Which tire size combo works best?
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 593
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From: Pinetop, AZ
Which tire size combo works best? With my 02 camaro I am currently running 275/40/17 front and 315/30/18 rear. Although the car is fairly predictable every now and then it wants to come around on tight corners. Considering some different options-
1. 315/30/18 at all 4 corners
2. 315/35/17 at all 4 corners
3. 315/35/17 at front and leave 315/30/18 on rear.
The 17's are $100 less per tire, 1/4" taller and 3/8" wider. I would need wider wheels at the front no matter what, but with different offsets would not be able to just rotate front to back without dismounting tires.
Anyone have any experience with sizes and results? I run nitto NT01's and very happy with them. Also, who makes a lighter weight wheel then the OEM Z06 replica's I am currently running, or at least a front lighter wheel with correct offset for a 10.5" wheel to match? Thx.
1. 315/30/18 at all 4 corners
2. 315/35/17 at all 4 corners
3. 315/35/17 at front and leave 315/30/18 on rear.
The 17's are $100 less per tire, 1/4" taller and 3/8" wider. I would need wider wheels at the front no matter what, but with different offsets would not be able to just rotate front to back without dismounting tires.
Anyone have any experience with sizes and results? I run nitto NT01's and very happy with them. Also, who makes a lighter weight wheel then the OEM Z06 replica's I am currently running, or at least a front lighter wheel with correct offset for a 10.5" wheel to match? Thx.
I run 315 18 Hoosier A6's on all four corners. I have a 5/16 spacer in the rear and 1/4 in the front. All on OEM Z06 speedlines. Very happy with the combo. Before that I ran a staggerd set and had problems with the car pushing to badly.
My experience is on 275 Hoosiers and ra1s. I go through hubs like crazy, I can't imagine running 315 a6s. Right now I'm getting 2-3 weekends on "seasoned"hubs.
Whatever decision you make I'd go with a square setup so that you can rotate tires.
Whatever decision you make I'd go with a square setup so that you can rotate tires.
I'm asking out of ignorance: is the hub normally a wear item on 4th gens? I can't imaging having to do more than check and re-grease the front bearings every so-often on my car, even with the original (and MUCH heavier) wheel/tire/brake combo.
BTW, I have 245s all the way around now, and plan on going with 275/40/17s. This sizes seems to have the greatest variety of tires available. FWIW, I did a tour of the paddock during the June Sprints at Road America last year, and the GT1 cars all used a 275-width tire of some sort. If it's good enough for them, it's certainly more than enough tire for me.
BTW, I have 245s all the way around now, and plan on going with 275/40/17s. This sizes seems to have the greatest variety of tires available. FWIW, I did a tour of the paddock during the June Sprints at Road America last year, and the GT1 cars all used a 275-width tire of some sort. If it's good enough for them, it's certainly more than enough tire for me.
Last edited by 1981TA; Dec 25, 2012 at 06:13 PM.
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I'm asking out of ignorance: is the hub normally a wear item on 4th gens? I can't imaging having to do more than check and re-grease the front bearings every so-often on my car, even with the original (and MUCH heavier) wheel/tire/brake combo.
BTW, I have 245s all the way around now, and plan on going with 275/40/17s. This sizes seems to have the greatest variety of tires available. FWIW, I did a tour of the paddock during the June Sprints at Road America last year, and the GT1 cars all used a 275-width tire of some sort. If it's good enough for them, it's certainly more than enough tire for me.
BTW, I have 245s all the way around now, and plan on going with 275/40/17s. This sizes seems to have the greatest variety of tires available. FWIW, I did a tour of the paddock during the June Sprints at Road America last year, and the GT1 cars all used a 275-width tire of some sort. If it's good enough for them, it's certainly more than enough tire for me.
Mine have been pretty good, I am on a 275 NT05 with a little over 1.0 camber on the front. I have Blaine Fab cooling ducts on the front which help them live a little longer by cooling the rotor from the inside out through the vanes in the center of the rotor outward, the cool air hits the center first then is directed outward into the rotor.
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Brett Foote Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 593
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From: Pinetop, AZ
I have not found anyone to date that has found going from a bigger tire like a 315 to smaller like a 275, let alone it working better. I would guess a smaller tire may improve stress and wear on parts, but a larger tire should definitly help with braking, cornering and grip.
