Front tire sizes

[San Diego GTR]

I currently have the stock 245/35/ZR18's on the front but can get track Toyo's at a great price in 265/35/ZR18.

Will they fit?

[JoulesCanAm]

Paul,

I researched this and previous posts here suggested they would fit, so I got a set from JB along with the rears.

I have the tires here ready to go but still not got the Ultima back to fit them on yet, but I'm hoping it's close to finished. I'll drop you an e-mail when I have something to report back.

[Wilder]

I have the Toyo R888 on my car (255x35x18) and I needed to modify the wheel arches to make them fit as they rubbed on cornering.
If you have a competant bodywork person to do it I can recommend having it done as it reduces understeer and makes the car feel so much more balanced.

[San Diego GTR]

Hi Julian- Yeah JB seems like an amazing deal. I was hoping to see if others had tried tires this wide before taking the leap and buying them. Based on Jonathan's comments, it would take some extensive work to make the 265's fit properly. Jonathan- did you set the shocks to full to minimize body roll or didn't that help?
Thanks,
Paul

[LuckyP]

San Diego GTR said:

Hi Julian- Yeah JB seems like an amazing deal. I was hoping to see if others had tried tires this wide before taking the leap and buying them. Based on Jonathan's comments, it would take some extensive work to make the 265's fit properly. Jonathan- did you set the shocks to full to minimize body roll or didn't that help?
Thanks,
Paul

The factory sping upgrade allows you to run with less turns on the dampers, great for track (less roll) but skips a bit on county lanes....not that I do that anymore

[JoulesCanAm]

Wilder said:

I have the Toyo R888 on my car (255x35x18) and I needed to modify the wheel arches to make them fit as they rubbed on cornering.
If you have a competent bodywork person to do it I can recommend having it done as it reduces understeer and makes the car feel so much more balanced.

Exactly what modifying was required if I might ask?

Edited by JoulesCanAm on Sunday 22 February 16:46

[San Diego GTR]

When do you expect to get the car back?

JoulesCanAm said:

Paul,

I researched this and previous posts here suggested they would fit, so I got a set from JB along with the rears.

I have the tires here ready to go but still not got the Ultima back to fit them on yet, but I'm hoping it's close to finished. I'll drop you an e-mail when I have something to report back.

[JoulesCanAm]

San Diego GTR said:

When do you expect to get the car back?

Ah good question...... it's been in the shop since early December, I made the mistake of telling the guy I was in no hurry as Christmas was approaching and I wouldn't be using it etc., unfortunately he took that a bit too literally. It's always coming next week....

[Wilder]

Scott who is the ex TVR factory bodwork guy & paint sprayer, cut away some of the bodywork around arches, and then made a mould & re-inserted a piece so in effect the angle of the original arches were smoothed and not as acute, allowing a wider profile tire to be used.(under hard load cornering this was taking chunks out of the tires no matter what the settings were on the dampers)
I pondered about this, but having fitted the R888 (£300 for a rear tire retail in the UK, but discounted if you look around) I would recommend having it done, as the car will crush your kidneys on cornering now. If you are thinking of doing any sort of trackwork, then I would say its a must have mod as it makes the biggest difference short of a new engine you could ask for.
I will take a pic for you later today. He did the job in a few hours, the main job was making a mould to re-glass the arches.

[Gulf -LS7]

Im interested in the pictures as well, my GTR really does need a bit more front end grip, a shame ive just had the car painted but never mind. Will 255's go on the standard front rims ok??

thanks Kyle

[Wilder]

Ill post the pic shortly, yes the 255 Toyo fits on tyhe standard rim.

[Wilder]

Edited by Wilder on Thursday 26th February 21:23

[JoulesCanAm]

Wow, it's tight and that's after the body mods!

Did your bodyman just cut back that section or all the way around the wheel arch on the front clip?

I wonder how much the rose jointed suspension will let me adjust out some of the issues, that said you were only using a 255 tire and I have a 265.

Edited by JoulesCanAm on Thursday 26th February 23:53

[Wilder]

The camera angle is deceptive there. I took it from that angle to show the body arch. Theres a good couple of inches had I held the camera vertical.

[k wright]

another much cheaper option is to return the wheels to a good wheel shop that sells OZ and have them exchange the innerrim half for one that is 1 or 2 inches wider. no bodywork needed. the limiting factor will not be the inner aspect of the tire, it will remain the outer aspect of the tire hitting the light box.

my car has 295/30/18 P zero assymmetricos on the front with this setup.

[opodden]

So if I understand you correctly, you added 2" on the inside of the front wheel, now a 11x18" with a 295/30 tyre. And this fits without any other modifications? You say you reduced understeer; are there any negative effects of this modification, like increased tramlining, heavier steering etc? How much did you have to pay for widening the wheels?

Pictures would be really nice; I suppose it gives a more powerful look to the whole front end!