Tire size for 360 wheels on 348

I have a 1995 348 Spider with 360 "Starfish" wheels. I am running Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta's with 225/40 - 18" for the fronts & 295/35 - 18" for the rears. What year & type of 348 makes a difference. The later year 348's/Spider's have a wider rear track that allows for the wider rear tires & allows for a balanced wheel diameter front vs. back.

 

Here is a few of pics showing the wheels/tires.
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Still the best tyre I have had on any car - been using them for years.... I now swear by them and as soon as i had the chance, I put 4 x new ones on mine. They look amazing too.... Also went for the exact same tyre sizes on mine - albeit with BBS CH wheels.

 

I have a 94 spider running 285/30/18 rear and 225/45/18 front, it is lowered a bit and looks amazing.
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That looks good

 

The tire sizes I think look the most proportional on a 348 when using either 355 or 360 wheels are:

225/40-18 -- front
&
285/35-18 -- rear

IMO stock 360 tires sizes do not compliment the 348/355 body styles very well ..... don't ask me how I know .......


BTW .... j tucker77's 348 above looks clean and awesome in nero .....

 

I started thread ". 550 maranello wheels on 348" . There are some pics if my car running stock 355 suze on front - and 275/30/18 on the rear. Some pics are before i lowered it snd some are after lowering it. The pic in my profile is after lowering. Seems to be a good rear size without lookin too chuncky.


" serenity now "

 

I agree Oz. It is hard to find this rear tire set size. That is why I went with the 295/30 - 18 so I could match front & rear diameters better.

 

for Optimal performance/balance you want the same diameter front vs. Rear.

 

To match the rolling diameter to the rear size you have chosen you need to find 225/45- 18" for the fronts to be closer in diameter. Not super critical, but nose up and/or nose down on the car will affect cornering & braking. More importantly have a matched 4 wheel set: i.e. the same brand & model tires. If not the handling of a 348 can get twitchy/problematic.

 

+1 .... if that 285/35 tire size is hard to find.
Does the 'stock' 348 have the same diameter tires front to rear?

The reason to go 225/40-18 tire on the front .... is because that is what the 355s use stock ..... and considering the body design, I think it was a great choice .......

 

295/35ZR-18

235/40ZR-18

That's what you need to run to maintain the exact same circumference as the stock 17 inch wheels.

That's what I am running on my challenge wheels.

Kai

 

You need to go wider in the front of you will introduce too much understeer.

You are also changing the original set up and raising the rear will make it even more finicky.

My post above give the exact setup for going +1" on wheel size.

Kai

 

I have not had rubbing issues so far, but I do not track my baby or flog her over bumpy roads (smooth surface she gets whipped!). The 348 is sprung pretty firm from Ferrari in the rear. Kai's input would be a good reference to check with since he runs the 295/35-18 rear tires. Going from the stock 348 wheels & tires to the 360 wheels with wider tires made a great/improved difference in my cars handling especially on mountain twisty roads. The confidence to dive into turns with the front end & keep the throttle going using the wider rears is awe inspiring and intoxicating.

 

I'm running 225/40 & 275/35 Dunlop Direzza no issues!

 

No. That's what I am running and I even lowered the car 1".

Kai

 

It should not rub, however IMO that tire size looks too 'chunky' on a 348 ....... the 360 star wheels offset is on the outer edge of the rear fender on a 348 .... and that wide a tire, may stick out past the fender ............... which may appear a bit ricey .......... but of course that is just my opinion .....

On the 355, I now prefer the stock tire sizes of 225/40-18 front and 265/40-18 rear ...... because they are lighter than the larger tires (reducing unsprung weight is good) ........ then search for sticky compounds for grip purposes .....

 

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295's on Challenge wheels.

Kai

 

Those look good and could even use a little spacer ... ........... from what I have seen, the 360 star wheels sit out a bit further than the 355 offset challenge wheels ..... I believe I have heard of some 348 guys having to machine some material off the 360 wheels to keep them from sticking out too far ......... though I am not certain if that was an early vs later 348 offset difference