Looking for better traction on 2020 GT

[DrewT]

My original equipment tires (Pirelli pzero nero 255/40 ZR 19 96W) are a bit prone to spinning with moderate to heavy throttle application. They're 3 years old but have less than 9K miles (yes, I need to drive the car more). These are all season tires but I never drive the car in the winter/snow. I'm sure that a different size or type of tire can do better. What size are the factory rims on a 2020 GT? 19x9? How much wider can I go on tires before I have to buy new rims? Thanks.

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[JustSomeGuy]

A slight increase in tire size on the stock rims won’t make much of a difference. A stickier rubber absolutely will. The size of the stock rims depend on what package you have, meaning base, PP, etc-

 

[MAGS1]

Sounds like you have the black accent package wheels if you have 255’s all around on a 19” wheel. Those are either 19x8.5 or 19x9, I can’t recall which. Either way, go to a summer tire. That will get you better grip than any all season tire will. 255 is the right size for either of those wheel widths, going bigger on those wheels won’t provide much additional benefit.

 

[DrewT]

Yes. My car has the black accent package. It doesn’t have the performance pack.

 

[shogun32]

Stomping on the gas will break any tire loose. Esp when not hot. Now the pirellis are shit tires first and foremost. So pick a better tire. You can pick a tire like cup2 and it will still spin unless you can get it hot enough to be tacky when you put your hand on it.

 

[DrewT]

I assumed that the stock Pirellis weren't the best. Would a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 or Cup 2 in the same width as the Pirellis be a major upgrade or should that be paired with a wider tire? Thanks.

 

[shogun32]

for screwing around on public streets no real point is getting wider wheels unless you just want to burn money (19x9.5+ minimum) Cup2 don't work unless you can get them HOT and you're not going to do that driving on public roads.

That said, the car is criminally undertired and should have come with 19x9.5 minimum, but really more like 19x10 and shod with 275/40 at minimum.

 

[Discount Tire]

My original equipment tires (Pirelli pzero nero 255/40 ZR 19 96W) are a bit prone to spinning with moderate to heavy throttle application. They're 3 years old but have less than 9K miles (yes, I need to drive the car more). These are all season tires but I never drive the car in the winter/snow. I'm sure that a different size or type of tire can do better. What size are the factory rims on a 2020 GT? 19x9? How much wider can I go on tires before I have to buy new rims? Thanks.

The width of the stock 19" wheel is 19X8.5. A 265/40R 19 is about as wide as you would want to go on the 8.5" wheel.

If you wanted to stay with the o.e. wheels, you might consider a summer tire. It will be a slight improvement.

Wider wheels/tires will make much bigger difference in traction, not to mention more tire options to consider.

 

[DrewT]

Anybody know how much the factory 19x8.5 rims weigh (not performance pack)?

 

[shogun32]

Anybody know how much the factory 19x8.5 rims weigh (not performance pack)?

WAY too freaking much. like 35. OE wheels are garbage.

 

[djcodeman]

Id recommend going to a stickier tire....
some good options are

Firestone Indy 500
Michelin PS4s
Continental extreme contact
Nitto 555r2


To reduce wheel hop you need to do some suspension modification....
Cradle lockout / vertical links are the first step

Afterwards, get an alignment.

 

[geep81]

You don't want Cup 2's.

PS4s would be a lot better than your stock tires, but you will still find it easy to break loose - especially when the tires aren't warmed up.

Nature of these cars!

You will love a true street performance tire like the PS4s though compared to the all seasons.

 

[Dana Pants]

Continental extreme contact sport 02 is a very good street tire.

 

[AZlb5.0]

When it comes to traction on the street you’re looking at a few factors. One being the tire compound and also the ability for the sidewall to “crunch” and help with maintaining a good contact patch. I would look at nothing lower than a 35 aspect and as high as 40. I run a 315/40 with a tire wear thread of 220. When I launch on the street @3K rpm I get very little rear tire spin at 30lbs of air pressure with an M6.

 

[Idaho2018GTPremium]

Unfortunately, an 8.5” wheel isn’t very wide. Michelin recommends a minimum 9” wide wheel for 265/40/19, so I’d be careful with even that size. Your best bet is to get a wider wheel and go with a wider and slightly taller tire to increase the contact patch. A 10” wheel with 285/40/19 would be both wider and taller than the 255/40 on your car now. The PP1 rear tires are 275/40/19 so a 285 isn’t much larger. The taller tire helps lengthen the contact patch front to back due to the larger radius (it’s why top fuel dragsters have such tall tires). It has another effect of slightly reducing the torque at the ground, but at these sizes those improvements will be subtle. Note that if you go to a taller tire your speedo and mileage will show slightly lower than actual.

SVE makes some good, lightweight, and affordable wheel options for the S550.

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