could e-mail me some larger pics of your GS? I really want to get a look at the rear whell setup you're running (18's?) and the flares. They actually look pretty cool from what I can tell in your sig. My e-mail is SkyChrgr1@aol.com
[Modified by ROME, 2:09 PM 12/3/2002]
Would you figure an 18x11.5 with the proper back-spacing (as you mentioned) would allow the Pirelli P-Zero 315/30 to work with the stock wheelwell? Judging from all of the responses, it looks like this might be the closest I can get to filling up the wheel well without rubbing.
Zelement,
Do you have a link, or is there a chance you could e-mail me some larger pics of your GS? I really want to get a look at the rear whell setup you're running (18's?) and the flares. They actually look pretty cool from what I can tell in your sig. My e-mail is SkyChrgr1@aol.com
[Modified by ROME, 2:09 PM 12/3/2002]
Safety Car
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From: Austin Texas
Re: Question for those running 18" wheels (ROME)
Would you figure an 18x11.5 with the proper back-spacing (as you mentioned) would allow the Pirelli P-Zero 315/30 to work with the stock wheelwell? Judging from all of the responses, it looks like this might be the closest I can get to filling up the wheel well without rubbing.
A 315 would rub even more. I have mine tucked in as far as I can to minimize tire/fender contact. The only way to fit it is going out from there. Depending on how far you have the car lowered will determine how badly the contact will be.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: San Diego CA
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Re: Question for those running 18" wheels (Joe90)
[QUOTE]I don't think you will get the 315's to fit. I might be wrong, but like I said before I run 11.5" & 12" slicks which with the 12" tire size equates to a 305 mm tire. It rubs inside on the inner liner and on the trailing links under hard cornering. I have the tire right at the edge of the lip (see CCW photo below)
Joe's right- a 315 won't fit without rubbing.
Mark Bychowski has 18" wheels in the rear of his 96' and he runs 295's. He says that THEY almost rub. I like Zelement's advice- go with a 295 width tire and choose one with a wider tread like the Yokohama AVS's. You get the best of both that way. :cheers:
Joe's right- a 315 won't fit without rubbing.
Mark Bychowski has 18" wheels in the rear of his 96' and he runs 295's. He says that THEY almost rub. I like Zelement's advice- go with a 295 width tire and choose one with a wider tread like the Yokohama AVS's. You get the best of both that way. :cheers:
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 473
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From: Shreveport LA
Re: Question for those running 18" wheels (365ZUM)
Mark Bychowski has 18" wheels in the rear of his 96' and he runs 295's. He says that THEY almost rub. I like Zelement's advice- go with a 295 width tire and choose one with a wider tread like the Yokohama AVS's. You get the best of both that way.
I'm thinking that if I go with 295's, and an 11" wide wheel rather than 11.5" (offsetting the .5 inch from the backside of the wheel) so that I might be able to buy enough room back there to eliminate any contact.
I'm running 17x11 right now, so I still wouldn't be loosing any width while still adding the extra 1" in wheel height.
[Modified by ROME, 6:14 PM 12/3/2002]
[Modified by ROME, 6:15 PM 12/3/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Carlsbad, CA CA
Re: Question for those running 18" wheels (ROME)
Rome,
I am running the 18s on my 91 not the GS. The wheels are Fikse FM-5s and it is 18x11 with 295 30 18s. They don't rub at all and it is pretty low.
Since my Steel blue is the COTW, you can see how it sits on the forum's mainpage.
I am running the 18s on my 91 not the GS. The wheels are Fikse FM-5s and it is 18x11 with 295 30 18s. They don't rub at all and it is pretty low.
Since my Steel blue is the COTW, you can see how it sits on the forum's mainpage.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Phila., PA burbs
Re: Question for those running 18" wheels (zelement)
Since my Steel blue is the COTW, you can see how it sits on the forum's mainpage.
