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OK guys I need your help, it's time for new tires and I would like to switch brands. If you look at the pic. in my sig. you can see these are not stock rims and the tires that are the car now are a difficult size to find, REARS 285/30 ZR 20, FRONTS 255/35 ZR 18. I have heard some of the guys having problems with putting the wrong size tire on and messing up the computer so I don't want to have any problems like that. The tire that are on the car now are Bridgestone Potenza S-02 but the S-02 has been discontinued and they now have S-03. I have no problems with the tires I just thought I would go with a different tread pattern. Thanks in advance for your advice and help. Bob
I read your post twice now, and can't figure out what your question is. :D
The 285/30/20 size you are stuck with, there are just no good alternative tire sizes in 20" that will work on a Vette.. You will be limited to the handful of tires in this size; Bridgestone, Pirelli, Yokohama, Michelin being the popular choices.
255/35/18 on the front is a very short tire, and while you could stay with that size if you want, a 265/35/18 or even a 275/35/18 on the front will be the best match to the 20 rear heightwise. All of these 18" sizes are commonly made in most popular tire brands, so when you pick a particular tire based on the 20" availability, chances are good they will make the same tire in one of the above 18" sizes as well.
For best "bang for the buck" in those sizes, I would choose the Bridgestone Potenza S03's or Yokohama AVS Sports.
Tom, I will clarify, after doing some research today I found many 20" tires that are the same size that I have but not many in the same line offer the 18" in the size that I currently have. My question is what different sizes can I put up front and not have any problems if I run my current rear size? I do like the Yokohama AVS but they do not have the front size. Bob
I listed the best sized tires for the front above.
The AVS Sport is available in both the 265/35/18 and 275/35/18 sizes. Either will work fine for your front tires. The 265 being a little shorter @25.3" and the 275 @ 25.7". If you are happy with the look and fit of your current 255's, the 265's will probably be the best bet for you. The 255's you currently have are quite short at 25".
25.7" is the height of the stock C5 245/45/17 tire, so either will work fine from a height standpoint and not cause problems. Depending on the offset of your wheels, the 275's could potentially rub on a full turn, so if I were in your shoes, I'd go with the 265/35/18 front tires.
What Y2Kvert4me said. I would stick w/ 265 35 18, ran 275 35 18 on mine for a while but it rub on a full turn.
Here's another way to do it . Go to the tirerack, pick out the tire you like, click on the specs. it will shows all the diff. measurement including that of the diameter or overall height when mounted. As long as you keep the rear slightly taller than front, even for just an inch, you should be OK w/ traction control.
I was going to say AVS sport also. They have about the biggest size selection of any tire out there. I have them on my T/A and love them. They are not *Excellent* traction tires but they wear very well for the performance they dish out.