All you need Are the OEM wheel widths mentioned above.

Browse around to find the tires you like, and then check the available tire widths. The given widths will show you the range of wheel widths they will fit, per the manufacturer. Tire Rack and Discount Tire Direct show this online. If you find a place that doesn't have it listed, the tire manufacturers website will.

 

I wanted wider tires too, so I went from the rear tire on the right to the rear tire on the left.

 

NICE!!!

 

ET you are correct about the section width, due to different manufacturers using larger lip protection on their tires.

Also when I was doing the specs for rims for my car I measured my original Goodyear 275/40/18 rears and they measured 11.250 overall width on the stock 9.5" rims, that is a section width you would normally find in a 285. I do have a photo I took for reference.

 

ET,

Tire looks fantastic.

What are your sizes, front and rear ??

Michael

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=46

section width are all the same for all manufacturers. you do not include the rim protector, as i have stated earlier in this thread it is the measurement from sidewall to sidewall based on a given rim width. if it says 325 it is 325mm from sidewall to sidewall. what is different between manufacturers is the TREAD width (this is the term evil-twin was trying to reference). this is a percentage of section width. manufacturers determine this on their own. can be anywhere from 80-95+%.

here are 4 examples taken right off tirerack website

bfg gforce sport comp2
section width - 10.9
tread width - 10.7
rim width - 9.5

bridgestone potenza re040 rft
section width - 10.8
tread width - 10.0
rim width - 9.5

goodyear eagle f1 gs emt (oem tire)
section width - 10.8
tread width - 10.3
rim width - 9.5

sumitomo htrz II
section width - 10.9
tread width - 9.9
rim width - 9.5

all are within .1" of section width, but look at the wide variation of tread width.

now for something interesting. looking at the goodyear eagle f1 supercar in the 285/40-18 you get these results

section width - 11.4
tread width - 9.1
rim width - 10.0

all of the 275/40-18 i listed have more tread width than the 285/40-18 and it's measured on a 10" wheel instead of a 9.5". i mentioned this in my previous post as well. going up a size may get you a wider section width but not necessarily a wider tread width. and it's tread width that matters. that's what touches the ground.

 

mrr23,

Nice research.

I'm just about to purchase two sets of ZO6 tires. I haven't select the maker yep, but will not be G/Y run flats...

Thanks !!!

Michael

 

Michael, my rears are 345 x 35 x 19 fronts are 265 x 35 x 19.

 

the last part of the tire size formula is the aspect ratio.
This determine sidewall height and diameter.
The middle number in the tire size is the aspect ratio. It represent the % percentage of the section width...eg. a 265 x 35 x 19
The sidewall is 35% of 265.mm.

275 x 40 x 18
Sidewall is 40% of 275 mm

Bill aka ET

 

25+ years in the tire industry helps

 

Also what tires did you go with, and the offset of the rears assuming that looks like the wide body conversion I will be doing soon?
TIA

 

front offset is 56mm 265 x35 x 19 Nitto Evo
rears are 44mm 345 x 35 x 19 Nitto Evo





Bill aka ET

 

First off I do not want to start an argument & I am not passing judgement on any ones knowledge, just posting what I see listed & what I have as hands on experience with the Nittos I have on now. And I am looking at 295's & 305's now.

These come up when you search section width, both from Tire Rack.

Tire Tech Information - Tire Specs Explained: Section Width
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...jsp?techid=200
Section Width. A tire's section width (also called "cross section width") is the measurement of the tire's width from its inner sidewall to its outer sidewall (excluding any protective ribs, decorations or raised letters) at the widest point.

Tire Tech Information - Tire Size Guide
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=46
P225/50R16 91S. The 225 indicates this tire is 225 millimeters across from the widest point of its outer sidewall to the widest point of its inner sidewall when mounted and measured on a specified width wheel. This measurement is also referred to as the tire's section width.

If the first is true than they should not list tires as shown below, as
295mm is 11.6", the Pilot & Pirelli are from Tire Rack the Nitto from their web site.

Pilot SS 295/25/20
Meas. Rim Width 10.5" Sect. Width 11.9"


Pirelli Pzero Nero 295/25/20
Meas. Rim Width 10.5" Sect. Width 11.9"


Nitto Invo 295/25/20
Meas. Rim Width 10.5" Overall Width 11.5"


The Pilot & the Pirelli have the Section Width listed as 11.9" which I would believe to include the rim protector, and the Nitto is listed as overall width. So I would pick the Nitto because the others as listed I would believe the extra width would put the sidewall of the tire outside my body lines at the top of my wheel well, unacceptable to me, I prefer as flush as possible like my current setup. I also look at how certain size tires look when mounted.

The 305/25/20's I looked at were listed widths 12" 12.2" 12.3" 12.6" all on an 11" rim, the Nitto was 12" the Pzero was 12.6" and all but the Nitto were listed as Section Width's.

I wanted to add that when I purchased the 19's I have now the 255's on the front were listed as 10" width on a 9" rim that put my tire sidewall a 1/16" past my body line, the rear 285 was listed as 11.30 width, at the time I did not know that that tire had a wider rim protector, I was hoping the extra .300 width would be split front to back, but when mounted the tire was 1/4" past the rim which put my tire 1/8" past the body line, which was ok, but I was not happy how the tire looked once mounted, the front was a nicer look.

 

Thanks Bill, you saved me a ton of research as I know you got your homework right.

 

Np...that's why I get the "big bucks"...

 

so after all the discussion on wider tires, I should be looking for tires with wider tread width to give the look of a wider stance. I see the Bridgestone Potenza RE760 have front 265/40-17, rear 295/35-18. I'm in favor of those because of matching brands front and rear, but the question is will these fit on 8.5 and 9.5 rims, respectively, without having rubbing or tracking issues? These are a couple of sizes wider than stock. I respect the opinions from this forum, there's a wealth of knowledge here which is extremely helpful for guys like me with just basic car knowledge. THANKS!!
Ray Z

 

From all of the research that I have done, those are the largest that will fit on the stock wheels without spacers and other problems. If you get them, please let us know how they fit. Thinking about getting those sizes for my '04 coupe.

 

Regarding the GY Supercar reference, they were Orem on my Z06, couldn't wait to get rid of them. When I finally did, my feelings were confirmed.

 

The simple answer to your question is yes they'll fit onto the rim. The debate will be should you. Both tires minimum recommended rim widths are .5" wider than what you have.

Has it been done? Many times. What will the negative affects be? My opinion from 25+ years in the tire industry is none. Might look a little bulged on the rim.

Now what will all the engineers and lawyers say, don't do it because you could kill someone.

Did you look at a all the oem sizes to see if any of those have a wider tread width than the ones you are looking at?

 

I say that all the time also.

I will have another question coming your way but need a little more research first.