Rear tire clearance issue
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,892
Likes: 47
From: Helotes TEXAS
Rear tire clearance issue
I just installed a set of C6 Z06 style wheels on my FRC. I went with 325-30-19 in the rear. the tire shop installed a set of 1/4" spacers and now the tires stick out slightly past the fender.
I checked the car when I got home and it feels like there's more than a 1/4" in clearance from the tire to the inner wheel well.
Did i choose the wrong size tire ?
I checked the car when I got home and it feels like there's more than a 1/4" in clearance from the tire to the inner wheel well.
Did i choose the wrong size tire ?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 485
From: Moberly, Mo
Its probably the wheel since you had to put a spacer on it. The 325 is not that tall a tire, but, the wheels on the c6 have different backspace then the c5's. I'm assuming they spaced because you didn't have clearance on the inside. Are the wheels 10.5 inches or 12 like the zo6? I put c6 style wheels on mine that are 10.5 wide with no problems, however I didn't put a 19 on it, mine are 18's. The tire could also be part of it as the 325 is pretty dam wide for sure. Its a combination of both. You could have probably done ok with a 295-35-19 and had less of an issue.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 485
From: Moberly, Mo
Do you have any pics to post? I'm looking at maybe doing a 19 on the rear, but, they are only 10 wide. I need the 18x10.5 I now have on there for my 315-35-18 drag radials. I want to have the tire tuck a little more and I may try to run a 275-40-19 for the pro touring look. They are 27.7 tall which is 1 inch taller then the 275-40-18's. I'm still a little undecided at this point. Good luck whatever you decide to do.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 838
Likes: 17
From: Maple Valley WA
St. Jude Donor '10
I just installed a set of C6 Z06 style wheels on my FRC. I went with 325-30-19 in the rear. the tire shop installed a set of 1/4" spacers and now the tires stick out slightly past the fender.
I checked the car when I got home and it feels like there's more than a 1/4" in clearance from the tire to the inner wheel well.
Did i choose the wrong size tire ?
I checked the car when I got home and it feels like there's more than a 1/4" in clearance from the tire to the inner wheel well.
Did i choose the wrong size tire ?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 782
Likes: 45
From: Toronto Ontario
Sinister, what offset are your wheels?
Last edited by Its_Go_Time; Dec 7, 2009 at 10:30 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 838
Likes: 17
From: Maple Valley WA
St. Jude Donor '10
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,892
Likes: 47
From: Helotes TEXAS
Not sure on the offset. I'll have to ask the previous owner of the wheels.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 485
From: Moberly, Mo
That should be about right, but, I'd consider a 255-40-18 which is 26.0 tall where the
245-40-18 is 25.7. The 255 would fit on the 18x9.5 rim a little better then the 245. Either would look proportionate to rear whick is 26.7 tall. Good luck
245-40-18 is 25.7. The 255 would fit on the 18x9.5 rim a little better then the 245. Either would look proportionate to rear whick is 26.7 tall. Good luck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 838
Likes: 17
From: Maple Valley WA
St. Jude Donor '10
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 838
Likes: 17
From: Maple Valley WA
St. Jude Donor '10
A 255/40 on a 9.5 X 18 is going to be stretched to reach the bead while the 325/30 on the 11.0 X 19 is going to have a slight bulging effect... If you do a 275/35 on the 9.5 X 18, it will be a square fitment and look a lot more like the rear arrangement.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,892
Likes: 47
From: Helotes TEXAS
And yes my front wheels are 18x9.5's.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 838
Likes: 17
From: Maple Valley WA
St. Jude Donor '10
You shouldn't... That's a tall tire you're running up front buddy! Actually doesn't surprise me that it rubs. A 275/35 is about 1" shorter in diameter - TONS of people run this size on the front of their C5. You have any idea what the offset of your front wheel is?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 485
From: Moberly, Mo
The 255 calls for 8.5 to 10.0 and would be fine if you choose to use that tire. I think he also said his car is lowered. So much depends on the offset of the wheels as to the clearance you have. I don't know the offsets so its hard to gauge on the 275-35-18 has a section width of 10.9 and the 255 has a section width of 10.2. I don't like to see the sidewall stretched either and the 245-40 he originally spoke of would stretch the sidewall and 255 wouldn't have the same issues. I'm trying to keep him in the safety zone so he doesn't have to continue to change tires. If you don't have it lowered you are probably ok with the 275, I don't know if it would rub on a lowered c5 or not. I'm guessing it might. Your choice.
Last edited by 99vetteran; Dec 9, 2009 at 04:44 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 838
Likes: 17
From: Maple Valley WA
St. Jude Donor '10
The 255 calls for 8.5 to 10.0 and would be fine you choose to use that tire. I think he also said his car is lowered. So much depends on the offset of the wheels as to the clearance you have. I don't know the offsets so its hard to gauge on the 275-35-18 has a section width of 10.9 and the 255 has a section width of 10.2. I don't like to see the sidewall stretched either and the 245-40 he originally spoke of would stretch the sidewall and 255 wouldn't have the same issues.
A 255/40-18 isn't a correct fitment for a 9.5 X 18. Will it work? Sure... But it will be a very convex fitment. On a 9.5 X 18 wheel, you should run at least a 265/35-18. A 255/40-18 is meant for a 8.5-9.0" wheel. If you're that concerned about rubbing, and the car is that slammed, go with a 265/35-18. But that's as narrow as you should go with a 9.5" wheel.
Last edited by DannyG; Dec 9, 2009 at 04:46 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,892
Likes: 47
From: Helotes TEXAS
The 255 calls for 8.5 to 10.0 and would be fine you choose to use that tire. I think he also said his car is lowered. So much depends on the offset of the wheels as to the clearance you have. I don't know the offsets so its hard to gauge on the 275-35-18 has a section width of 10.9 and the 255 has a section width of 10.2. I don't like to see the sidewall stretched either and the 245-40 he originally spoke of would stretch the sidewall and 255 wouldn't have the same issues. I'm trying to keep him in the safety zone so he doesn't have to continue to change tires. If you don't have it lowered you are probably ok with the 275, I don't know if it would rub on a lowered c5 or not. I'm guessing it might. Your choice.
I may be looking to lower it about 1" inch or so, not all the way. But then again, these cars sit low enough as it is.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 838
Likes: 17
From: Maple Valley WA
St. Jude Donor '10
Go with a 275/35... If it rubs, either your wheel has more than +57mm offset and isn't meant to go on your car, you have a narrower track width than a normal C5, or your camber is way off. That's the last thing I'm going to say about this. Good luck Sinister...