Larger Diameter Front Tire Question

[Snoopy49]

Approximate date the road was last paved, the swale was touched or the sidewalk? This matters quite a bit.

Of concern is the slope from the road to the swale and then back out of it. A picture of it would help.

I will try to get a decent picture when the sun comes up.

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[Jmeo]

I bought a pair of Michelin PS 4S 305/35 ZR 20 tires for the front and had them mounted and balanced earlier this week. The tires were suppose to be 1.2" larger in diameter than the 30 series, they should have .600" more clearance at the center of front hub, slightly more at the front splitter.
Unfortunately that doesn't seem to translate to real life. Having said that, I can now use my race ramps without the extenders and I think that I can avoid scraping the driveway if I can find the sweet spot.

Can someone measure the distance from the bottom center of the wheel (outside edge of the rim) to the ground on a base model with 32 psi in the tires.

With 305/35 ZR 20 tires my car measures approx. 2 7/8".


I contacted a couple of concrete contractors about grinding the entry smooth, but none of them would touch it because it was controlled by the county and it would cost $700 for the permit and replacing the concrete would require the same permit plus demo, materials and labor. So that was out of the question.

I was confident the 35 series tire would fit without issue. I am sorry it did not completely correct your concerns. I think Tob is on to something for you to pursue next.

 

[kilobravo]

Earl: Have you determined how much you're lacking now after the tire swap?

 

[Snoopy49]

Earl: Have you determined how much you're lacking now after the tire swap?

Not yet, I haven't had a chance to check it out.

 

[Snoopy49]

I found out you can't back straight out of the driveway without dragging the center section of the splitter. The pictures are when the car just starts to drag.

These are pictures of the car backing out at an angle. The pictures are when the car just starts to drag.

While trying to find the sweet spot, I head loud scraping noise coming from the right front wheel well. All I could think was that the larger diameter tire was catching on one of the shields and how I just wasted $700. Lucky for me. it was the Jaeger Bros gravel guard. It looks like the tire snagged the lower inboard edge of guard and bent it out. I never had a problem when I was using the stock tires, but the clearance is tighter with the new larger diameter tires. I will take a heat gun and bend the lower inboard back towards the rear of the car. This should cure that problem.

This is the car after the tire change.

Here are a few pictures of the drive way.

 

[Tomster]

Americans with Disabilities Act. Use it to your advantage.

When was the road, sidewalk (if there is one), and drainage swale constructed or implemented? Does the slope of the swale exceed 1:20?

You continue to impress. You remind me of someone.......

 

[Rev Happy]

Snoop, that's actually not that bad. With enough of an angle, you should be able to clear without scraping. Plus all that extra room on the right side of your driveway, will allow you to take the angle even further down.

My driveway is similar and I'm able to clear it without scraping in my R. Also, you need to add Sliplo. If you do scrape anything, the Sliplo will take the damage.

 

[dps]

Why not something like this
https://www.bridjit.com/blog/tag/lowered+cars

Some of my neighbors have this Bridjit set up due to curb dip (not splitters on the GT's), but it's the first thing I'd try.

 

[Epiphany]

Snoop....who poured the sloped apron that meets the concrete at the edge of the asphalt on one side and butts up to the sidewalk on the other - the city or the homeowner?

 

[Snoopy49]

Snoop....who poured the sloped apron that meets the concrete at the edge of the asphalt on one side and butts up to the sidewalk on the other - the city or the homeowner?

I am not sure if it was the people who built the tract or the county, but the county has it now.

I think my problem has more to do with the crown of the road. Notice how the front wheels are out of the gutter when contact is made in both pictures. The rear end is higher than the front end.

 

[Snoopy49]

I found the problem, I think that Tob mentioned this in one of his posts, after 60 years of road maintenance, the crown of the road has been raised quite a bit, plus there is a bulge in the asphalt right in front of my house.

Here are some pictures of my daily driver for reference, this car has about 4" more ground clearance at the front bumper than the GT500.

 

[Epiphany]

That is about the most nondescript automobile I've seen. You could literally vanish in that car. And probably drive it faster than a GT500 without ever catching anyone's eye.

 

[kilobravo]

Good for bank robbin', Earl!

 

[Snoopy49]

Good for bank robbin', Earl!

I can have 3 helpers and a lot bigger trunk. If I used the 2020, I would barely have room for gas money in the trunk.

 

[Idaho2018GTPremium]

Is your driveway wide enough to use a more aggressive approach angle? I take some driveway entries at 45ish degrees. You can also try to approach it already at an angle so you drive up on the apron with the wheels pointed straight and with the car at a more aggressive angle at initial entry into the apron. For backing out, you'd do the opposite and be at the proper exit angle by the time you hit the apron so you don't have to turn the wheels while on the apron.

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