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Need Help Fast!!! Buying Tires... getting wrong info

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Old Jun 13, 2013 | 12:26 PM
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Default Need Help Fast!!! Buying Tires... getting wrong info

Hey everyone... buying tires today and I need some advice because searching has done nothing but made me more confused and the guys from the tire shop are calling me crazy. I know we have tire calculators and all that jazz but for some reason it just doesn't compute with me. Blame the ADD.

1999 Corvette C5 non Z06. Bilsteins dropped on stock bolts.

I have 2 SSR Type CH's 18x9.5 and 2 SSR Type CH's 18x10.5".

I was originally looking for 265/35/18 - 295/35/18 but am noticing my tire choices for the rear are close to none.

Do I have the option of going 265/35/18 - 305/35/18 or stepping the front up to a 275/35/18 - 305/35/18.

Thanks for the help I know this topic has been beaten to death I just need to get tired ordered within the next 30 minutes in order to get them today!

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Old Jun 13, 2013 | 12:35 PM
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I would say the 265/305 combo have the stagger.
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Old Jun 13, 2013 | 12:36 PM
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I see everyone saying go 295 in the rear. The 305 will keep the TCS happy?
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Old Jun 13, 2013 | 12:49 PM
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At tire rack your original sizes had the only matches. That combination should put you right at 0.5" stagger. Going to 265/305 should stay within 1" of stagger so they would be OK too. The 275/305 should also land right about at 0.5" the same as your first choice.

Got diameters for the tires in each of the size combinations you were considering so I don't have to search for them?
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Old Jun 13, 2013 | 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Mattie Num Nums
I see everyone saying go 295 in the rear. The 305 will keep the TCS happy?
Yes.
The diameter of the 305/35/18-10.5 is 26.4" and the diameter of the 265/35/18-9.5 is 25.3 which gives you 1.1" difference.

The diameter of 275/35/18-9.5 is 25.6 which may still be ok but it's less than an inch. .80"
The diameter of the 295/35/18-10.5 is 26.1"

Plug your sizes in here - http://www.rimsntires.com/specs.jsp?item=Wheel-Tire size comparer&sw1=305&ar1=30&bd1=19&rw1=10.0& et1=65&sw2=275&ar2=35&bd2=18&rw2=9.5&et2 =54&text1=Proposed New Rear&text2=Proposed New Front

Last edited by maxx2200; Jun 13, 2013 at 12:54 PM.
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Old Jun 13, 2013 | 12:59 PM
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Ok, I think I am starting to understand this. As long as I am an inch or over I should be ok. For some reason tires and offsets etc. just blow my mind even though I know its simple stuff. Sad thing is I am a damn engineer!!!!
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Old Jun 13, 2013 | 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Mattie Num Nums
Ok, I think I am starting to understand this. As long as I am an inch or over I should be ok. For some reason tires and offsets etc. just blow my mind even though I know its simple stuff. Sad thing is I am a damn engineer!!!!
Good luck and let us know what you end up with.
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Old Jun 13, 2013 | 01:02 PM
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Looks like the 265/295 combo is the best. Not much selection with tires
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Old Jun 13, 2013 | 01:19 PM
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Here is what I found:

Front
Falken Ziek 612 - 25.3" @ 265/35/18

Rear
Bridgestone RE760 - 26.1" @ 295/35/18

.8" difference. Should I step up the rears?
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Old Jun 13, 2013 | 01:25 PM
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I have 275/40/17's up front and 295/35/18's in back, on the tire calculator it says I only have a 0.4" stagger between front and back. I don't have any TCS issues, they work fine for me.
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Old Jun 13, 2013 | 01:27 PM
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Well in that case .8" is pretty damn close. I hate using two different brand tires but thats life.
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Old Jun 13, 2013 | 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Mattie Num Nums
Well in that case .8" is pretty damn close. I hate using two different brand tires but thats life.
I wouldn't want to use two different brands either. Are their ratings the same at least?
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Old Jun 13, 2013 | 01:40 PM
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Yeah they are pretty close with everything. I tried to get the best match as possible. I actually did a search and found someone on another Vette forum running these exact tires and sizes.

I ordered them. Front in stock of course. Rears are special order and they will be here Monday. This tire place I called the guy was a rock star. I told him I had a Vette and he told me to make sure the tires where .75" or more to avoid issues with the ABS. He ran all the numbers and said this combo would work. Time to sell my Wagon Wheels!!!!
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Old Jun 13, 2013 | 02:41 PM
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A difference from 0.5" to 1" will work. What's wrong with RE760's all around? There are also 2 different Continental types and the BFG KDW2 tires in those sizes. All are $800-$900 for a set of 4.

Last edited by lionelhutz; Jun 13, 2013 at 02:51 PM.
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Old Jun 13, 2013 | 02:59 PM
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Originally Posted by lionelhutz
A difference from 0.5" to 1" will work. What's wrong with RE760's all around? There are also 2 different Continental types and the BFG KDW2 tires in those sizes. All are $800-$900 for a set of 4.
Everywhere I have seen them for around 1150-1200 for a set mounted and balanced.

I got these for 800 bucks mounted and balanced. Its just a daily driver.
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Old Jun 14, 2013 | 08:15 AM
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Info updated

Last edited by jlaw1313@comcast.net; Jun 14, 2013 at 09:59 PM.
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Old Jun 14, 2013 | 10:09 AM
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ive done everything from the factory 245 or whatever the fronts are up to 275, and rears everything from 275 factory (i think?) up to 315. depends on what you're doing, but my favorite street setup to date has been KDW/2's 275/295. closer to squared, handles great, took it to a track day and it handled great there, dry traction is probably damn near or as good as my Toyo track tires, and unlike the Toyos, i can drive these in the rain.
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Old Jun 14, 2013 | 11:38 AM
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275/35/18 295/35/18????
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Old Jun 14, 2013 | 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Mattie Num Nums
275/35/18 295/35/18????
i knew you'd ask, heh. had to dig this up:
2 275/40ZR-17 BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2
Download Warranty Brochure PDF In Stock $186.00 $372.00
2 295/35ZR-18 BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW 2
Download Warranty Brochure PDF In Stock $249.00 $498.00

Not cheap, but these are by far the best street tires I've run on this car. I ran Toyo Proxes R1 track tires on all 4 for a while, and those were fun, but hitting rain meant going 45 on the interstate. These really do seem to be very bit as good at gripping (without a burnout, mind you, which Toyo's are made for and KDW's arent) in daily driven conditions.
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Old Jun 14, 2013 | 12:14 PM
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I'm running 18's all around guys.
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