auto-X & road racing with 315/35/17 tires on sec gen camaro

[77ztwo8]

Has anybody raced with 315/35/17 tires on a second generation camaro without the issue with rubbing?

[vintageracer]

That size at all 4 corners? All depends on wheel offset, does the car have rear tubs and if you will be allowed to have tires extended past the fender lips if you do not have tubs as to whether the tires will "fit" your race car without rubbing.

Big tires alone do not make a race car fast or handle better. How about a little more information. Suspension parts and geometry settings will tell you a lot more about the correct size tire and offset to use rather than just the biggest tire you can fit.

[mpozzi]

Has anybody raced with 315/35/17 tires on a second generation camaro without the issue with rubbing?

The largest tire I could get away with is a 295/40-17 Kumho V710 on the rear mounted on a 17x9.5 wheel with 5.5" BS. There was a hint of rub from tire sidewall deflection against the outside of the leaf spring during hard cornering (mostly on track days).

The fronts were the same tire brand but 275/40-17 on a 17x8 w/4.5" BS. There is also some rub against the front bar during hard cornering.

This fitment also will have you rolling the fenderlips and is accomplished with no tubbing. My car's pretty low, has a stock configured suspension (CA's and leaf spring/solid axle), and good track alignment.

Hope this helps,
Mary Pozzi

[77ztwo8]

My mistake,I ment just the rear.I have 275/40/17 for the front and I don't have the wheels & tires on the car yet.I'm still working on the suspension and I want to leave it close to stock ride height so I hope rubbing issue will stay to a minimum.

[David Pozzi]

I don't think the 315 35 17 is a good choice, I think it's shorter than your front tires. Your car will have higher profile tires on the front and look a bit funny. A 275 40 or 45 on the rear would look better or go to a 285 45 17.

[zbugger]

I don't think the 315 35 17 is a good choice, I think it's shorter than your front tires. Your car will have higher profile tires on the front and look a bit funny. A 275 40 or 45 on the rear would look better or go to a 285 45 17.

Actually, a 275/40-17 is the same height as a 315/35-17. There are quite a few cars running around with this combo, but I haven't heard of anyone doing it without a rub issue. Hard cornering will only make it worse. If you really want to run around without rubbing, a 245 front and 275-285 rear would more than likely be a better choice.

[David Pozzi]

Allen, Just checked the chart and you are right the 315 is the same height as a 275 40.

We considered the 315, but it's wider than our 295 or 285 rear we use, and the 295 just skims the front side of the leaf when cornering extra hard. If you have the Hotchkis springs, the rear height is a bit low compared to the front and in that case, you really need a taller rear tire to make the car look right. On a second gen, it's hard to get the front very low without running into the bump stops or the tires into the wheel well lip.

[77ztwo8]

Thanx for the advice everyone.What I'm probably going to do is try it out and see what happens.If it rubs I will go to the next step and minitub it.Mary & David,I Really enjoyed the article on your camaro in camaro performers magazine.Very interesting!

[cdoggy81]

Dave, good info.
I think I'm going to go with 295/35/18 on a 18x10 wheel with 5.5" of b.s. I just got the Hotchkis rear spring kit that lower the car 1.5" (or so they say...) For the front I was thinking 255/40/18 on a 18x8 wheel with 4.5" of b.s. I was going this route b/c they are very close in overall size:
255-40-18 = 26.03" tall 10.03" wide 4.01" = sidewall
295-35-18 = 26.13" tall 11.61" wide 4.06" = sidewall

Now you got me thinking I should get the 245/40/18 for the front b/c it is a little smaller tire to give that look (lower front or higher rear). Here are the specs to comp to 255-40-18:
245-40-18 = 25.72" tall 9.65" wide 3.85" = sidewall

I have DSE body mounts that will help drop the body ~ .5" w/ DSE tubular front arms mounted to coil overs so I can adj. it some. Thanks & LMK what you guys think!

[cdoggy81]

Anyone...

[bobhamilton15090]

what tires should I run on a first gen (18"front 20"rear) with the TVS kit for maximum performance without rubbing? thinking of mini-tubbing but not sure yet...

[70bird]

255-40-18 = 26.03" tall 10.03" wide 4.01" = sidewall
295-35-18 = 26.13" tall 11.61" wide 4.06" = sidewall

Now you got me thinking I should get the 245/40/18 for the front b/c it is a little smaller tire to give that look (lower front or higher rear). Here are the specs to comp to 255-40-18:
245-40-18 = 25.72" tall 9.65" wide 3.85" = sidewall

Hey Chris,
I'm using a 275/40/17 on the rear of mine. They measure about the same od as the 295/35/18, and I wish I had chosen a taller tire. I may try a 45 0r 50 series later.
@nd gens; have a huge rear wheel opening, (especially Firebirds) and it would (imo) look better with maybe a 27" or 28" tire/wheel combo.
I know on my car the 26+ wheel looks too small. 26" on the front looks good

pics:


Sorry for such a large picture below, but it shows what I am saying.
This is with 2" lowering leafs.

[cdoggy81]

Hmm.....They are close in size (25.66 vs 26.13). Too bad they don't make a 295/40/18 :(
I looked at the 284/40/18. It is 26.98 tall. That may work better...

What rear springs do you run again? I think with a small lowering block it will look good.

Hope all is well in out there & good to hear from you again