Ordering some Black Corvette C6 replica's for my camaro 18x8.5 all the way around was just wondering whats the biggest size tire I can fit on front, and back. You can post the link showing how to determine this but it all still confuses me. Looking to have the same size tire all the way around.

 

I'd say either 235/40/18 or 245/45/18. According to tire rack those sizs will fit well. The recommended wheel width of those tires has an 8.5 wheel right in the middle of the range and should fit well.

 

A 255 is as big as you probably want to go on 8.5" wide wheels. I have a 275 on my 9.5".

 

try to get 26in hight/diameter. 255/40/18 or 245/40/18 will work fine.

 

What are the advantages of going to a thinner front tire, ie. from 275/40 17" down to 245/40 17"? How did the handling and ride change for you?

 

Wider the tire the taller assuming we are talking the same ratio, in this case 40s. The wider the tire the more Energy (AKA HP) is needed to push it forward. The wider the tire the more likely it is to hydro plane. Lastly the 4th gen is a lose car. Meaning as you go around the corner the back end loses traction before the front end. There is no need to have 275 on the front unless you have 335's on the back or you have some massive Brembo brakes.

The math on tires is pretty easy. 275 = 275mm the 40 means 40% of the width is on the side wall. That mean 275mm x .4= 110mm That converts to 4.33" side wall. So a 275/40 tire on a 17 inch wheel is 17"+ 4.33" + 4.33 = 25.66 " tall wheel. On the front a taller side wall not only raises the car but also the taller side wall has more flex in it going around corner which makes the car less responsive. On the rear the taller tire has the same effect going around the corners and in the rain but it is an advantage as it makes the rear stick a little bit more in dry weather and the wall flex helps on launching car under hard acceleration.

There are a lot of things that make up what is the best setup for you, Sway bar, Tire compound. type and condition of shocks/struts, changes in weight, where and what type of racing you are doing. In the racing world it more likely they will get the tires with the best grip and life combination then adjust the suspension to make those work. With most street car assuming you want to go fast you may need to play with tire size and compounds. Most guys that do real racing with their street cars have a set of street tires and racing tires.

 

Looking for the widest tire size that will not have issues with front steering. We have a 2000 with 17 inch wheels. TIA

 

currently running 275/40 17inch rim on mine. I like the 245 better as far as ease of turning and easier on front parts. tie rod ends seem to wear a bit faster. handling on dry road is better with the 275s. very wet roads can be a challenge. I believe your offset may be a bit different on yours but that aside room for fitment should be same. not rubbing at all.