Okay, I'm getting new tires and rims for an 02' SS. I've already picked out the tire. It's going to be Nitto 555's (295/45/18) because I wanted the closest thing to a drag radial but with long tread wear. Those tires call for a 10" rim but the Nitto website says that you can go as low as 9.5" and as high as 11". I want 18" Corvette Z06 rims all the way around. I can only find them in 9.5" and 10.5". Here's my question. What size Z06 rim should I get? Will using the 9.5 cause any problems? How about the 10.5"? Thanks for your help.

 

I'm not sure if it's a typo but that tire size is almost 3" larger in diameter. This will cause you to lose alot of gearing and will throw your speedo off. I'm not even sure that tall of a tire would fit in the wheel well and in the front you probally won't be able to turn full lock with out them rubbing. With the rim size either one shoud be fine, some guys run the 10.5 all around but with a 275/35/18 tire. Hope this helps.

 

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by that. Width=295, Thickness of tire=45, Rim capacity=18". Just explain a little more.

 

295mm width 45% of that width is your side wall hieght. so you are going with a taller sidewall and a taller rim. so overall your tire is going to be alot bigger then stock. that'll knock your speedo out. you should go with a 295/35/18 to keep the diameter the same as stock.

 

Nah, I hate the look of big rims and skinny tires. I've gotta have some meat on the tire, besides I can program it out with Predator.

 

295/45-18 is a 28.5" tall tire.

Before you buy that tall of a tire, check out clearance issues.
I know for a fact that a 28" tall tire will NOT fit on any F-Body with ground effects, and just barely fits on a car without ground effects.

So if a 28" tire barely fits, a 28.5" tire probably won't fit. If by chance it does, you're gonna have some serious rubbing issues.

Just a heads up.

 

Whatever you do, DO NOT get that size tire. You will regret it...it is almost 3" taller than the stock tire, and most likely will not fit. If I'm not mistaken, that is the OEM tire size for a Ford Lightning Truck.

Trust me...I know all about wheel and tire sizes for 4th gen f-bodys. Get some 295/35/18's if you want to go that direction, and run them on the 18x10.5 inch wheels.

-Shawn

 

295/45-18
damn!
4X4

 

if you want more sidewall, get a smaller wheel

 

You can't fit anything larger than 28" in the rear wheel wells without body shop surgery to the fender openings and bumper cover. I run 28x10.5-15W ET Drags at the track, and had to cut about 1" off the rubber bumper cover. I also run 4.10 gears and a 5K stall convertor, so it will handle the 28" diameter tires.

Put those tires on your street car, and after the body shop work to fit them:

-The car will sit 1.5" further off the ground in the back... I hope you like the "old school" rake.

-The tires will stick 1.5" further up into the wheel well.... hope your car isn't lowered.

-If you currently have 3.23 gears, it will feel like you swapped 2.92 gears into it.

Click on the "Trailer Queen...." link below to see what a 28" tire looks like.

Are you aware that BFG is now making 18" Drag Radials in the g-Force line? They are listed in the new JEG's catalog, and come in sizes that would fit a 4th Gen, even though they are intended for "sport compacts".....

To me 18" Drag Radials is an oxymoron.....

 

injunner... do you have times on track with your queen?

 

Well thanks for showing me what would have been a future mistake. Using the chrome Z06 18 x 9.5 rims, what is the best size tire to use. I'd like to use the Nitto 555 ZR. How about 275/40/18? Increasing the diameter 1 inch isn't going to hurt anything is it? Or how about a 285/35/18 because I was wanting a wider tire anyways. Would a 285 require any body work or rolling the fenders?

 

there ya go !
now your talkin !

 

Not if you have C5 wheels and want traction on the street. On the drag strip yes you should have a set of lightweight wheels for DRs ETs or Slicks but for street traction I can understand an 18 inch drag radial.