Tire sizing question..pls help
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Tire sizing question..pls help
Hey guys,
Long time no see!! I've been looking into buying some new rims and tires for the vette now that shes no longer my daily driver...that title goes to my new TT600
I've heard a little controversy over tire and rim size and kinda wanted to get the tech guys opinions on the whole setup.
Now i don't plan on racing her so i'm not to worried about setting up everything for that.
Ok so heres the theory i'm working with:
My stock tire height (99 FRC) is:
Front: 245/45/17 25.68" Tall
Rear: 275/40/18 26.66" Tall
So if moved up to the following the general height would still be the same right (atleast within 1 inch).
285/35/18 25.85"
295/35/18 26.12"
But i was thinking....if i were to go with 295/35/18 all the way around i would be able to rotate the tires and get more use out of them...like you would on a normal car.
But i'm curious as to how bad that would set the car off in looks...ie the height offset would be kinda strange. Anyone know what this would look like or how easy it would be to fix...maybe lowering the back end?
Thanks ahead of time for any info....and try not to flame me as i did use the search button ahead of time.
Randy
Long time no see!! I've been looking into buying some new rims and tires for the vette now that shes no longer my daily driver...that title goes to my new TT600
I've heard a little controversy over tire and rim size and kinda wanted to get the tech guys opinions on the whole setup.
Now i don't plan on racing her so i'm not to worried about setting up everything for that.
Ok so heres the theory i'm working with:
My stock tire height (99 FRC) is:
Front: 245/45/17 25.68" Tall
Rear: 275/40/18 26.66" Tall
So if moved up to the following the general height would still be the same right (atleast within 1 inch).
285/35/18 25.85"
295/35/18 26.12"
But i was thinking....if i were to go with 295/35/18 all the way around i would be able to rotate the tires and get more use out of them...like you would on a normal car.
But i'm curious as to how bad that would set the car off in looks...ie the height offset would be kinda strange. Anyone know what this would look like or how easy it would be to fix...maybe lowering the back end?
Thanks ahead of time for any info....and try not to flame me as i did use the search button ahead of time.
Randy
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
The main thing I see there is the very large fronts. I'm thinking you may run into suspension/frame tire contact problems when turning. Not sure if you'll be able to get away with 285s. You don't mention much as to which wheels, etc. The amount of offset and/or backspacing can have a major impact on what you're trying to accomplish as well. Most of the time it's the fronts that can cause the most issues due to wheel turning (right/left) and wheel travel (up/down) and you will only be able to go just so wide before these things come up.
I'm running 18" front/rear but I have 265s in front and 295s in rear. Also Im using 9.5" width wheels in front and 11" width wheels in back.
HTH,
Robert
I'm running 18" front/rear but I have 265s in front and 295s in rear. Also Im using 9.5" width wheels in front and 11" width wheels in back.
HTH,
Robert
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 19,557
Likes: 1,470
From: I love you & miss you Linda
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Contributor
I first off would not think that would look very good and secondly the 295/35x18 is too big for the front...
You would have problems I'm sure if driving under normal street conditions..
If you are NOT using the car as a daily driver any longer maybe rotating tires should not be a concern.... just a thought
You would have problems I'm sure if driving under normal street conditions..
If you are NOT using the car as a daily driver any longer maybe rotating tires should not be a concern.... just a thought
Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
From: was Brookline MA but now San Antonio TX
Running the same size tire on the front and rear would make the car look disproportional IMO and may cause fits with the ABS computer, which was designed for a larger diameter rear tire. You could run a higher profile tire in the rear than the front, maybe a 275/35 tire in front with the 295/35 rear, but I still think it would look better with a 1" bigger rim on the rear. 18/19 here 
Last edited by eschantra; Feb 10, 2007 at 05:00 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
I first off would not think that would look very good and secondly the 295/35x18 is too big for the front...
You would have problems I'm sure if driving under normal street conditions..
If you are NOT using the car as a daily driver any longer maybe rotating tires should not be a concern.... just a thought
You would have problems I'm sure if driving under normal street conditions..
If you are NOT using the car as a daily driver any longer maybe rotating tires should not be a concern.... just a thought
Ok so this is what i'm looking at now as far as rims go...
Chrome Motorsport Z06s
17 x 9.5 (front)
18 x 10.5 (rear)
My next question is what size rubber i need to be putting on these?
I was looking at something along the lines of
275/??/17 (Front)
315/??/18 (Rear)
I don't need the Mich Pilot Sports as they are a bit on the high side for a "cruiser"....granted i'm sure i don't REALLY need 315s at all, but i love the way they look...
Any ideas on good places to get the rims or rubber would also be appreciated as the cheapest i've found the rims is on ebay for $875 shipped. As for the rubber i'm told Tire Rack is the place to go?
Anyway, as always i appreciate any help you guys can give me!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,101
Likes: 44
From: ABQ NM
Cruise-In II Veteran
My next question is what size rubber i need to be putting on these?
I was looking at something along the lines of
275/??/17 (Front)
315/??/18 (Rear)
I don't need the Mich Pilot Sports as they are a bit on the high side for a "cruiser"....granted i'm sure i don't REALLY need 315s at all, but i love the way they look...
I was looking at something along the lines of
275/??/17 (Front)
315/??/18 (Rear)
I don't need the Mich Pilot Sports as they are a bit on the high side for a "cruiser"....granted i'm sure i don't REALLY need 315s at all, but i love the way they look...
