TIRES ========= TRACTION!!!!!!!!!!! help lol
#1
Launching!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Nixa, MO
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
ok guys i have and 04 gto with longtubes no cats, daiblo tune, k&n coldair and i was wondering if there is a way i can put a fatter tire on the back??? bc the biggest i can go with right now is a 255/45/17....i tired a 275/45/17 and it rubbed soooooo bad on the back fender...soo how i get different shocks on the back to raise it in or what...some one help me bc almost when i go to the track i cant get and traction and i was a wider tire but it just dont fit...:/ someone help me out thanks!
#2
Teching In
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
you need to roll the rear fenders for a 275 tire. you might also need to install drag bags as well into the rear springs. rolling the fenders is easy with the right tools and drag bags aren't hard to install either. do some research on the two and you should be good to roll with a 275/40/17 (not a 275/45/17 as you stated earlier, as that's the wrong size)
#3
12 Second Club
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
you can do 1 of 2 things or both to fit 275 tires with no problems....
1. You can get drag bags to stiffen the rear from squat.....
2. Grind the inner fender lip or roll it, I would grind instead of rolling it....
3. Do both...
1. You can get drag bags to stiffen the rear from squat.....
2. Grind the inner fender lip or roll it, I would grind instead of rolling it....
3. Do both...
#4
12 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
jacking up the back end looks like crap and takes away from the car's handling. to do it right let's you get pretty good tread back there without sacrificing the other things. first thing about tires is that what you want is the maximum tread width and not just a number. tires like Nittos let you tell people you have "275s" in the back but they are about a inch narrower than 275s of another brand like BFGs so don't get hung up on the tire number.
several things should be done. first thing is your wheel offset and width. the stock 8" rim is made for 245s or maybe a touch more but wider tires fitted on there will bulge the tires out so they can rub not to mention making the tread not lay right. a wider wheel flattens the sides and makes the tread contact the road properly. a larger negative offset pulls the tire more towards the center of the car away from the fender where there's more room. i sent my back wheels off to Weldcraft and had them widened an inch for bigger tires. that also increases the offset.
fender rolling or cutting buys you some room on the outside. i prefer rolling as if done right it keeps the strength in the fender and doesn't require touching up the paint. both methods can give you problems if not done right. the paint can crack or you can get a wavy fender with rolling and cutting also needs care so you don't overheat the paint plus you have to seal it so it doesn't rust. rolling isn't hard. i did it with a borrowed tool in about a half hour for both sides gently heating the paint with a paint gun so it wouldn't crack.
it's also best if you stiffen up the rear control arms with poly outer and especially inner control arm bushings. the inner bushing has voids in it and allows the control arm to flex a little bit so if you're tight on clearance you may get rubbing on hard turns.
i also added 5mm wheel spacer to bring it back out a touch and replaced the wheel studs with ARP Corvette studs which are stronger and longer. with all these things done i was able to get 285s in the back and she's on 20mm drop springs. the wheels can now do a full travel to the bump stops without any rubbing.
picture of the 285s before the drop springs...
![](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l40/svede1212/mods/GTO_FireHawks002-1.jpg)
with springs
several things should be done. first thing is your wheel offset and width. the stock 8" rim is made for 245s or maybe a touch more but wider tires fitted on there will bulge the tires out so they can rub not to mention making the tread not lay right. a wider wheel flattens the sides and makes the tread contact the road properly. a larger negative offset pulls the tire more towards the center of the car away from the fender where there's more room. i sent my back wheels off to Weldcraft and had them widened an inch for bigger tires. that also increases the offset.
fender rolling or cutting buys you some room on the outside. i prefer rolling as if done right it keeps the strength in the fender and doesn't require touching up the paint. both methods can give you problems if not done right. the paint can crack or you can get a wavy fender with rolling and cutting also needs care so you don't overheat the paint plus you have to seal it so it doesn't rust. rolling isn't hard. i did it with a borrowed tool in about a half hour for both sides gently heating the paint with a paint gun so it wouldn't crack.
it's also best if you stiffen up the rear control arms with poly outer and especially inner control arm bushings. the inner bushing has voids in it and allows the control arm to flex a little bit so if you're tight on clearance you may get rubbing on hard turns.
i also added 5mm wheel spacer to bring it back out a touch and replaced the wheel studs with ARP Corvette studs which are stronger and longer. with all these things done i was able to get 285s in the back and she's on 20mm drop springs. the wheels can now do a full travel to the bump stops without any rubbing.
picture of the 285s before the drop springs...
![](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l40/svede1212/mods/GTO_FireHawks002-1.jpg)
with springs
![](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l40/svede1212/mods/GTO_FireHawks005.jpg)
#6
12 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
275 Nittos? as i stated in my post above they really aren't like a real 275 but are in name only.
besides the safety aspect of having the proper wheel there's the actual "rubber meets the road" and sometimes the fender. here are 2 pictures showing tires of the same tread width. one is on a 8" rim and the other is on a 9" rim. you can see how the tire bulges out causing improper tire contact to the road (and thus losing the benefit of a wider tread) and pushing farther out towards the fender causing it to rub.
