I know Z rated tires are going to be about $200 dollars a piece no matter what brand. I am going to be racing once in a while, and i need a tire that will get really good grip, and have a cool looking tread pattern. But i cant get DRs because i dont want my dad to ask why i need all of that traction . So what do you guys think? Are Eagle F1 GS's good for grip, or is there better for about the same money.

P.S. I live in a pretty rural area, so keep that in mind. There is a michellin close by, and a discount tire 2 hours away.

 

There are a couple of things you could do to get a nice tire at an affordable price. You could Nitto's you should find a set of those at any local store that sells tires. Those are a set of Z rated tires for 99 bucks a pop. Or you could order a set from www.VulcanTires.com. If you do so you could get a set of Z rated tires for under $400. The tread pattern on those is nice. But beware of what they list. The largest tire size for your stock rim is a P245. They list a P255 fitting the rim, but i can tell you from experience that their 255 did not fit my rim. So unless you get a set of new rims. 245s is the largest you can go. If you get 17 inch rims. Dont put anything larger than 275 on your Z. The SS has a wider wheel well and can accomodate up to 315 however since you have a Z, 245 for 16 inch rims and 275 for 17s. Hope this helped.

 

where did you get all that misinformation?!?!?
a 255/50/16 tire is 10mm wider than a 245. it will fit. there is alot of guys who have run those. including me, i ran a 255/50/16 bfg drag radial, looked fine to me, almost like a stock tire.
fender wells are the same, from a z28 to an ss. dont know where you got that they are different.
315's will go on any 4th gen f-body, provided you get the right offset 17x11" wheels. they wont go on front without alot of modification, tho.
jeremy

 

I'm on my first set of Kumho tires..

They are more known for their inexpensive racing tire in AutoX and roadracing... so I have some faith in this company.

I got four Escta Supra 712's(wet and dry tire), 275/40R17's shipped to my door for about $480.($110x4 + 40 shipping) Another $75 to get them all mounted on my rim at a local tireshop, using tapeon weights too.

Initial feedback, after 300 miles, they feel better than my Comp T/A's.. They also seem to behave better in the wet (huge water channel in the middle). They make more noise near the limits, but when their limits are reached, they break loose ALOT more gradually than my Comp T/A's.. I haven't been able to drive them hard too often though cause the weather is now cold and wet constantly.

If they hold up nicely, I'm going to consider getting another set, or maybe their more expensive MX type.. Although I'm curious on the BFG KDW's.


You could probably get 245/50R16's of 712's closer to $85 a tire.

BTW, they rated as "W", which is actually higher than "Z".

 

Its not misinformation buddy. I bought a set of 255s. They were to wide for the front wheels. Every time you turn you will scrape the tires on the wheel well. The back tires you will also have some extensive trouble fitting on the rear rims. I have experience with this. Believe me i bought a set of 255s. They were too big. If you dont want to be able to turn go ahead and toss those tires on be my guest. Dont say I didnt warn you.

 

So care to explain how my 275s fit just fine up front, which are wider than the 255s???

Or how I had no problem putting a 255 DR on a stock 16 rim out back???

There is no problem with a 255/50/16 ...speedo might be a little off because it's a 26.1 dia tire instead of a 25.7 dia ... but nothing major.

The only way you could get a 255 that wouldn't fit, is if you tried to be a cheap SOB or let some salesmen talk you into a set of 255s with a 65 or 70 aspect ratio ... now you'll have problem, since you're talking about a tire with a 29 to 30 inch diameter. But then that's not a problem with the tire being to wide, it's to tall!

As for the kid looking for the hook up on the tires. You're kinda screwed from a traction standpoint, if you don't go with Nitto DRs out back. If price is a factor, Les Schwab has Ventus for $120 ea installed and out the door for the 275/40/17... probably little less for the 16s.

I've had the these and the BFG KDW and the Ventus is a better tire. For comparision, most people who have had the KDW and the F1s will tell you the KDW is much better than the F1.

Good Luck

 

there is no differnce in the wheelwell size between an ss and a z. That would be to costly and pointless for GM to do. However the ss has 17x9 inch salad shooters therefore they can fit wider tires, the z however has 16x8's. You can fit up to 265's if you want on the z rims, i have even seen some nitto 555R 275 on the rear of some z's with stock rims, fitment was fine, in fact usualy discount tire wont mount them unless they are within their specs but they did. Rubbing wasn't a problem. The only time i have heard rubbing was on my friends SS that had 295's on 18x10 wheels all the way around. The front would rub occasionaly.

Anyways, if you want some goodyear GSC 245/55zr16 you can get them for 90 bucks a pop from slp. They are the ones they took off the cars they made SS's out of. They are the stock performance option tire on the Z's. Pretty good price considering i payed 600 for 2 from Gemni when i got 2 blowouts.

 

the ss comes with 275's up front, it says it right on the sticker inside my door. I've also heard of people going as big as 335 in the back, but my 315's were a very tight squeeze on the Z.

 

Because the 255/50 tire is actually taller than the 275/40 The tire scrapes against the well. The second number is the % height in comparison to the width. Thus .5 * 255 = 127.5mm height. The .4 *275 yeilds 110 mm in actual tire height above the rim. This is why your 275s do not scrape and the 255s do.

 

I dont want my dad knowing that i race from time to time, so if i say im getting some drag radials, hes going to know. So what im asking is, what is the next best thing? Thanks.

 

For the guy looking to buy new tires I recommend starting at tirerack.com There's a wealth of information there, and the prices are MUCH cheaper than retail.

Oh, and be careful racing. Have fun, but use your head.

 

Its very easy to get a set of low profile tires. Just do a search online. Just be smart and compare prices and what tires offer. Remember to check traction, tread life, if its wet-dry. Etc.

 

only adivise i have is not to go cheap I bought a set of Falken z rated 245's that I thought would be good but the slide and spin any chance they get and they were around $90 a tire.....DOn't make my mistake spend a little money and it will help....

 

i got a good laugh out of the "SS has a wider wheel well" ...im still laughing.

 

I'll be putting Kuhmo ECSTA Supra 712's on my SS when the F1's get slick enough.

The F1's are really not that good for racing. But if you want want to drive around town with no air in the tires then they are supposed to do well.

The Kuhmos look awesome, are supposed to handle well and are only $85 for 245/50/16's. Check with your local tire shop to see if they can beat Tirerack's price. The one I go to buys tires from them at 20% off or so. So they would have been able to buy the same tires and I wouldn't have to have bothered with shipping and all that.