Help with tire sizes / traction control
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,093
Likes: 82
From: NYC
Help with tire sizes / traction control
Whas up brothers. As you may know I’m shopping for some new tires for my 2002 VETTE. I’m using the oem polished thin spoke rims. Fronts are 17x8.5 and the rears are 18x9.5. My question is can I run a 255/40/ZR17 tire for the fronts and a 285/35/ZR18 for the rears. My main concern is I do not want any codes or issues with the traction system using tires with a slightly smaller sidewall. Also how much of the sidewall height is different going from a front tire 45 sidewall to a 40. And from a rear 40 sidewall to a 35 ? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Last edited by OUTAKTRL; May 13, 2026 at 11:45 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,392
Likes: 1,135
From: Dyer, IN
Whas up brothers. As you may know I’m shopping for some new tires for my 2002 VETTE. I’m using the oem polished thin spoke rims. Fronts are 17x8.5 and the rears are 18x9.5. My question is can I run a 255/40/ZR18 tire for the fronts and a 285/35/ZR18 for the rears. My main concern is I do not want any codes or issues with the traction system using tires with a slightly smaller sidewall. Also how much of the sidewall height is different going from a front tire 45 sidewall to a 40. And from a rear 40 sidewall to a 35 ? Any help is greatly appreciated.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ah-issues.html
https://tiresize.com/calculator/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 1,381
From: Orange County, CA
For the front size you listed, did you mean 255/40/17 ?
On my Z06 for a while I ran 255/40/17 and 285/35/18. No problems with these sizes related to AH/TC. You'll lose almost 3/8" of ground clearance which isn't too bad.
However, 285 is kinda wide for a 9.5" wheel but it's within the acceptable range for most (if not all) 285 tires.
There's a tire size calculator with comparison feature you can use to answer your additional questions: https://www.calculator.net/tire-size-calculator.html
On my Z06 for a while I ran 255/40/17 and 285/35/18. No problems with these sizes related to AH/TC. You'll lose almost 3/8" of ground clearance which isn't too bad.
However, 285 is kinda wide for a 9.5" wheel but it's within the acceptable range for most (if not all) 285 tires.
There's a tire size calculator with comparison feature you can use to answer your additional questions: https://www.calculator.net/tire-size-calculator.html
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 11
Likes: 6
From: Mission Viejo, CA
I recently replaced my tires with Continental Extreme Contact Sport 02 in a 275 / 40/ ZR17 front and a 295 / 35 / ZR 18 in the rear. I am very pleased with the results. I did a lot of shopping around locally in Orange County California and the best deal I could find was with Tucker Tire in Aliso Viejo @ $1390 all in. I got a load of BS from numerous other tire stores who told me such sizes do not exist, are unavailable or wanted to charge me twice as much.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
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
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,392
Likes: 1,135
From: Dyer, IN
I can't speak for later models, but there is a 1" difference between stock C5 front and rear tires, which is close to 4% difference. Some have gone with as little as a .5" difference without negatively impacting TC/AH.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 298
I'm pretty sure it's a myth that tire sizes will upset the AH/TC/ABS stuff.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,392
Likes: 1,135
From: Dyer, IN