Along with my C-5, I also have a Z-28 Camaro. The Z is equipped with 245/50-16 tires. Since I have this thing about personalizing my car with custom wheels, and I also like to add function if possible, I went with wider wheels when I replaced the OE "salad shooters".
The car was originally equipped with GoodYear GS-Cs, and those tires are "approved" for rims up to 9.5" wide, so that's what I bought, upgrading from the OE 8" width. When those tires wore out, I purchased a set of Pirelli P7000 Super Sports from Tire Rack. Those were also "approved" for rims up to 9.5" wide.
When the Pirellis wore out, I noticed that suddenly very few tires in the 245/50 size were OKed for use on a 9.5" rim. I don't understand, as most of the 245/50s have a section width around 9.6-10". I got a "free pass", so to speak, as SLP was selling "take offs" from their Z-28 SS program, so I bought a set of those. However, they are now getting down a bit, and I'm not sure that they'll last through this summer, so I might need to buy new sneaks before the end of this season.
Bottom line, if I don't want to go with one of the "cheapie" brands, that strangely say a 9.5" rim is OK, what can I do?
several years ago the tire industry standards were changed to mirror the more modern standards from Europe. The change in these standards were necessary because of the change in the tire technology .... We no longer have tires like the G78, M60, L50 sizes which is when the old standards were introduced. I todays world the radial tires are a little more demanding and even the tires you mentioned are no longer recommended for a 9.5" wide wheel even though that's what our website currently states .(our website will be updated shortly). The two tires that have that incorrect info have been around for quite a while and were over looked when we updated our database .... sorry for the bad news and inconvenience ....
the narrowest tire I can recommend for your 9.5" wheels is a 265 width but, many people do stray outside of the industry recommendations will no ill effect but, I can not advise you to do that nor assume that liability .....
.....the narrowest tire I can recommend for your 9.5" wheels is a 265 width but, many people do stray outside of the industry recommendations will no ill effect but, I can not advise you to do that nor assume that liability .....
Thanks, Luke, I think I understand what you mean, if I read between the lines. I wasn't going for the "low-rider" look, with the 215/70-15 stretched out on an 8" rim, but just a solid, wide base for a 10" section width tire. Plus, I wanted to maintain the OE O.D. to keep the car's computer happy.
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Fitment question for Luke
