305's on the rear! NOT LIKING THEM

[BATMOB1LE]

Anyone have pics of the 305s on the car?

[L99CAMA2011]

Originally Posted by FL2HOTT21

So i found a nail in the side wall of one of the rear tires on my 1LE and i decided to go ahead and buy 2 wider tires just like whats on the rear of the ZL1. 305/35/20..

After they were mounted i took a look at the clearance before it was lowered off the lift and it looked fine no tire contact to any components.

As i was driving around town i was feeling them out, seeing if i noticed any difference, which i didn't. But when i went on the highway and got the speed up to 100mph i felt a big difference, example: it was no longer smooth like when the 285's where on. It felt unstable! With the 285's the car would just cut through the air, with the 305's it felt like i was getting air resistance( negative ), and it got worse the faster i went!

Do you all think its do to the wider tires??

The mechanic who installed them was a friend of mine and i watched him do everything correctly, he put the new tire on the rim then balanced them and mounted them. So i don't think he screwed up the install.

Your ideas please...

Well for one you just went up .5" in the rear overall diameter which will slow your car a tad bit and take a little longer to accelerate from a stop, second you now have the same setup as the ZL-1 for tire options. I have wider thread width on all 4 corners and my car is as stable at speeds as a brick wall. What you did was you just installed a tire that is not as stable and razor edge as the 285 tire so now the rear feels more loose. I personally don't like the 305 tire on the rear of the ZL-1, too much side wall flex. Try a different brand tire and this time go with 305-30-20 instead of 305-35-20.

[FL2HOTT21]

I think ill be going back to the 285's. They just felt right to me. I did notice the car to be a little slower, not as quick from a rolling start in 2nd gear.

The 305's will be up for sale as soon as i get them off!

[Nick S]

Did you have them road force balanced? That is different than standard balancing and may find a balance issue while a load is being applied to the tire. If you didn't have road force balancing you may want to consider finding a place that can do that for you.

[CamaroTom]

The engineers spent quite a bit of time getting the 1LE to handle with the big boys. Why mess with it? I'll be sticking with the 285 goodyears when mine are worn out.

[TxBandit911]

The only thing I don't lime about the 285s out back is I think they look a little goofy on the 11" rim....

[Lickwid Apex]

I changed wheels and tires completely on my 1LE. I went with 315's in the back. There is understeer now. But its both acceptable and correctable with a little throttle.

The other thing I noticed with the change of wheels was no more nasty dirt/rock scraping at the front or rear. I did like the way the 1LE/ZL1 wheels look until I walked up closer where I notice they extended beyond the body panels.

I put on some TSW Nurburgrings that sit nicely.

I do enjoy the freedom of driving in all temperatures with consistent grip. I will never track my 1LE as it is my daily driver. I looooove it.

To the OP's comment of a feeling of drag, I have not experienced sluggishness (however minute) or excess wind noise after the change.

[White_SS/RS]

You'd really have to be rocking this car pretty hard on the street to experience significant understeer. Even on track I really only see it when driven over 7-8/10ths. If the 305 are taller that would be the sluggish feel, as far as unstable feeling could be a defective tire. Road force balancing should figure that out quickly.

[booyaa56]

Thanks for the info guys, I was going to get te 305s but since I do race my 1LE how would installing 295/35/20 do?

[White_SS/RS]

Originally Posted by booyaa56

Thanks for the info guys, I was going to get te 305s but since I do race my 1LE how would installing 295/35/20 do?

In the rear only or on all four? honestly the 285's are what I'd use unless your going with different wheels. For me the 285's stretched on the 11" wheel makes the rear end very predictable when the car gets out of shape.

[Fraxum]

Originally Posted by Dropspeed

I have run 305s on the track for two days at up to 120 and have been daily driving them for about 2000 miles. No issues what so ever.

Matt, was there a noticeable increase in understeer? I would like bigger rear tires to go my extra HP, but was thinking 295s.

[Fraxum]

Originally Posted by booyaa56

Thanks for the info guys, I was going to get te 305s but since I do race my 1LE how would installing 295/35/20 do?

The 295 size at least on the back is the recommended size by at least one very experienced 1LE tracker. I was thinking of a square 295 setup but the front may stick out a little extra. Z/28 fender flares? Not possible, I gather.

[joes407]

I just bought a 1le coming from a zl1and I already want the rear size wheels from the zl1. They fill the wheel wells better.

[TxBandit911]

Originally Posted by joes407

I just bought a 1le coming from a zl1and I already want the rear size wheels from the zl1. They fill the wheel wells better.

You already have the wheels, you just need the tires...