Tires rubbing
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2019
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Tires rubbing
Hey guys, I just put on a set of new wheels and tires for my 2017 Corvette Stingray. The wheels are 19 x 9.5 +53 (offsets are approximate, I forgot what they are exactly) and 20 x 11 +73. Tires are Nitto NT555 275/35/R19 for the front and 305/35/R20 for the rear. I’m lowered all the way on stock bolts, and I have an issue. The tires are rubbing in the rear, but mostly on the driver side. I’m thinking that’s because of the pocket on the driver side. When I mean rubbing as well, I mean inside the wheel well in the back on both sides. Rolling the fenders would not help. I’m thinking if I raise the car back up on the stick bolts it might help, but if you guys have any incite on what I should do that would be great. I’m game to do just about anything, I just do not want to get different tires. That would just be so much lore stressful then it would be worth.
Last edited by Vette_Blue; Jan 31, 2020 at 09:10 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,240
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From: San Bruno CA
I think you have two issues going, the wheel offset might be a tad too much and the combination of the wider tires is adding to the problem First of all, there's no such thing as "rolling the fender lips" on a Corvette because the car is made of a fiberglass composite material, not metal. The first thing I'd try doing is raise the ride height to see if that'll stop the rubbing. If raising the ride height stops the rubbing then you know what you're going to have to do....
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
I think you have two issues going, the wheel offset might be a tad too much and the combination of the wider tires is adding to the problem First of all, there's no such thing as "rolling the fender lips" on a Corvette because the car is made of a fiberglass composite material, not metal. The first thing I'd try doing is raise the ride height to see if that'll stop the rubbing. If raising the ride height stops the rubbing then you know what you're going to have to do....
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
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It's rubbing because 305/35/R20 tires are too tall - they have a 28.4" diameter. You should be on 305/30/R20, which have a 27.2" diameter. For reference, the stock 285/30/20 Z51 size is 26.8" diameter. Spacers are not going to fix this... your offset is already on the low side. Raising the car will help. Be ready for a 5-6% speedometer error.
Last edited by SimCar; Feb 1, 2020 at 12:25 PM.
Safety Car
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From: Margate, FL
I think diameter too since the offset is only (6mm) 1/4" different. Since the offset is LESS then OEM the wheel is inboard which explains why its rubbing on the inside. Spacers would fix that but then the height means the outside would likely rub.
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Actually, the lower offset moves the wheel toward the fender, since it pulls the center line of the wheel closer to the mounting surface. The combination of width and offset makes the current wheel sit 19mm closer to the fender while also being 7mm closer on the inside. Adding a 6mm spacer will push things to 25mm further out than stock with the inside being the same as stock..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,006
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From: North Carolina
Hey guys, I just put on a set of new wheels and tires for my 2017 Corvette Stingray. The wheels are 19 x 9.5 +53 (offsets are approximate, I forgot what they are exactly) and 20 x 11 +73. Tires are Nitto NT555 275/35/R19 for the front and 305/35/R20 for the rear. I’m lowered all the way on stock bolts, and I have an issue. The tires are rubbing in the rear, but mostly on the driver side. I’m thinking that’s because of the pocket on the driver side. When I mean rubbing as well, I mean inside the wheel well in the back on both sides. Rolling the fenders would not help. I’m thinking if I raise the car back up on the stick bolts it might help, but if you guys have any incite on what I should do that would be great. I’m game to do just about anything, I just do not want to get different tires. That would just be so much lore stressful then it would be worth.
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His immediate problem is the tire diameter. It remains to be seen if that offset is going to work out. Ideal offset for that wheel and tire width is going to be around 82mm. If he's stuck with those wheels and has a problem, he may be able to deal with it by adding some negative camber and/or going to 295 width. I know that 305/30/20 on a 20x11 ET+82mm works on both the C7 and C6. There is probably a bit of wiggle room in that offset.
Last edited by SimCar; Feb 1, 2020 at 08:54 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2019
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Hey everyone, I will post pictures soon! Bad news is I look like a monster truck. Good news is I don’t really rub anymore. I raised the car up almost all the way on stock bolts. There’s still some room to go up, so it’s not actually too terrible. I haven’t checked though where the bolts settled to, so I’m not sure exactly how much it’s gone back down. As for rubbing, it only rubs a tiny bit of I go over a large bump or something similar to that. Will definitely be keeping a close eye on it for the next couple weeks. I’m also going to be getting a smaller tire next time. I’ll make do with what I have though.
Safety Car
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From: Margate, FL
I run a 305/30-19 (yes 19" not 20") on a 10" wheel with a 75 offset on my Z51 fully lowered on the stock bolts. My tires show a tiny line on the edge that might be a rub but nothing transfers to the wheel arch. Could just be how the tread pattern / blocks wear on the track that causes this line.
https://www.willtheyfit.com/ provides a calculator