Racer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 452
Likes: 2
From: Lynnfield MA
Running the same size tire on the front and rear would make the car look disproportional IMO and may cause fits with the ABS computer, which was designed for a larger diameter rear tire. You could run a higher profile tire in the rear than the front, maybe a 275/35 tire in front with the 295/35 rear, but I still think it would look better with a 1" bigger rim on the rear. 18/19 here
I ran 275/40/17s all around on 5-spoke ZR1-style rims, and thought
the car looked great, and didn't have any issues with ABS or
active handling (and this was for track tires, so I know the active
handling was working)
Sure makes your track tire dollar go farther when you can rotate!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 262
Likes: 3
From: Tempe AZ
Hey guys,
Long time no see!! I've been looking into buying some new rims and tires for the vette now that shes no longer my daily driver...that title goes to my new TT600
I've heard a little controversy over tire and rim size and kinda wanted to get the tech guys opinions on the whole setup.
Now i don't plan on racing her so i'm not to worried about setting up everything for that.
Ok so heres the theory i'm working with:
My stock tire height (99 FRC) is:
Front: 245/45/17 25.68" Tall
Rear: 275/40/18 26.66" Tall
So if moved up to the following the general height would still be the same right (atleast within 1 inch).
285/35/18 25.85"
295/35/18 26.12"
But i was thinking....if i were to go with 295/35/18 all the way around i would be able to rotate the tires and get more use out of them...like you would on a normal car.
But i'm curious as to how bad that would set the car off in looks...ie the height offset would be kinda strange. Anyone know what this would look like or how easy it would be to fix...maybe lowering the back end?
Thanks ahead of time for any info....and try not to flame me as i did use the search button ahead of time.
Randy
Long time no see!! I've been looking into buying some new rims and tires for the vette now that shes no longer my daily driver...that title goes to my new TT600
I've heard a little controversy over tire and rim size and kinda wanted to get the tech guys opinions on the whole setup.
Now i don't plan on racing her so i'm not to worried about setting up everything for that.
Ok so heres the theory i'm working with:
My stock tire height (99 FRC) is:
Front: 245/45/17 25.68" Tall
Rear: 275/40/18 26.66" Tall
So if moved up to the following the general height would still be the same right (atleast within 1 inch).
285/35/18 25.85"
295/35/18 26.12"
But i was thinking....if i were to go with 295/35/18 all the way around i would be able to rotate the tires and get more use out of them...like you would on a normal car.
But i'm curious as to how bad that would set the car off in looks...ie the height offset would be kinda strange. Anyone know what this would look like or how easy it would be to fix...maybe lowering the back end?
Thanks ahead of time for any info....and try not to flame me as i did use the search button ahead of time.
Randy
It's a tire size calculator. Very handy.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
OK so i talked to one of the tire guys at Tire Rack today and he told me that...
275/40/17 would be good for the front, but that a 295/35/18 would be almost a full inch shorter in the rear than comes with stock...thus throwing off the ABS.
Have you guys had any problems with this at all?
The setup he suggested was
275/40/17 front
285/40/18 rear
Should i be concerned that the 295/35/18 will actually throw off my ABS..
My car is a 99FRC btw for reference.
Again i appreciate the help guys
275/40/17 would be good for the front, but that a 295/35/18 would be almost a full inch shorter in the rear than comes with stock...thus throwing off the ABS.
Have you guys had any problems with this at all?
The setup he suggested was
275/40/17 front
285/40/18 rear
Should i be concerned that the 295/35/18 will actually throw off my ABS..
My car is a 99FRC btw for reference.
Again i appreciate the help guys
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
From: Auburn AL
The 295-35-18 is the stock rear Z06 size from 2001-2004. I would say the guy at TireRack needs to review his math. I have been running 275-40-17 fronts and 295-35-18 rears for two years WITHOUT ONE issue. That is the tire size I would go with unless you find the front tire you want in a 265-40-17. If you find the tire you want in the smaller size go with that.
I just did the tire size calculator and I cam up with about a half inch difference in the diameter of a 275-40-18 and a 295-35-18. In case you aren't aware those are the stock rear sizes for Coupes/FRC/Verts and Z06s respectively.
Greg
I just did the tire size calculator and I cam up with about a half inch difference in the diameter of a 275-40-18 and a 295-35-18. In case you aren't aware those are the stock rear sizes for Coupes/FRC/Verts and Z06s respectively.
Greg
Last edited by electronbluec5; Apr 12, 2007 at 03:12 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
The 295-35-18 is the stock rear Z06 size from 2001-2004. I would say the guy at TireRack needs to review his math. I have been running 275-40-17 fronts and 295-35-18 rears for two years WITHOUT ONE issue. That is the tire size I would go with unless you find the front tire you want in a 265-40-17. If you find the tire you want in the smaller size go with that.
I just did the tire size calculator and I cam up with about a half inch difference in the diameter of a 275-40-18 and a 295-35-18. In case you aren't aware those are the stock rear sizes for Coupes/FRC/Verts and Z06s respectively.
Greg
I just did the tire size calculator and I cam up with about a half inch difference in the diameter of a 275-40-18 and a 295-35-18. In case you aren't aware those are the stock rear sizes for Coupes/FRC/Verts and Z06s respectively.
Greg
i run 275 40 17 and 295 35 18's also
No problems Actually much better solid drive now. Less over steer
I went with the F1 super car tire others have gone with the G3's if you want a bit cheaper tire.
you do not want 295's all the way around
Go with what we know works
Last edited by Got uid0; Apr 12, 2007 at 03:46 PM.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
From: Auburn AL
Something I meant to mention earlier. I know several guys that go with 295-35-18 tires on 18x10.5 Z06 wheels all the way around but they only use that setup on the track. The people I have talked to have not run into any issues running that setup but they don't turn their cars lock to lock very often on a track. If you go with a wide setup like that you will have some pretty bad scrubbing issues on full steering lock and high suspension load. I would say no more than 275 fronts without additional offset.
Greg
Greg
