612 / 599: Custom Wheel & Tire Setup | FerrariChat

612 / 599: Custom Wheel & Tire Setup

Discussion in '612/599' started by southnc, May 25, 2016.

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  1. southnc

    southnc Formula 3

    Dec 25, 2013
    1,765
    Charlotte, NC
    Full Name:
    Adam
    All,

    There has been plenty of threads on what is the ideal wheel / tire combination. Most of the consensus seems to follow either a 599 GTO (K1) or F12 (K2) setup. However, much of this was largely based on using standard GTS or Challenge wheels.

    In the largely imaginative world of custom wheels, however, the options available seem limitless across 20, 21, and 22 sized wheels. Some of these have been duds, but others seem pretty enticing (Novitec, HRE, PUR, etc).

    For example, consider Novitec's setup that includes:
    275/30 ZR 20 on 9x20
    355/25 ZR 21 on 12.5x21 (Hugely wide)
    The results are pretty good in both performance and looks: 2010 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti By Novitec Rosso | car review @ Top Speed

    According to most of the installers, the 612, 599, F12, CA, FF, 458, and 488 pretty much can take the same size fitments. So, if you choose custom, there should be no differences and I suppose you could swap wheels / tires across any of these cars (and there actually is someone on this chat who does to some degree).

    One reputable installer recommended the following for a custom setup on my 612:
    255/30/21 Front
    335/25/22 Rear
    They insist this is a bolt on solution - no adjustments needed.


    Now, I personally have not seen this setup before on a 612. I have seen 22 inch wheels on front AND rear, and found those to be disappointing in how they look on both 599 and especially 612. So, I'm not so sure how the above recommendation would look and how much of a performance gain it would be; in addition to the ride. I've always felt that 20 front / 21 rear was the logical limit, but who knows.

    Also, most of these setups seem to limit you to Pirelli Tires (as apposed to Michelin PSS or others). And, of course, custom wheels aren't cheap either. :)

    I do like the idea of a staggered setup, since that is what the 612 originally came with - 18 / 19 format. Hence, either a 20 / 21 or 21 / 22 format.

    What is the general consensus - is it worth trying a custom design or better to stick with the standard wheels, with 20s all around?

    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. MRY

    MRY Formula Junior

    May 14, 2015
    384
    Monterey Peninsula
    I have 20's all around on my OTO and love it! I may go for a set of hgte wheels or GTO wheels that are wider, but are still 20" wheels.

    I don't like the 21/22 etc. too big and easy to blister the sidewall if you actually drive the car on regular roads.


    Richard
    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk, please forgive typos
     
  3. DK308

    DK308 F1 Rookie

    Aug 13, 2013
    2,738
    Europe, way north.
    Full Name:
    AB
    If you want a large thread patch with MPSS, you could just go with 335/30R20 or 345/30R20 in the rear and 275/30R20 or 285/30R20 in the front? If the 612 fits what fits the 599 they should fit and they are also available in MPSC2. Just a thought as I'm not a fan of big 21"/22" wheels either.
     
  4. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

    Nov 26, 2003
    3,583
    Mendocino, Ca
    Full Name:
    John
    AB, do you know from experience that those 285 and 335's will fit the 599? What size wheels in the 20" setup?
    I was thinking 20"fr and 21"r as well but nothing larger.
     
  5. southnc

    southnc Formula 3

    Dec 25, 2013
    1,765
    Charlotte, NC
    Full Name:
    Adam
  6. caspian575

    caspian575 Karting

    Jun 12, 2007
    154
    Cheshire UK
    Full Name:
    Roger Hayes
    Can i ask a really dumb question? What is the reason for different diameter wheels front and rear? Why 19 / 20 on a 599 gtb yet 20 / 20 on a 599 gto. Is it simply aesthetics?
     
  7. DK308

    DK308 F1 Rookie

    Aug 13, 2013
    2,738
    Europe, way north.
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    AB
    No. when we had our 599 I put the F12 spec tyres on it.

    But logic suggest it can be done. I know for a fact that 335's can be fittet, also, Novitec puts 355 on the rear, so why not 335 and 345. The GTO runs 285 in the front, so why not the GTB.
     
  8. DK308

    DK308 F1 Rookie

    Aug 13, 2013
    2,738
    Europe, way north.
    Full Name:
    AB
    It can be both. The sidewall won't change grip, but it will affect how the tyre reacts to steering input and how it acts on the limit. This means it can have an effect on the feel of the balance of the car and how it drives. There's a comfort thing as well, as it puts a higher and softer profile in the front. Ethically it makes the tyre profile of the front and rear tyres the same or closer to it, plus there's an interesting optical illusion there which has been used on cars for ever. If you put tyres in a larger diameter on the rear but keep the rims the same size, it can give the impression that the rear rims are smaller than the fronts. To avoid this, you put larger rims on, which actually makes the rims look the same size.
     

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