Help Please With Tire Sizes
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From: JawJa
Help Please With Tire Sizes
I'm pretty excited. Got another pricey mod under my belt. I'll do the exhaust (Borla, Zoomers, etc.) next. That will be all for a while. . .ya think?
Anyway, I now have my brand new set of F.R. chrome 9.5's and 11's in my garage. And, I'm going to use my stock tires for the time being. I know that they are just in "the range" for the new wheel sizes, however, they'll have to do, until I take care of a few more things in life.
My question is subjective, I'm sure. On my stock Z51, when I do go to the larger tires, I don't want them sticking outside of the fenders. Fine for those who do, but for me, I don't think I would like it as much. Could be wrong. They're one inch wider than the stocks, of course, so will the tirewall stick out that much further? I know that I can use 265's and 275's (front) and 295's, 305's, and even 315's (rears), but will they stick out? I know that the wider the tires, the more susceptible to debris they'll be. I do have splashguards and may do the modified Z06's later. And, I don't quite understand the spacer term yet, sorry to say. Also, they're going to have higher and lower profiles, depending on the size I choose.
Could really use your suggestions and more pics as well.
Thanks
Anyway, I now have my brand new set of F.R. chrome 9.5's and 11's in my garage. And, I'm going to use my stock tires for the time being. I know that they are just in "the range" for the new wheel sizes, however, they'll have to do, until I take care of a few more things in life.
My question is subjective, I'm sure. On my stock Z51, when I do go to the larger tires, I don't want them sticking outside of the fenders. Fine for those who do, but for me, I don't think I would like it as much. Could be wrong. They're one inch wider than the stocks, of course, so will the tirewall stick out that much further? I know that I can use 265's and 275's (front) and 295's, 305's, and even 315's (rears), but will they stick out? I know that the wider the tires, the more susceptible to debris they'll be. I do have splashguards and may do the modified Z06's later. And, I don't quite understand the spacer term yet, sorry to say. Also, they're going to have higher and lower profiles, depending on the size I choose.
Could really use your suggestions and more pics as well.
Thanks
Last edited by GotVett?; Apr 20, 2007 at 08:39 PM.
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From: Cincinnati OH
On a C6 with 11" wheels you can theoretically go with a 325 out back and not stick out... though it will be right on the edge of the fenders. The 325 will bulge over the wheel lip just slightly, the 305's will go well on an 11" wheel if you want to minimize the overhang. Ultimately it depends on the backspacing for your wheel. If the wheel sits inside the car, add roughly 1/2" to either side for the 325 tire. Roughly 1/4" for the 305.
Tire height - it depends on the look you are going for and the diameter of your wheels. I went 275/30ZR19 front, 325/25ZR20 rear. Dropped the stance a bit - and done!
Tire height - it depends on the look you are going for and the diameter of your wheels. I went 275/30ZR19 front, 325/25ZR20 rear. Dropped the stance a bit - and done!
Thread Starter
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From: JawJa
On a C6 with 11" wheels you can theoretically go with a 325 out back and not stick out... though it will be right on the edge of the fenders. The 325 will bulge over the wheel lip just slightly, the 305's will go well on an 11" wheel if you want to minimize the overhang. Ultimately it depends on the backspacing for your wheel. If the wheel sits inside the car, add roughly 1/2" to either side for the 325 tire. Roughly 1/4" for the 305.
Tire height - it depends on the look you are going for and the diameter of your wheels. I went 275/30ZR19 front, 325/25ZR20 rear. Dropped the stance a bit - and done!
Tire height - it depends on the look you are going for and the diameter of your wheels. I went 275/30ZR19 front, 325/25ZR20 rear. Dropped the stance a bit - and done!
What you're saying is that I still would have to have spacers (1/4") if I were to go with the 305's (which I prefer)? Then, you don't need any spacers with 295's, correct? And, why do you need spacers, exactly? Is it for the inside of the wheels to clear the calipers?
So, for instance, if I wanted to go with 275 x 40 18's (front) and 305 x 35 19's (rear), I would have to have spacers? That's if I didn't want the tires sticking out from fenders, correct?
And lastly. I don't need anything using the stock OEM's, right?
I'll be studying this for a while, with alot of pictures.
Phil
Last edited by GotVett?; Apr 21, 2007 at 01:36 AM.
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From: Cincinnati OH
Hi Phil,
Actually, I was referring to the tire overhang - that is, how much the tires bulge over the wheel. The 325's will bulge more over the wheel (roughly 1/2"), since 325mm is basically a 12+ inch tire and you are mounting it to an 11" wheel. A 305mm tire is around 11.5 inches, so there's less overhang/bulge (approx 1/4") over the wheel.
All of this really depends on the wheels you have and their offset. If you have wheels made for a C6 vette, you should not need spacers or anything like that. Personally, I would never recommend spacers. I have CCW wheels and they have the perfect offsets to keep the wheels inside the car, yet allow widths as great as 10" front and 11" rear on stock C6's. Provided your wheels clear your brakes and don't stick out from the fenders - then you can choose virtually any tire you want.