If anyone has a different experience, please share. With a more agreesive pad I am able to go into corners much deeper which has allowed me to stay on it in the straights longer. Add another 150hp with the new 416 and I'm seeing almost 10 more mph down the main straight (142) so braking has become more important then previously.
I'd like to find just a pair of lightweight 18" x. 10.5" wheels to match my black OE replicas Z06 wheels and run 18" 315 squared all the way around. Not sure of the offset needed for the front in that size though?????
If anyone has a different experience, please share. With a more agreesive pad I am able to go into corners much deeper which has allowed me to stay on it in the straights longer. Add another 150hp with the new 416 and I'm seeing almost 10 more mph down the main straight (142) so braking has become more important then previously.
I'd like to find just a pair of lightweight 18" x. 10.5" wheels to match my black OE replicas Z06 wheels and run 18" 315 squared all the way around. Not sure of the offset needed for the front in that size though?????
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 67
Likes: 1
From: Orlando, FL
I'm faster at Sebring on 275's vs 315's but my LT1 is stock with the exception of bolt-ons. ZR1 replica wheels so lots of corner weight and big rolling resistance to overcome. Just my experience but with more horsepower I'm sure the 315's would be faster.
I have not found anyone to date that has found going from a bigger tire like a 315 to smaller like a 275, let alone it working better. I would guess a smaller tire may improve stress and wear on parts, but a larger tire should definitly help with braking, cornering and grip.
If anyone has a different experience, please share. With a more agreesive pad I am able to go into corners much deeper which has allowed me to stay on it in the straights longer. Add another 150hp with the new 416 and I'm seeing almost 10 more mph down the main straight (142) so braking has become more important then previously.
I'd like to find just a pair of lightweight 18" x. 10.5" wheels to match my black OE replicas Z06 wheels and run 18" 315 squared all the way around. Not sure of the offset needed for the front in that size though?????
If anyone has a different experience, please share. With a more agreesive pad I am able to go into corners much deeper which has allowed me to stay on it in the straights longer. Add another 150hp with the new 416 and I'm seeing almost 10 more mph down the main straight (142) so braking has become more important then previously.
I'd like to find just a pair of lightweight 18" x. 10.5" wheels to match my black OE replicas Z06 wheels and run 18" 315 squared all the way around. Not sure of the offset needed for the front in that size though?????
Staging Lane
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 56
Likes: 1
From: Hillsborough, NC
The Corvette guys mostly run SKF racing hubs with excellent results. SKF makes an OEM and racing hub, so the part numbers matter. I'm thoroughly ignorant of what they have available for Camaro/Firebird, but with so many of them out there you'd think they make a racing hub for those.
The Corvette guys mostly run SKF racing hubs with excellent results. SKF makes an OEM and racing hub, so the part numbers matter. I'm thoroughly ignorant of what they have available for Camaro/Firebird, but with so many of them out there you'd think they make a racing hub for those.
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
If you can find or go with an SKF hub, I would suggest that. They have worked well on my Z06 and are great quality.
I've ran mostly 315/35-17 square setup for my road racing, and have found it works well. I've used 295's up front and that has seemed to work well too. But running a fat tire isn't always the key to running fast laps. In Nasa, we have guys that ran a class that was a points based class. They got back some points by running skinny tires (245's) and used those points for other mods (brakes, headers, etc.) and turned some very fast times in doing so.
Also to consider, you have much more choices for big brake kits by running an 18" wheel than 17" wheels. I've been using Wilwood SL6 calipers on the front of my car and has been very successful for me. The pads are thick and they are cheaper than OEM pads too.
I've ran mostly 315/35-17 square setup for my road racing, and have found it works well. I've used 295's up front and that has seemed to work well too. But running a fat tire isn't always the key to running fast laps. In Nasa, we have guys that ran a class that was a points based class. They got back some points by running skinny tires (245's) and used those points for other mods (brakes, headers, etc.) and turned some very fast times in doing so.
Also to consider, you have much more choices for big brake kits by running an 18" wheel than 17" wheels. I've been using Wilwood SL6 calipers on the front of my car and has been very successful for me. The pads are thick and they are cheaper than OEM pads too.
