prospero63

In reference to this thread (among others) I had the Micheline Pilot Sport PS2 315/30/18 and 275/40/17 tires installed on my stock wheels about a week ago. I recieved a lot of advice from folks that I will broadly catagorize in two categories:

1) People who run the tires that said it would work fine
2) People who have never run the tires but had a lot of "science" and "theory" that said they wouldn't work.

Well, let me say with certainty they work and they work just fine. Now for those who may have fallen into category 2, please don't take offense, but in my experience there's usually a bit of difference between theory and reality, and these tires clearly fall into that gap. I've had them up to 150, I've done some pretty agressive cornering and I've had no problems with:

1) Traction - in fact, these are better all the way around, both in cornering and acceleration
2) ABS - ABS hasn't skipped a beat
3) Wheel/Tire height - the "larger" front tires have had no negative performance.
4) Tires too wide for the wheel - nope, not even close. They fit great.

My only complaint, and it's not much of one, is that the rear wheel wells are pretty big to be putting low profiles on 18's. It doesn't look bad so much as a little odd IMO. Similarly, the increased sidewall on the fronts compared to the rears takes some getting used to. Till someone starts making a decent low profile 275 on a 17" wheel or I move to 18" wheels, I can live with it.

So let me say with certainty for anyone planning on running these tires, don't let people scare you off them with their claims of funky math, ratios, too wide for the wheel, etc. You won't be disappointed if you get them.

AFVETTE

Thanks for the feed back. As we all know real world experience trumps class room. I also mounted 275/40/17 albeit the GY F1 Supercar Tires and they fit and perform great. They even look better.

I just wish there were more choices to include 305/35/18's for the rear.

Tom

prospero63

Yeah, I'm just the opposite. I wish that they made a 275/35/17 or 275/30/17 for the fronts.

OutlawDon

I agree 100%....tire companies.....give us some lower profile WIDE 17" tires!

Pureenergy

I am running on new Pilot Sports on the front and rear of my car and I couldn't be happier with the 275/40/17 's,on the front..I did try one size wider but they rubbed on the air ducts and inner fender liner when turning.
I have gone to 335/30/18's on the rear with 10.5" Zo6 rims.They stick out a bit.but actually that is what I wanted.On the Zo6 the outside rear brake vents and the edge of the outer part of the tire are even.No rubbing issues so far.I have heard of someone else with 345's ,on the rear(on the forum)bottoming out their Vette and having their tire rip the rear 1/4 panels.If I have in peoples opinion made an error by going to 335 tires ;well it;s too late now.I think the car handles well and looks great...It's not for everyones taste(I get a lot of compliments on how it looks)

OutlawDon

Any pics of the 335's on the 10.5 wheels?

agentf1

Yes we need pics.

BigPopaZ

Pureenergy

No I don't have any , but I will try and get them for you after I have some taken

dwjz06

Well it looks like you beat me too it. I told you it would work fine. This will probably be the way I go unless like you said they make a lower profile tire for the front by then. Thanks for the feedback. Don

Pureenergy

I went out and purchased a digital camera today just so I could post pics of my car and tires.I am 50yo(and digitally challenged) and now I will have to read all the Camera material before I can upload some pics.Hold on a day or two.

prospero63

For those who requested pictures, here you go. Excuse the grime, not due to be washed till tomorrow...

Rear Wheel Side View


Front Wheel Side View


Rear View. Wide Tires


Looking down rear fender from back and front



Another view of fender clearance


My nasty toes... and the front tire...


View from front of front fender for clearance


Full side views

GUS IS BACK

hi i had a 2000 trans am with z06 wheels on it on the front i had 275/35/17 and the back i had 285/30/18 the were made from falcon tires, they look great but falken doesnt make a biger tire for the back if you dont mine mixing tires 275/35/17 in the front and 315/30/18 piolts in the back that would be closer profile 30/35 anyway 2000 black on black trans am with 6 speed had it for 2 years never lost a race on the street. never backed down from any body this guy pulled up with a z06 2001 385/hp black looked good ,i thought it was time for me to lose guess what i beat him next light he ask me if i will race him at this 2 mile stretch we call it here. its a road 2 miles long i went smoked HIM REALY BAD he backed off at 140mph at least thats what i was doing when then he slow down and turned aroud . thats old news i just trade in my 2000 trans am undefeded never lost, love that car it didnt even have ram air. i call her the sleeper. it had cold air box from slp but now i have a 2003 red z06 with 2 tone int.red with black she looks great corner awsome she is stock 405/hp i thing my trans am would keep up with this z06 i need to know what can i do to make her faster besides headers , like cold air or ram air which air inducter works best with this z06 ..... TIRES LOOK GREAT MAN P.S. I HATE JAPANES CARS THEY STICK THIS BIG MUFULERS ON THEY THINK THERE SOMTHING I SAY STICK THIS BIG MUFULERS UP YOUR ***

Pureenergy

I finally got the pics posted,however they are on a newer thread,stated ... "335's fit on the back of a Zo6 "

Irish Whiskey

YELLOHHH

I ran 315/30/18's on 10.5x18 Y2K wheels about two years ago. I never had any issues either. Thing is, I ran 18's in the front too. 265/35/18's on 9.5x18's. You can very clearly see that the front tire sidewall is tall than the rear. It might not give you any issues driving the car, but it doesn't look that great. My move to 18" front wheels was neccesitated by wanting to move to a Brembo brake kit in the future. When I got the brakes, I also got a set of HRE wheels, and ran the same tires. The wheels were 18x10 front and 18x12 rear. No issues then either. Pics of all this on www.yellohh.com Bottom line: I suggest 18" front wheels and tires.

LTC Z06

With the lower profiles on the rear has the rake of the car changed? Is the overall diameter of the rear smaller than before?

prospero63

Not sure what you mean by rake of the car.

The diameter is smaller. IIRC it cut about an inch off the diameter. I'd have too look it up, and I'm a few beers too far for doing that kind of work right now.

X-ZZ4

God damn that thing needs to be lowered!

By rake he means slope.....like the rear sitting a tad bitter higher than the front.

LTC Z06

Added to FAQ sticky