How wide can you go

[LT1Vettepilot]

Its time for tires up front, and one of my wheels has a small crack in the bead area which is causing a slow leak. So I'm looking at grabbing a set of 17X9.5 "A" mold wheels for all 4 corners. Going wider up front will allow me to toss the "narrow" 255/45s. I was going to get 275/40s for the front, which I know fit just fine since it was standard on the ZO7 handling package, however I've discovered that the 285/40s (rear tire size) is on sale for almost $100 less per tire. Question being, I know they will fit the wheel without a problem, but will I have rubbing problems up front when I turn? I threw a rear wheel up on the front the other day while I had it apart for other reasons, and the 285 doesn't stick out beyond the wheel well, so there shouldn't be any problems. Since I had the car on a jack, I didn't play around with the wheel to check clearances. Anyone tried 285s up front yet? Thanks

 

[Hotred94]

I'm not positive but I believe 275s are the widest you can go on front, and the problem is with rubbing on the inside during a full turn.

 

[LT1Vettepilot]

That's what I was thinking as well. I've got the day off, so I may swap the front and rears around and take it around the block and see if anything rubs. If not, I've got a really bumpy and curvy road I can take it down to find out for sure.

 

[Mad-Mic]

i run 285's up front and on all 4's and have no rubbing and or binding in my 87 coupe that was designed for the 16" wheel so imo you'll be just fine but i can't really affirm this as your model year came with 255's front's but i'm sure the 16's on an 87 was much narrower if that makes any sense :crazy

you can look on my profile for a pic of my car and if i can find the cd with the pics of my car on it from different angles (which i am trying to no avail. ei girlfriend "rearrainged and organized my organized mess" :L i'll post them for you to look at

 

[cvette]

I ran 285's all around on my 92' coupe and never had a problem with rubbing. I believe that the car actually felt alot more stable as far as cornering with the 285's also. I ran Firehawks and in my opinion you will never find a better tire for all around performance anywhere! All around meaning wet and dry pavement.

 

[Mad-Mic]

only really difference is they are a matched set....you can pass on the outside with those tires!

meaning they will promote a loose condition with wider fronts or as some may know as oversteer. narrower a tight condition or understeer. overall handling is better thru the twisties though imo

i heard the reason they did this in the later C-4's was to promote a more understeer situation for guys that don't know how to drive a performance car to thier limits. what happens is the rear will wash out if you are putting the car to the edge of the limit. if you are taking a nice country long sweeping turn at say 80+ mph and if at the end of the apex of the turn it sharpens and you have to turn alittle more you will experience this and if you are not experienced in high speed performance cars you will most likely do donuts into the field if your lucky and don't total it. i know from personal experience upgrading my 82 Z/28 from the 15" rims with 245-60's to the Iroc 16" rim with 245-50's series tires. not fun but that was another story long ago when i was 18 fortunatly in a 50 yrd field i parked it next to a bank parralled with no damage between 2 telephone polls. i wasn't used to the tires being bigger and more performance and with a bad steering pump with a mild leak didn't help the situation after the fronts bit down and i couldn't correct but over corrected and spun in a nice wide arc. :duh

 

[LT1Vettepilot]

I'm not too worried about overstear...although the car always wants to plow through a corner near it's limits, I usually force it into an over steer condition. I'ld rather take a corner with the rear a little loose but the entire car in my lane than to have the front end push out of my lane.

 

[Mad-Mic]

the 285's will help with this then

 

[vigman]

275 for me

AND... remember the bigger the tire.. the more load on the wheel bearings and the more weight you have to deal with... just FYI

The traction difference between the two is minimal for STREET USE.

But they do appeal to the bigger is better instinct...
( insert sound of Tim Allen grunting here!)



Vig!