FAQ Camaro Winter Tires - Wheel/Tire Thread 2010

[ckaram]

Hey Rudy and others, just curious, has anyone put the factory 18" Heritage steel wheels on the SS with spacers?

I know they don't fit over the brakes without spacers, but would they with? I searched but didn't come up with an answer. Thanks

[GMan33]

I live in the Chicago area and just got setup with the following:

BLIZZAK LM-60's 255-50R-19 /these are the newer (and better version of the LM-25"s)

DRAG - DR-37 5-120 38 HS 19 x 8" wheels. -- Which, by the way, cleared the Brembos - with the rollerstakes extended - by about an inch!!

TPMS – Schrader Sensors ( so I don't spend the whole winter with a pressure warning on my dash!

I went with the same wheel and tires all the way around -- and they are a slightly higher profile (just a 1/2" taller, which is GOOD for the winter ) and 1.5" narrower, which is a better footprint in the snow. They are an awesome looking tire- hope they live up to their rep in the snow and ice

The Blizzaks are a bit more $$ than the Scorpions,, but have test proven worthiness in the ice and snow.

The 19" rims were as small as I could go and still clear the Brembos – believe me I was sweating it today when I finally had them mounted.

One note on the TPMS sensors -- they ordered the wrong Schrader sensor-- #20153 which is the wrong MHz (433) It needs to be 315 MHz for the Camaro - #28206. They are on order and unfortunately, when they come in, I have to have all four wheels pulled and the sensors then the wheels and tires remounted.

[Z28RockStar]

ok ok yeah, . . BUT, . .

when can i get MUD tires for my future Z28??

[Merc]

[IndeedSS1]

I put my Tirerack combo yesterday. People seem to like these, as do I. I may have to sell my MS and get a summer set as well. Picture isn't that good, but these are the Scorpions on Torq Thrusts.

[Ristaze]

I have the 21" wheels on my 2010. If I was to order the 20" Torq-Thrust M with the snow tires would I have to change anything? I guess I'm concerned with the speedometer.

[JOHNREX]

blizzaks all around on 20''s

outperforms anything with confidence and security!

[IndeedSS1]

Originally Posted by Ristaze

I have the 21" wheels on my 2010. If I was to order the 20" Torq-Thrust M with the snow tires would I have to change anything? I guess I'm concerned with the speedometer.

You'd need to look at the sticky that shows the different tire sizes and their height. In the 34 years I've been driving this is my first time to buy winter specific tires. I didn't know which to get for my daily driver. Rudy recommended the Scorpions, based on my criteria. I would like to believe any of the top brands would have to be pretty good though.

[NovaDaddy]

Stumbled on this discussion looking for answers on winter tires for my SS. This thread definitely answered them. Thanks. Will be ordering 245/45/20 Pirelli snow and ice tomorrow, from local dealer or tire rack if prices here are stupid. One of our Canadian shops wanted $2400.00 just for the Pirelli snow and ice installed!! No rims just the tires! Depending on what my other two Canadian quotes look like tire rack may be the way to go.

[molloni]

I have a question about diameter...I already purchased and installed the winter sneakers from Tire Rack. I got the Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow 245/55R18 with the 18x8 Bremmer Kraft BR01 Flat Black w/Mach Lip (they look great on the car, and the wheels were quite affordable). But today, when I passed one of the radar signs in town, the sign said 30MPH while I was going 35MPH. Now...was the sign wrong, or is my speedometer wrong and I need to recalibrate it? There was another thread that had the recommended diameters. I'm just hoping I didn't do something wrong...?

BTW, I was very happy when the TPMS sensors worked...I was concerned about the 314.9MHz change.

Oh yea, Master of the Obvious I may not be, I completely missed the "Hardware Included" stamp on the one wheel that had all of the spline style lug nuts and the special sock with 7/8" hex inside of it...and I didn't open that particular wheel until I had already spent the previous Saturday tying to find the correct hardware and thinking I was going to have to turn down a 13/16" socket...Please, please Rudy, I suggest a much larger stamp for those of us who are blind Incidentally, after finding all of the hardware and special socket, I was so happy - even extra valve stems! Good deal!

