Winter Tires

[Relak]

I like this idea because I think cars start to degrade if they go long periods just sitting. Plus, the car is just so wonderful to drive.

I agree. The only thing I'm having difficulty figuring out is the proper PSI for this setup. The change in tire size, I would think, should change the PSI to something higher but not much info out there about it. Costco set my PSI to nearly 40psi which is just insane. I brought it down to 35psi but I'm finding the tires to spin under hard acceleration in 4th gear. Think I might bring it down to the factory 32psi and see how it handles.

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[CoolFire]

So 255/40 front and 275/40 are a recommendation by F Perf. I was going to call them as well, as I don't have much knowledge when it comes to tires.
I would like to by separate rims. Do all 19 inch clear the brakes?
Thx

 

[Krogen]

There's another thing to thing to consider with the stock summer tires. The owner's manual states use below 45 degF is not recommended. Other posts/forums have discussed this at length. Apparantly it's not just the Sport Cups on the R model, but the Pilot Super Sports as well. I contacted Michelin and they confirmed that use below 45 deg can cause surface cracks to appear. Interestingly, the Corvette manual isn't so cautious about the issue despite having the same Pilot Super Sports.

 

[xt6wagon]

There's another thing to thing to consider with the stock summer tires. The owner's manual states use below 45 degF is not recommended. Other posts/forums have discussed this at length. Apparantly it's not just the Sport Cups on the R model, but the Pilot Super Sports as well. I contacted Michelin and they confirmed that use below 45 deg can cause surface cracks to appear. Interestingly, the Corvette manual isn't so cautious about the issue despite having the same Pilot Super Sports.

haven't seen any damage to the tires below 45 (or even below 32), but they get hard and slick at 45, and at 32F even a dry road needs to be treated with some respect.

 

[Hack]

So 255/40 front and 275/40 are a recommendation by F Perf. I was going to call them as well, as I don't have much knowledge when it comes to tires.
I would like to by separate rims. Do all 19 inch clear the brakes?
Thx

No, not all 19 inch rims will clear the brakes. In fact, most probably won't. I have MMD Axim 8.5 wide wheels on my car, but for some reason they were discontinued.

There's another thing to thing to consider with the stock summer tires. The owner's manual states use below 45 degF is not recommended. Other posts/forums have discussed this at length. Apparantly it's not just the Sport Cups on the R model, but the Pilot Super Sports as well. I contacted Michelin and they confirmed that use below 45 deg can cause surface cracks to appear. Interestingly, the Corvette manual isn't so cautious about the issue despite having the same Pilot Super Sports.

The GT350 is supposed to have a tire compound designed specifically for the car, so despite having the same name, the tires on the Corvette and GT350 are not the same.

 

[xt6wagon]

The GT350 is supposed to have a tire compound designed specifically for the car, so despite having the same name, the tires on the Corvette and GT350 are not the same.

I have suspicions that the new PS4 and our Supersports have more in common than the GT350 supersports and the normal production supersports.

The first supersports were labeled as PS2 and thrown on a new Porsche model.

 

[CoolFire]

I just called Ford Performance and they recommended Pirelli Sottozero 3 on the stock rims. They drive their GT350's on those as they said the Blizzaks which they used before have been discontinued.
F: 255/40R19
R: 275/40R19
I would have preferred a separate set of rims, but the buying another four stock rims is a waste of money.

 

[Hack]

I would have preferred a separate set of rims, but the buying another four stock rims is a waste of money.

I agree with this. For winter use there's not much reason to have super wide rims and tires. It mostly just makes the tires much more expensive, and you aren't going to have great traction in the winter anyway.

 

[topfinadv]

So I just ordered the Pirrelli Sotto Zero 3's from tire rack. $1230 including shipping for those that are interest.

 

[FocusRS]

So I just ordered the Pirrelli Sotto Zero 3's from tire rack. $1230 including shipping for those that are interest.

Got my series 2's a couple weeks ago for < $700 from Tirerack. $70 VISA on its way too.

TIRES
Qty Size & Description Availability Price Each Item(s) Total
4 295/35R19 Pirelli Winter Sottozero Serie II 2012 Production, N0(Porsche)
(No Longer Available) In Stock $172.55 $690.20

Extremely pleased with the daily driving characteristics. Couldn't imagine storing this superb car. It's so much more than just a track car.

 

[BmacIL]

I just called Ford Performance and they recommended Pirelli Sottozero 3 on the stock rims. They drive their GT350's on those as they said the Blizzaks which they used before have been discontinued.
F: 255/40R19
R: 275/40R19
I would have preferred a separate set of rims, but the buying another four stock rims is a waste of money.

I can tell you with certainty that they did not run those widths on stock rims. They ran 295/35R19 all around (I've seen the racks of tires, and tires on the cars). These, specifically:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...88969&ef_id=WA508wAABKgXcOKq:20161213223842:s

A cheaper set of 19" or 20" rims at ~8.5-9" wide would be a good choice with 245-255 section tires all around.

 

[CoolFire]

I agree with you. 10.5 and 11 inch rims should require bigger tires. That is why i was wondering and asked him several times.
The guy at Ford Performance kept saying that they use them on stock rims.
When i asked if other rims clear the brakes he said (probably not)

Long story short.
Can anyone give me a combination of smaller tires with a rim that fits those?

Alternative:
295/35R19 all around on stock rims.

Thanks in advance for your support.

 

[BmacIL]

I agree with you. 10.5 and 11 inch rims should require bigger tires. That is why i was wondering and asked him several times.
The guy at Ford Performance kept saying that they use them on stock rims.
When i asked if other rims clear the brakes he said (probably not)

Long story short.
Can anyone give me a combination of smaller tires with a rim that fits those?

Alternative:
295/35R19 all around on stock rims.

Thanks in advance for your support.

I'd ask [MENTION=12069]Hack[/MENTION] what his relatively cheap setup was that's more appropriate for winter.

 

[Hack]

I'd ask [MENTION=12069]Hack[/MENTION] what his relatively cheap setup was that's more appropriate for winter.

I bought MMD Axim wheels from American Muscle. I bought the 19x8.5 size because my existing snow tires fit on them (255 40 R19). That is the widest tire to fit the 8.5" size, but according to my tire guy it's no problem. According to the American Muscle web site there are a few of the MMD rims that fit the GT350. I think the Axim was discontinued, but a different MMD rim would probably work. It should say specifically on the website if the rims will fit the GT350.

This setup worked fine through last winter and this winter. I didn't want to buy 20 inch tires or spend a bunch of money on wide snow tires. I've been using the same set of Blizzak 255 40 R19s for I think 4 years IIRC - I will probably go even narrower once I wear them out. Whatever is available and not too expensive. I personally don't think it's worth buying super wide snow tires - the car is not going to behave like a high performance vehicle in the winter. I just go for enough traction to be able to safely drive and a tire size that's not too expensive. I'm happy with the Blizzaks.

 

[BoomBoy]

I agree with you. 10.5 and 11 inch rims should require bigger tires. That is why i was wondering and asked him several times.
The guy at Ford Performance kept saying that they use them on stock rims.
When i asked if other rims clear the brakes he said (probably not)

Long story short.
Can anyone give me a combination of smaller tires with a rim that fits those?

Alternative:
295/35R19 all around on stock rims.

Thanks in advance for your support.

This is what I have, 295 all around on stocks.

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