275/40-17 on 9.5's all around

[for yayo]

I have an 88 vette and I have 275/40-17 on 9.5's all around. Is that the stock tire sizes for my car or did the previous owner put bigger tires on the front? Would it be wise for me to put 255/40-17's on the front? Would those work on a 9.5? Whats the biggest tire I can fit on a 9.5? Thanks, Tony

[leadfoot4]

One of my friends recently bought a 1990. I'm pretty sure that it has the 275s all around, also.

[MYCoupe]

Originally Posted by for yayo

I have an 88 vette and I have 275/40-17 on 9.5's all around. Is that the stock tire sizes for my car or did the previous owner put bigger tires on the front? Would it be wise for me to put 255/40-17's on the front? Would those work on a 9.5? Whats the biggest tire I can fit on a 9.5?

Thanks,
Tony

Those are the optional rims on the 88 and that is the correct tire size. They didn't put the 255/45/17 up front until 92 or 93, but that was on a 8.5" wide rim. Putting skinnier tires up front will help if your car "wanders" on the highway, but that is usually caused by the "truck ruts" or indentations in the roadway. You'll make your car more prone to understeering with the skinnier tires up front. Personally I wouldn't do it. I run 275/40/17 up front and it handles great. To answer your question, yes you can put 255 on 9.5" rims. The widest tire that you can run would be a 285/40/17. Hope this helps.

[c4cruiser]

17x9.5 wheels and 275/40-17 tires came with the optional Z51 or Z52 suspension package for the first time in 1988. Check your option sheet under the console lid for either of these codes. You may also find QA1 as a code that identifies that size wheel.

The standard wheel and tire for 88 was 16x8.5 wheels in a new design for 88 only and 255/50-16 tires.

Keep the size that you have now. There are a wide variety of performance tires available in that size and having the same size at all four corners allows you to rotate the tires for better wear. With the 9.5" wheels, the 275 tire fits the best although you can go to a 285/40 tire. A 255 tire is really designed for a 8.5" wheel width and it would be streching the tire to fit on the 9.5" wheel.