Ok, well, I've come to the conclusion that I absolutely suck at buying the properly sized tires. I just recieved a set of four tires, two front BFG KDW2 and two rear BFG Drag Radials for my 18" wheels. Here are the specs:

Front: 18x9.5, 255/35/18 KDW2
Rear: 18x9.5, 295/35/18 DR

The big issue is the overall diameter of tires. I was going to get the 275 DR's for the back, and change my mind at the last minute because the size was on backorder for months. The 295's are almost an inch larger in diameter.

So, the 255/35 fronts only have a diameter of 25", and the rears have a diameter of 26.2". If I were to order the 40mm sidewall in front, they would have a 26" diameter.

My question is - am I ok with that large of a difference in diamter of tires between the front/rear, or should I go ahead and send these back and get the 40 series tires up front?

Thanks in advance.

 

What trim is your car?
Ah..track. VDC won't mind a taller tire in the rear than front. if you didn't have VDC, you'd be perfectly fine. Regardless, running that big of a stagger makes the handling suck, but I assume (since ur getting DR) you don't care about that.

 

Track - with VDC...

I'm beginning to think I answered my own question above and I need to exchange them.

 

Personally, with 295 DR's at -1 camber i'd assume you'd bog off the line. But I'm sure you make plenty of power. I don't think you'd have a problem. The biggest problem comes when the front tires spin much faster than the rear tires.
Just shut off the VDC...

 

Well I still care about handling. I'm going to be running these on the streets. I might as well exchange them and eat the shipping price if I'm going to screw handing in the process...

 

I feel you on sucking at buying proper tires.

 

I think the different tires front and rear are going to be more of a problem for the VDC than the tire diameters

 

I know quite a few people using these tires together. You aren't going to run DR's on the front of a RWD car.

I was originally going to get the 275's in rear, but had to change to 295's. I didn't realize the height of the tire would be so off. I already talked to them and basically I have to eat the shipping price, so it's $50 down the drain.

 

IMPORTANT - Read this: https://my350z.com/forum/wheels-and-tires/203755-will-these-tires-work-with-my-vdc-enabled-car-read-here.html
been there done that

 

Yeah I just did a little math and I need to get the 40 sidewalls. Crap.

Thanks for the link.

 

with that much width stagger and the added grip in the rear, your car is going to understeer like crazy, not a good combo IMO

 

Ive decided to just drive with vdc off since im goin to have the problem with my 245/40/18f and 275/40/18R.

 

Isn't that the right size(s)?

--Spike

 

maybe. i wasnt real sure what size wheels the enthusiast came with.

 

My current setup is about a 40mm difference between front and rear, and it handles just fine. I don't think I'll have any more issues, these DR's don't get THAT grippy unless they're heated up.

 

Do a 265 or even better and probably the most proper size 275/35 front

 

I can see a 255 mm tire on a 8.5 inch wheel. But not a 9.5 inch wheel.

 

what site is that calculator on?

 

taurran, I know you wouldn't want a smaller rear, but wouldn't the sizing be better if you went with a 285/35 or even 275/35 in the rear and left the front as-is (255/35)? I wouldn't think you would want to increase your sidewall on the fronts.

 

There are several, but I like the one on discount tire:
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireMath.dos

There are links to two others in the sticky at the top of this section in the "will these tires work with my vdc equipped car" post