On a 9.5" front, a 265 width should look about right. You could go as wide as 275 however. On an 11" rear, a 305 is a good size, but you can go as wide as 325.
And yes - if you have the OEM tires for a C6, you can fit them to a 18x9.5 front and a 19x11 rear, but there will be little to no tire overhang - meaning the edge of the rims will be relative equal to the edge of the tires.
Hope that helps.
Doug
Actually, I was referring to the tire overhang - that is, how much the tires bulge over the wheel. The 325's will bulge more over the wheel (roughly 1/2"), since 325mm is basically a 12+ inch tire and you are mounting it to an 11" wheel. A 305mm tire is around 11.5 inches, so there's less overhang/bulge (approx 1/4") over the wheel.
All of this really depends on the wheels you have and their offset. If you have wheels made for a C6 vette, you should not need spacers or anything like that. Personally, I would never recommend spacers. I have CCW wheels and they have the perfect offsets to keep the wheels inside the car, yet allow widths as great as 10" front and 11" rear on stock C6's. Provided your wheels clear your brakes and don't stick out from the fenders - then you can choose virtually any tire you want.
On a 9.5" front, a 265 width should look about right. You could go as wide as 275 however. On an 11" rear, a 305 is a good size, but you can go as wide as 325.
And yes - if you have the OEM tires for a C6, you can fit them to a 18x9.5 front and a 19x11 rear, but there will be little to no tire overhang - meaning the edge of the rims will be relative equal to the edge of the tires.
Hope that helps.
Doug
Last edited by SSJCreeper; Apr 21, 2007 at 01:15 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
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From: JawJa
Hi Phil,
Actually, I was referring to the tire overhang - that is, how much the tires bulge over the wheel. The 325's will bulge more over the wheel (roughly 1/2"), since 325mm is basically a 12+ inch tire and you are mounting it to an 11" wheel. A 305mm tire is around 11.5 inches, so there's less overhang/bulge (approx 1/4") over the wheel.
All of this really depends on the wheels you have and their offset. If you have wheels made for a C6 vette, you should not need spacers or anything like that. Personally, I would never recommend spacers. I have CCW wheels and they have the perfect offsets to keep the wheels inside the car, yet allow widths as great as 10" front and 11" rear on stock C6's. Provided your wheels clear your brakes and don't stick out from the fenders - then you can choose virtually any tire you want.
On a 9.5" front, a 265 width should look about right. You could go as wide as 275 however. On an 11" rear, a 305 is a good size, but you can go as wide as 325.
And yes - if you have the OEM tires for a C6, you can fit them to a 18x9.5 front and a 19x11 rear, but there will be little to no tire overhang - meaning the edge of the rims will be relative equal to the edge of the tires.
Hope that helps.
Doug
Actually, I was referring to the tire overhang - that is, how much the tires bulge over the wheel. The 325's will bulge more over the wheel (roughly 1/2"), since 325mm is basically a 12+ inch tire and you are mounting it to an 11" wheel. A 305mm tire is around 11.5 inches, so there's less overhang/bulge (approx 1/4") over the wheel.
All of this really depends on the wheels you have and their offset. If you have wheels made for a C6 vette, you should not need spacers or anything like that. Personally, I would never recommend spacers. I have CCW wheels and they have the perfect offsets to keep the wheels inside the car, yet allow widths as great as 10" front and 11" rear on stock C6's. Provided your wheels clear your brakes and don't stick out from the fenders - then you can choose virtually any tire you want.
On a 9.5" front, a 265 width should look about right. You could go as wide as 275 however. On an 11" rear, a 305 is a good size, but you can go as wide as 325.
And yes - if you have the OEM tires for a C6, you can fit them to a 18x9.5 front and a 19x11 rear, but there will be little to no tire overhang - meaning the edge of the rims will be relative equal to the edge of the tires.
Hope that helps.
Doug
The F.R.'s are for the C6 and the offsets are: 18 x 9.5 (+57mm) and 19 x 11 (+65mm). I didn't know anything about spacers and wasn't told that I needed any from the vendor. He suggested going up to this size so that I could go up to 295's -325's without a problem. I just don't think I'd like the wheels/tires sticking out further than the fenders.
You helped answer my questions. I really appreciate it. Phil
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 995
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From: Virginia Beach VA
Offset?
I think you're going to have a problem all the way around. Assuming F.R. stands for Factory Reproductions even though the additonal one inch of with will allow for bigger tires the offsets are the same as stock. That being said, the tire size is not the issue but the offset is. You're going to find out, I'm sorry to say, the hard way, even with the stock tires, your going to stick out all the way around. I know this because I put them on my car w/ 245s & 285s they stuck 3/8" or better all the way around. I'ld like to save you a lot of trouble if your trying to stay inside the fenders. I went through this & ended up sending the 9.5 & 11s back. That was after mounting, balancing, & install. Your welcome to contact me via pm.