8" wheel
![](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l40/svede1212/LS1GTO/NiteCap003.jpg)
9" wheel
besides the safety aspect of having the proper wheel there's the actual "rubber meets the road" and sometimes the fender. here are 2 pictures showing tires of the same tread width. one is on a 8" rim and the other is on a 9" rim. you can see how the tire bulges out causing improper tire contact to the road (and thus losing the benefit of a wider tread) and pushing farther out towards the fender causing it to rub.
8" wheel
![](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l40/svede1212/LS1GTO/NiteCap003.jpg)
9" wheel
![](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l40/svede1212/LS1GTO/NiteCap004.jpg)
Trending Topics
#8
12 Second Club
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
275 Nittos? as i stated in my post above they really aren't like a real 275 but are in name only.
besides the safety aspect of having the proper wheel there's the actual "rubber meets the road" and sometimes the fender. here are 2 pictures showing tires of the same tread width. one is on a 8" rim and the other is on a 9" rim. you can see how the tire bulges out causing improper tire contact to the road (and thus losing the benefit of a wider tread) and pushing farther out towards the fender causing it to rub.
8" wheel
![](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l40/svede1212/LS1GTO/NiteCap003.jpg)
9" wheel
![](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l40/svede1212/LS1GTO/NiteCap004.jpg)
besides the safety aspect of having the proper wheel there's the actual "rubber meets the road" and sometimes the fender. here are 2 pictures showing tires of the same tread width. one is on a 8" rim and the other is on a 9" rim. you can see how the tire bulges out causing improper tire contact to the road (and thus losing the benefit of a wider tread) and pushing farther out towards the fender causing it to rub.
8" wheel
![](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l40/svede1212/LS1GTO/NiteCap003.jpg)
9" wheel
![](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l40/svede1212/LS1GTO/NiteCap004.jpg)
#11
Launching!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Nixa, MO
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
so i pretty much have to get wider back trims in order to get wider tires on bc i have the stock chrome 8 in ones..and what else i need to do with it? lets make this short and sweet..
#12
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Buy wider wheels and roll/grind your fender lips. Or pay a shitload on some custom wheels and you won't have to cut the fender if you don't want to. You're done.
#14
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Man I dont get why everyone acts like a 275 is huge or something you can run it without doing a damn thing me and my friend both have them in several diff brands and they dont rub!
Im on stock 17's with stock suspension and not one problem!
hell im bout to throw on 285's soon how it sits AND IF its does rub with 285's I will get drag bags.
Im on stock 17's with stock suspension and not one problem!
hell im bout to throw on 285's soon how it sits AND IF its does rub with 285's I will get drag bags.
#15
11 Second Club
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: middle of nowhere, Kansas
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
A 275 is too wide for the stock 17" wheel, why would you try a 285? I ran a pair of Nitto 275 on stock wheels for one summer and the inner/outer edges of the tires pulled in so much I probably lost an inch of contact.
I installed Pedders springs/shocks and still had to grind the inner lip a little for my 17X9 wheels and 275 Mickey Thompson drag radials.
![](http://px6.streetfire.net/0001/76/73/1276737_600.jpg)
This is what it looks like when I'm launching:
I installed Pedders springs/shocks and still had to grind the inner lip a little for my 17X9 wheels and 275 Mickey Thompson drag radials.
![](http://px6.streetfire.net/0001/76/73/1276737_600.jpg)
This is what it looks like when I'm launching:
![](http://px6.streetfire.net/0001/23/40/1303204_600.jpg)
#17
Banned
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Schenectady, NY
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I know many people like the dropped look, my previous car had a 2" Drop but with my GTO I will be going with the 0" Drop or the 5/16" Raise, and then drop the front 1" for a racked look. I love the racked look on V8's so that will help my situation when come time for wider wheels and fatter tires.
GFORCE also sells lower shock extensions which give you about 3/4" more room for tires
http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=335973
but you will still need to play with the fender as everyone else mentioned.
GFORCE also sells lower shock extensions which give you about 3/4" more room for tires
http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=335973
but you will still need to play with the fender as everyone else mentioned.
#18
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
A 275 is too wide for the stock 17" wheel, why would you try a 285? I ran a pair of Nitto 275 on stock wheels for one summer and the inner/outer edges of the tires pulled in so much I probably lost an inch of contact.
I installed Pedders springs/shocks and still had to grind the inner lip a little for my 17X9 wheels and 275 Mickey Thompson drag radials.
![](http://px6.streetfire.net/0001/76/73/1276737_600.jpg)
This is what it looks like when I'm launching:
![](http://px6.streetfire.net/0001/23/40/1303204_600.jpg)
I installed Pedders springs/shocks and still had to grind the inner lip a little for my 17X9 wheels and 275 Mickey Thompson drag radials.
![](http://px6.streetfire.net/0001/76/73/1276737_600.jpg)
This is what it looks like when I'm launching:
![](http://px6.streetfire.net/0001/23/40/1303204_600.jpg)
#19
Launching!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Nixa, MO
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
alright...well i need tires so i think im just gonna get the 275 40 17s..just to see how they work..bc i hear some ppl say they work...some ppl say they dont..so im gonna find out my self.
#20
Launching!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Nixa, MO
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
i also got a question...on my goat..my throttle body it says ls1 and im prettty sure mine has the ls6 intake bc 04 and up come with it..but then again my budys gto says ls6 on the throttle body..y?