Hi, I'm thinking of putting some replacement wheels on my 550 and have settled on a lovely set of 19's. Can anyone comment on whether I run any risk of ruining my ride quality or, in fact, the handling characteristics of the 550? I do mainly fast road but do about 5 trackdays a year. I plan on using Michelin Pilot Sports. Help would be most appreciated. CK.
...is almost always increased by going to larger diameter rims/lower profile tires (assuming you aim for the same or nearly the same tire diameter/circumference). How much depends on a number of factors, including the relative profile (and thus sidewall compliance) change, tire construction, and inflation pressures. It's possible you may not even notice the difference, but a significant change--say from 17"/50 series tires to 19"/30 series tires--may very well make for a noticeably harsher ride. I know from personal experience that you can make matters even worse by simultaneously adding stiffer springs &/or shocks; I managed to pretty much destroy the ride quality on an NSX this way--albeit with a significant improvement in handling. Another potential drawback is that it's difficult to make significant increases in tire/wheel size without increasing the total weight of the tire and wheel combination. Again, the increase in unsprung weight, while not desireable, is unlikely to be noticed in normal driving, even including a few track days.
The new 575 H GTC has got 19" wheels with specially developed P-Zero Corsas. I haven't seen the tyre specs, but they should go onto the 550 pretty nicely. Attached is a close-up, but you can't make out the details. I'd stay away from the Michelins as they don't come in the correct load rating for the 550. Check with your insurance company and state laws before going down that road as the tyres may make your insurance void and car unroadworthy. This is the case in many jurisdictions around the world. Go to your Ferrari dealer and get the specs for the Corsas and see if they're compatible with your 550. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Those wheels are simply awesome. Any parts number for them? What is the pricing? What are the tire widths front and back?
My new 575 rides on 19" rims with those same tires. It rides and handles great in non sport mode it rides smooth as can be. If you look at the brochure for the 575 it tells you that the 19" are a handling upgrade. You for it. It makes the car look fantastic
