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Old May 6, 2009 | 11:18 PM
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Default Tire size change

My C5 vert has 245/45 and 275/40. Could i put on 255/40 and 285/35 on it? I have the factory rims which are 17 and 18 inch.So in other words a lower and wider tire and keep the factory rims.
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Old May 6, 2009 | 11:28 PM
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just make sure you get a lowering kit.

your rear tires are going to be almost 1" shorter and you'll have a huge fender gap in the back.
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Old May 6, 2009 | 11:56 PM
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Old May 7, 2009 | 01:17 AM
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In order to avoid problems with the active handeling you probably should look into two things:

1) Have to retain a bias, (different size between front and back).
2) Same overall outside wheel diameter.

Uusally comes up when people put larger rims on the car, they have to get tires with a shorter sidewall hieght, so that the outside diameter of the tire (the part that touches the road) remains the same size.

You are keeping the stock rims and going to shorter tires, so I would think you are changing the diameter of the outer (driving surface) of the wheel, I would think that may cause you problems when the wheel speed sensors see that the rear wheels are turing faster than they should be (in relation to the fronts).

Although in your setup they both should get smaller (by the same amount?), Im not qualified to say whether that will work.

There are a lotta posts on it though, serach for 20 inch rims.

Good luck.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 07:11 AM
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You need the rear tires to be at least 1/2 inch taller than the front tires (Tire Rack lists the diameter (height) of all their tires) for your traction control and active handling to work properly.

The stock tires have an 1 inch difference in heights.

You CAN drive with traction control and active handling off, but WHY ?
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Old May 7, 2009 | 11:02 AM
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Originally Posted by LTCHAPPA
My C5 vert has 245/45 and 275/40. Could i put on 255/40 and 285/35 on it? I have the factory rims which are 17 and 18 inch.So in other words a lower and wider tire and keep the factory rims.


Thats what I did. End of last year I went with General Exclaims (non RFs; 255/40/17s up front, 285/35/18 rear) from Tire Rack, stock thin spokes, on a 2000 C5 coupe. My vette is lowered on stock bolts.

I also replaced the F45 suspension with all C5Z parts (shocks, springs, sways etc). Prior to doing this change, I had Michelin ZPs and before that Goodyear RFs (all stock size).

I can tell you its made a big difference in handling (and looks much better (side profile) compared to the ZPs). I haven't had any problems with this change other than why didnt I do this before?

Also, my vette is not a dd, drive to work sometimes, otherwise its mainly a garage queen/weekend toy.

BTW check with your local vette clubs...you'll find that others have already did this.

Good luck!
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Old May 7, 2009 | 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by LTCHAPPA
My C5 vert has 245/45 and 275/40. Could i put on 255/40 and 285/35 on it? I have the factory rims which are 17 and 18 inch.So in other words a lower and wider tire and keep the factory rims.
YOu can use this Tire Size Calculator to comapre tire sizes.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 04:40 PM
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[QUOTE=Oldvetter;1569992366]You need the rear tires to be at least 1/2 inch taller than the front tires (Tire Rack lists the diameter (height) of all their tires) for your traction control and active handling to work properly.QUOTE]


I've been running 315-30-18's all around for almost 3 weeks with no issues with AH/TC. I just wanted to try it. I'm putting back on my other set soon but I wanted to rough these up some before I start autocrossing it.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 06:05 PM
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[QUOTE=Rickyh93;1569998526]
Originally Posted by Oldvetter
You need the rear tires to be at least 1/2 inch taller than the front tires (Tire Rack lists the diameter (height) of all their tires) for your traction control and active handling to work properly.QUOTE]


I've been running 315-30-18's all around for almost 3 weeks with no issues with AH/TC. I just wanted to try it. I'm putting back on my other set soon but I wanted to rough these up some before I start autocrossing it.
Did you reprogram your PCM with the new tire sizes? If you did, that's the reason your TC/AH isn't barking at you.
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Old May 11, 2009 | 09:13 AM
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did nothing to the ecm. Just bolted them on and have been driving it around.
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Old May 11, 2009 | 09:29 AM
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I also ran the same size tire all the way around on my car for about 9 months with only the rare amount of times the traction control warning. I did this because I already had the tires and for no other reason. Now I have since switched to some 285's.
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Old May 11, 2009 | 09:48 AM
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I run 295's on the rear with no problem,when the fronts wear out I will go to 255's .
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Old May 11, 2009 | 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by bucwheat
I run 295's on the rear with no problem,when the fronts wear out I will go to 255's .
295's on a 9.5 in rim?
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