Gratuitous pic of the car with the winters on

[My 5th]

Originally Posted by Rudy@Tirerack

You're welcome! Unfortunately aftermarket pads will not elimate the squeek. Basically is was a design problem and the dampers were the solution. You have to decide which way you want to go. If you go with a 20 inch package then you can run the dampers and not worry about it.

Just to let you know, the brake squeaking is not a universal problem. I had the stick-on weights on my Brembo calipers. I had the calipers powdercoated and they took the weights off for powdercoating and didn't replace them. I use the Hawk ceramic pads, and I have no brake noise at all.

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by Rudy@Tirerack

So you want to use your car in the winter but it has summer tires, lots of horspower and rear wheel drive. What to do? The Tire Rack has options to fit all different 10/11 Camaro options. In this thread I will do my best to answer questions regarding anything winter.

Why do winter tires work so much better in the snow? A winter tire needs 3 things to work well in snow/ice. First is tread depth. Snow tires come with more tread depth than summer tires. Second is tread design. Most tires come with a directional style tread that evacuates slush and snow. Also if you look at the tread blocks of a snow tire there is much more siping to claw and bite the snow and ice. Third is the tread compound. A snow tire has a cold weather compound that stays flexible in very cold weather. A summer and/or all season tire become hard and unable to grip.
The First picture shows a new tire at 11/32nds of tread depth the 2nd picture show a tire approaching the winter tread bar at 6/32nds of tread depth and the last picture shows a tire at 2/32nds which is worn out for dry use. Tread depth why too little is never enough.

But do I need winter tires. The answer is yes. Click here to find out why.

My car is rear wheel drive so can I use just do two rear snow tires. Bad idea while its true the rear tires will get you moving how are you going to stop or steer? Four winter tires the only way to go.

Winter Tire FAQS

Start your winter tire search here.

Why consider a wheel and tire package? Its expensive to have winter tires mounted/and unmounted twice a year. With a package its easy to do the switch over yourself. Remember all of our packages come with the mounting hardware and are mounted & Hunter Road Force balanced for free.

Find wheel and tire packages for your car here.


I have had lots of questions regarding the 10/11 SS models. As long as you do not have the Roller skate brake pads I have 18 inch wheels that will fit. You will need to call me on these as we do not list them on the website. Keep in mind if you ever change to the roller skate pad these wheels will no longer work. Also if you have the factory wheels which are 9 inches wide in the rear the 245/45R20 Blizzak LM 25 works great front and rear for winter.

I live in the snow belt and have lots of knowledge with the snow tires we sell so I can help you find what will best fit your needs.

Feel free to contact me with questions. I am here to help. Everyone please feel free to add input to this thread!!

bf goodrich radial ta..is a good tire for plowed roads?..stock tire for l.s.

[NovaDaddy]

Originally Posted by NovaDaddy

Stumbled on this discussion looking for answers on winter tires for my SS. This thread definitely answered them. Thanks. Will be ordering 245/45/20 Pirelli snow and ice tomorrow, from local dealer or tire rack if prices here are stupid. One of our Canadian shops wanted $2400.00 just for the Pirelli snow and ice installed!! No rims just the tires! Depending on what my other two Canadian quotes look like tire rack may be the way to go.

Just ordered 4 245/45/20 Pirelli Snow and Ice from Tire rack!! Saved over a grand from what my Canadian tire shops wanted to charge!

[Rudy@Tirerack]

Originally Posted by ckaram

Hey Rudy and others, just curious, has anyone put the factory 18" Heritage steel wheels on the SS with spacers?

I know they don't fit over the brakes without spacers, but would they with? I searched but didn't come up with an answer. Thanks

Spacers will not work its a diameter issue on the inner barrel of the wheel.