At what point do I need wider tires? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

LCPLPunk · 04-10-2017, 01:52 PM

Hey guys,

So right now i'm running the stock 245/275's on my 2010 SS. I think overall I don't have too many traction issues, but I'm considering going up to 295's (on stock rims probably) probably after I upgrade my diff. to 3.91s.

I started thinking though, I know many guys still stock jump up to wider tires and it made me wonder why. Is it for the look only? Does a bolt-on SS need wider tires? If the rear suspension has been upgraded, i.e. subframe bushings, UCA bushings, toe rods, etc. does the need for wider tires diminish?

kalevi · 04-10-2017, 02:19 PM

I upgraded to ZL1 wheels and put on 285/305s. The main purpose for this was handling. I also use Michelin Pilot Super Sports.

The car, when new, felt very sloppy and wobbly. I lowered the car with Eibach springs, installed Eibach sway bars, and changed the tires to the Michelin's. That was a tremendous help in it self. After getting a bolt through on of my rear tires, I decided to upgrade the wheels and tires to ZL1.

This is my first Camaro. I've had several Corvette's and I still have an '08 Z06. I'm accustomed to the way Corvette's ride and handle. I've done all the upgrades for the purpose of making the Camaro handle like a Corvette. Upgrading to the ZL1 wheels and tires made an astonishing improvement in handling.

ChibiBlackSheep · 04-10-2017, 02:20 PM

Just going wider also helps plant the car in turns. I noticed a huge change just from going from 245 to 275

SSEssence · 04-10-2017, 02:23 PM

yup better grip and handling not to mention it looks awesome, love my 305s

kalevi · 04-10-2017, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSEssence

yup better grip and handling not to mention it looks awesome, love my 305s

Ditto!! The 305s are awesome!

rontammy0 · 04-10-2017, 02:28 PM

We may have chatted about this before. I currently have 295 40 20s on tbe back. 391 gears ...boltons....3200 stall. The 295s work well as can be expected on the street. And i did cut s 1.9 sixty on the track but tbey did spin alot which is expected. My tire guy has my set of nitto 555r 305 35 20s that are going on tbe car thur. I have a thread with a pic in the drag racing section.Plus wider tires always look bettet in my opinion. The 295s work grest on the stock rims.

Royal Tiger · 04-10-2017, 03:29 PM

Ron, does the 305 require a wider wheel?

rontammy0 · 04-10-2017, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal Tiger

Ron, does the 305 require a wider wheel?

No....the Nitto 305s fit on the narrow side. Almost like the 295s ive had for 2 sumners. Im getting the Nittos put on thurs morn so ill post pics on my thread in the drag race section.

maddoggyusa · 04-10-2017, 04:01 PM

Wow, you guys 1 step up from the ricer guys.

If you were doing it for all-out performance, you'd go to say an 18" wheel. You guys aren't the next Mario Andretti. He drives a F12.

rontammy0 · 04-10-2017, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddoggyusa

Wow, you guys 1 step up from the ricer guys.

If you were doing it for all-out performance, you'd go to say an 18" wheel. You guys aren't the next Mario Andretti. He drives a F12.

Wow who knew.....and where did you read all out performance. Stock rims I know can sometimes be confused with 18s. Thanks for the useful post.

The ricer comment needs to be clarified as well. I guess if im a step up from the ricers...your a few steps down . Now its a party.

SlingShot · 04-10-2017, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal Tiger

Ron, does the 305 require a wider wheel?

Personally I would never run a 305 on a stock OEM wheel. They require a minimum of a 10" wheel to mount correctly. IMO if mounted on a stock wheel the tire will be ballooned, unless aired way down. GM puts them on a 11" rim for a reason.

Royal Tiger · 04-10-2017, 04:51 PM

Thanks Sling.

Ir0nM4n · 04-10-2017, 04:56 PM

So I have the OEM rims and Tires that came with the car (1LE ) and the SS Rims.
I use the SS rims / tires for winter driving and the 1LE( ZL1) rims and tires for summer driving. I can tell you as a driver you can tell the difference night and day.
I believe the SS rims OEM are 8" front and 9" rear and the ZL1 rims OEM are 10" front and 11" rear for my car its 285 on all fours. Believe me when I say its tough to explain to the tire guy about the 1LE as it uses the ZL1 rim with out the 305 rear tire.

LCPLPunk · 04-10-2017, 06:10 PM

So if I ran say the rear SS wheels in the front with 275s, and the rear SS wheels with 295s in the rear I'd be good?

