285-35 front 295-35 rear on OEM rims (pics)
 

Just had some Pirelli P-Zero tires installed:
285/35R20 front (27.9" diameter)
295/35R20 rear (28.2" diameter)
NOTE: I'm running the OEM SS 20x9 rims on both front *and* rear of the car.

My 30,000+ mile SS needed new tires, so I have been lurking the forum and asking about tire sizes. I wanted to go wider than stock without buying a new set of wheels, so I thought I'd report my experience in case others are thinking of the same thing.

I think its a good way to get some near ZL1-sized tires on your car without springing $1000 for a new set of wheels. Would it be *better* to get the ZL1 sized wheels? Of course, but its just not in the cards for me at this time, so this is my 'compromise/low cost' setup until then.

Given all the dire interwebz warnings about exceeding the 'recommended' tire width for my 9.0" wide rims, I was a little apprehensive at first, but I think they fit great. (According to 'recommended' specs, I should have a 9.5" front wheel and a 10" rear)

The fronts fit like they should have been there from the factory. Seriously, its a perfect fit to my eye. The rears do have a small amount of bulge, but I'm old school, where tires are *supposed* to be a little wider than the wheels, so I'm liking it.

No spacers needed -- no rub anywhere, but my car is still at the factory height (not lowered), so YMMV. I was concerned about the 285's on the front, as when I test fit 275/40's, they touched the frame rail at full lock, but that was only at full droop when the car was up on the rack. I checked the 285's, and I've still got adequate clearance, including between the tire sidewall and strut.

The tires are slightly smaller diameter than the OEM 28.6", but they are close to each other front-to-rear (27.9f, 28.2r = only 0.3" diff) that I don't trigger any ABS/AH warnings.

Here's some quick pics:
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...-alongaxis.jpg

http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...re28535r20.jpg

http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...le28535r20.jpg

http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...re29535r20.jpg

http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...le29535r20.jpg

http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...earcloseup.jpg

An additional bonus is that these size tires will fit great if I ever get my ZL1 rims -- they'll swap right over.

Cheers,
Kent

Looks good. This weekend I'll have OE 20x9s with 275/35.
I went with Continental ExtremeContact DW.

looks like they fit just fine!

They look good . What tires are these, not every brand is the same in width

Looks great, I always run a slightly wider tire than rim to give it that nice aggressive look.

Thanks! Pirelli P-ZERO, same brand and model as the OEM SS tires, just different sizes.

Thanks... I agree. I have never cared for the 'modern' look where the rim is wider than the tire. Prime example: rear wheel/tire combo on the 1LE. THAT car needs a rear tire upgrade right off the showroom floor.

Just be sure the rim is wide enough for the tire for safty and if handling is a concern as well

Love that look on the back!
So if you were to stay with the OE 8" front what size would you go with to get the same look in the front?275/35R20 maybe?

Nice. Do you have a shot looking straight at the back of the car, to see how they look across?

Looks like they fit good. Is the ride a little stiffer with 35 series tire?

I added a straight back view at the bottom of my original post. :)

-Kent

I was expecting a little stiffer ride with the lower profile tires, and after commuting on the new tires for the past week, I do believe it *is* a little firmer, but still very comfortable. Not a drastic change at all.

This is my daily driver/commuter at about 50 miles/day, so it would be hard to live with a harsh ride.

If I was limited to a 8.0" front rim, I think I'd go 255/40R20. That 255/40R20 tire recommends a minimum 8.5" rim, so with an 8.0" rim, you'd get a just a little bulge, yet is still 28.0" tall so you'd have no ABS/AH problems running with the 28.2" tall 295/35 in the back (well within the tolerance level of those systems).

I do like a little sidewall bulge, but I personally tolerate a little *less* sidewall bulge on the front tires, because it makes the steering feel sloppy to me, even in slightly aggressive street driving. Just my personal preference.

Cheers,
Kent