360 Spider Tire Options

Welcome - your owners handbook shows the brands of tires originally fitted and/or there are quite regular threads here such as this one http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430-sponsored-yellow-compass-group/517612-new-tires.html - its always worth a search as many questions have been asked before

One recent fun thread is this http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430-sponsored-yellow-compass-group/527729-dumb%2A%2A%2A-things-360-newbies-have-done-learn-my-mistakes-thread.html

 

Forget what the car came with originally. It's yesterdays news - so are the Pirellis. There are great options out there that are better than OE. A very popular tyre in OE size is the Bridgestone RE-11. If you don't mind going wider in the front, there are some other options as well. 225/45R18-275/40R18 is also a popular size and is available from Michelin in the Pilot Supersport range which is probably the best high performance street tyre out there currently. This size is also available in the Bridgestone RE-11. The wider fronts dials back some of the understeer the car has from the factory. If your car is equipped with the Challenge wheels, the RE-11 is also available in 235/40R18-275/40R18. This size requires 8" wide rims in the front though, so the 235 will not fit the OE 7.5" wide fronts.

 

I believe some members have installed 235/40 in the front with no issues, I do have 235/40 and 275/40 but my fronts wheels are 8" just like you mentioned


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

No doubt they can be installed, however they are not designed to fit 7.5" rims. On a performance car, I'd never mount a too wide tyre. If the tyre rolls on the rim the air escapes in an instant, and the tyre can leave the rim. Imagine that in a high speed turn.

 

That is a good point.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

The tyre will fit the rim no problem. 225/45R18 is made to fit rims from 7" to 8.5" wide. As for fender clearance there's not a straight forward answer. One of the known issues with 360's are front fender tyre rub - WITH OE TYRES. However, this is not a problem on all 360's. When I had mine, I ran that size no problem on both 7.5" and 8" wide fronts. Some have issues with OE tyres when they turn to full lock and go over a curb etc. Generally speaking, most seem to run this size without issues. You can of course have a look on your car and see if there's any signs of rubbing with OE tyres. If there is, you need to have your fenders rolled no matter what. With rolled fenders, they will fit no problem. Rolling front fenders on 360's is common, so don't let that scare you. In any case, it's not a huge difference overall.

It can also depend on which make and model of tyre you choose. The Michelin runs a narrower tread for its size. This is not a bad thing, it's just part of a different tyre design. The number on the side of a tyre does not tell anything about a tyres specific size, it only puts a tyre in a class of sizes so to speak. Below I've listed some specs that makes it easy to see what I mean.

Bridgesont RE-11 215/45R18
Section width. 8.6" on a 7.5" rim
Tread width. 7.7"
Diameter 25.7"

Bridgestone RE-11 225/45R18
Section width. 8.9" on a 7.5" rim
Tread width. 8"
Diameter 25.9"

Michelin Pilot Supersport 225/45R18
Section width. 8.9" on a 7.5" wide rim
Tread width. 7.6"
Diameter. 25.9"

By comparison this is the spec for one of the OE options. The Bridgestone S-02A in 215/45R18.

Section width. 8.8" on a 7.5" wide rim
Tread width. 6.6"
Diameter. 25.7"

As you can see, that has a section width almost as wide as the 225 section Michelin and Bridgestone RE-11 tyres. It has however, a very narrow tread. This was due in mart to the wedge shaped tread pattern of the S-02A.

At the end of the day, you're most likely fine with the 225 - especially the Michelin. However, due to the nature of what I like to call the Ferrari variable, you may rub. But then again, you may do this with any tyre. A fender roll is easily done at a good shop and will solve all issues. I wish there was a straight answer, but there is not. Most are ok with 225's. a few are not.

Good luck

 

You're welcome. Post back when you get the tyres on with some pics and your experience with the tyres. That way there's some great info for future members.

Happy motoring

 

My two cents worth ... Give consideration to Contintental ExtremeContact tires. Excellent tires and at a a very attractive price point compared to many popular alternative brands. You can easily get a full set of four tires for the 360 for under $800

Steve

 

Recently I put MPSS - 235/40/18 & 275/40/18 on a set of standard modular wheels and all is working fine. I had the front fenders rolled awhile back because of tire rubbing from the previous owner and also when I backed out of my garage. Nothing rubbing now. BTW I had a set of Conti Extremes on a MB CL600 and they were great.