04-10-2017, 01:52 PM	#1
LCPLPunk USA-1 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS L99 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Near DC Posts: 1,893 View My Garage	At what point do I need wider tires? Hey guys, So right now i'm running the stock 245/275's on my 2010 SS. I think overall I don't have too many traction issues, but I'm considering going up to 295's (on stock rims probably) probably after I upgrade my diff. to 3.91s. I started thinking though, I know many guys still stock jump up to wider tires and it made me wonder why. Is it for the look only? Does a bolt-on SS need wider tires? If the rear suspension has been upgraded, i.e. subframe bushings, UCA bushings, toe rods, etc. does the need for wider tires diminish? __________________ "A Camaro in the garage is safe, but that's not what Camaros are built for..." R2C CAI / Apex Scoop / VMAX Ported TB / Speed Engineering LTHs / X-pipe / GPI port/rod-mod intake manifold / Circle D 3200 278mm Converter / 3.91 gears / DynoSteve tuned / 1LE Shocks/Struts/Toe Links / ZL1 Rear Sway Bar / Z/28 Trailing arms / Prothane Radius Arm & Subframe Bushings / BMR UCA Bracket, Steering rack bushing / B&M Tranny Cooler / RX Catch Can / Jannetty Tranny Dipstick / 2012+ Heater Hose / 2013+ Rearview Mirror / Fuel rail flip / Drake shifter / Oil Cooler Delete

04-10-2017, 02:20 PM	#3
ChibiBlackSheep Drives: 2012 2SS/RS, 1968 SS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Southeast, PA Posts: 2,116	Just going wider also helps plant the car in turns. I noticed a huge change just from going from 245 to 275 __________________ LS3 Crate Engine Swap \| CSP Custom Cam 232/240 .615/.615 113 +3 \| Stainless Power LT Headers \| Z28 Intake \| Borla S-Type Exhaust \| FTI Triple-Disc Billet 3200 Stall 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS \| 1968 Camaro SS \| 2020 Cadillac CT5 Premium Luxury \| 2021 Spark LS

04-10-2017, 04:56 PM	#13
Ir0nM4n Love me some Tacos Drives: 14 1LE Join Date: May 2011 Location: Washington Posts: 2,728 View My Garage	So I have the OEM rims and Tires that came with the car (1LE ) and the SS Rims. I use the SS rims / tires for winter driving and the 1LE( ZL1) rims and tires for summer driving. I can tell you as a driver you can tell the difference night and day. I believe the SS rims OEM are 8" front and 9" rear and the ZL1 rims OEM are 10" front and 11" rear for my car its 285 on all fours. Believe me when I say its tough to explain to the tire guy about the 1LE as it uses the ZL1 rim with out the 305 rear tire. __________________

04-10-2017, 06:10 PM	#14
LCPLPunk USA-1 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS L99 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Near DC Posts: 1,893 View My Garage	So if I ran say the rear SS wheels in the front with 275s, and the rear SS wheels with 295s in the rear I'd be good? __________________ "A Camaro in the garage is safe, but that's not what Camaros are built for..." R2C CAI / Apex Scoop / VMAX Ported TB / Speed Engineering LTHs / X-pipe / GPI port/rod-mod intake manifold / Circle D 3200 278mm Converter / 3.91 gears / DynoSteve tuned / 1LE Shocks/Struts/Toe Links / ZL1 Rear Sway Bar / Z/28 Trailing arms / Prothane Radius Arm & Subframe Bushings / BMR UCA Bracket, Steering rack bushing / B&M Tranny Cooler / RX Catch Can / Jannetty Tranny Dipstick / 2012+ Heater Hose / 2013+ Rearview Mirror / Fuel rail flip / Drake shifter / Oil Cooler Delete

04-10-2017, 02:19 PM	#2
kalevi Drives: 2011 Camaro SS Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Davenport, Florida, USA Posts: 23	I upgraded to ZL1 wheels and put on 285/305s. The main purpose for this was handling. I also use Michelin Pilot Super Sports. The car, when new, felt very sloppy and wobbly. I lowered the car with Eibach springs, installed Eibach sway bars, and changed the tires to the Michelin's. That was a tremendous help in it self. After getting a bolt through on of my rear tires, I decided to upgrade the wheels and tires to ZL1. This is my first Camaro. I've had several Corvette's and I still have an '08 Z06. I'm accustomed to the way Corvette's ride and handle. I've done all the upgrades for the purpose of making the Camaro handle like a Corvette. Upgrading to the ZL1 wheels and tires made an astonishing improvement in handling.

04-10-2017, 02:23 PM	#4
SSEssence Instagram: Sangstah Drives: 2019 Camaro 1LE Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Buena Park, CA. Posts: 2,836 View My Garage	yup better grip and handling not to mention it looks awesome, love my 305s

04-10-2017, 02:28 PM	#6
rontammy0 Account Suspended Drives: 2011 2SS/ RS INFERNO ORANGE L99 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Alliston Ontario Canada Posts: 9,057 View My Garage	We may have chatted about this before. I currently have 295 40 20s on tbe back. 391 gears ...boltons....3200 stall. The 295s work well as can be expected on the street. And i did cut s 1.9 sixty on the track but tbey did spin alot which is expected. My tire guy has my set of nitto 555r 305 35 20s that are going on tbe car thur. I have a thread with a pic in the drag racing section.Plus wider tires always look bettet in my opinion. The 295s work grest on the stock rims.

04-10-2017, 03:29 PM	#7
Royal Tiger Account Suspended Drives: 2013 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 3,873	Ron, does the 305 require a wider wheel?

04-10-2017, 04:01 PM	#9
maddoggyusa Drives: 2013 Camaro Dusk 2SS/6 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,586	Wow, you guys 1 step up from the ricer guys. If you were doing it for all-out performance, you'd go to say an 18" wheel. You guys aren't the next Mario Andretti. He drives a F12.

04-10-2017, 04:51 PM	#12
Royal Tiger Account Suspended Drives: 2013 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 3,873	Thanks Sling.