[NX01ARCHER]

Hey guys and gals,

I just got myself a shiny new 2021 LT1. And while the all seasons are great at regular driving (even with all the crazy snow we've had in Chicago). They definitely make it hard to grip when you want to have fun with the car. I've been toying with the idea of getting some summer only tires to enjoy during the warmer weather. I am fairly new to the car scene however and have some rather newbie sounding questions.

If I want to run two sets of tires do I need another set of wheels as well or can I just have a shop swap the rubber on the stock rims?

If I can keep the stock rims whats the widest tire size I can put on them? I have the "carbon flash painted 20" rims"

And finally why does it seem like every tire shop online either doesn't have 2021 as an option yet and if they do doesn't have the lt1 as an option for the camaro?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

[seethruya]

Originally Posted by NX01ARCHER

Hey guys and gals,

I just got myself a shiny new 2021 LT1. And while the all seasons are great at regular driving (even with all the crazy snow we've had in Chicago). They definitely make it hard to grip when you want to have fun with the car. I've been toying with the idea of getting some summer only tires to enjoy during the warmer weather. I am fairly new to the car scene however and have some rather newbie sounding questions.

If I want to run two sets of tires do I need another set of wheels as well or can I just have a shop swap the rubber on the stock rims?

If I can keep the stock rims whats the widest tire size I can put on them? I have the "carbon flash painted 20" rims"

And finally why does it seem like every tire shop online either doesn't have 2021 as an option yet and if they do doesn't have the lt1 as an option for the camaro?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Your only option is purchasing aftermarket rims (20x11 in the rear) and going at least 295-305 in the rear. The stock 245s are one of the better all seasons but they’re not performance tires. They’re fine if you never push your car but if you do, they’re hopeless. In everyday driving, I could inadvertently spin the tires with a half throttle acceleration.

All the stock rims available with the LT1 are worthless if you’re looking for performance as they’re all 20x8.5. The widest tire you can fit on 20x8.5 rim are 255’s. 255’s are simply not enough tire for 455 ft/lb’s of torque, regardless if they’re performance or not.

[WldchrySS]

You can go to an SS set up or an SS 1le and be just fine. They are a staggered set up .
I have z28 replica rims on mine.

[DorsoDuroJohn]

Being in Chicago, me being in MPLS, you should be looking into what Blizzaks cost to drop onto your stock wheels next fall, and shopping for SS or 1LE setup for summer like I am currently. Going to be an expensive year, BUT, two sets of rims and tires specifically adapted to the seasons I drive in. Both sets will last years so it's not like you have to do it again every year.
The only dinking around is swapping them in your garage winter and spring, plus maybe driving to the dealer to have the TPMS reprogrammed.
But having the TPMS reprogrammed is usually a drop into the dealer or discount tire for 10 minutes. You don't have to wait hours each season for them to remount wheels.

come to think of it, don't go to the dealer for wheels or tires.

[WldchrySS]

That was the reason I bought extra rims and tires. All seasons on the stock rims and summer only on z rims and I went wider on the aftermarket rims more bite. Me personally I couldn’t less about rotating rims although I do . Which is why I got life time rotation and alignment on my aftermarket tires .I knew I was going to have the alignment checked twice a year.

[WldchrySS]

Also pick up a tpms scannner it will make tire swaps easier no running anywhere. All in I spent around 3 grand for tires, rims , tpms sensors and scan tool.

[DorsoDuroJohn]

oh cool, can you provide the details on the scan tool? I didn't realize I could do that myself.

[WldchrySS]

I don’t have a link for it. I did a search on this forum and found a link to Amazon which had it. Cost 10 bucks. Sorry buddy I’m still learning:-)

[NotFast]

I've got a new LT1 here in Chicago area too. Yes, the stock tires suck. However, they're also runflats - so unless you have roadside assistance or plan to purchase a compressor and can of fix-a-flat: they are a decent choice.

You do have plenty of options:

1. Upsize tires on existing wheels --- I read you can go up 1 size to 255 width on your current wheels. You can pick all seasons (most of them will be much better than the stock tires), or could get summer tires. If you pick summer, then you would need to switch back to some all-seasons when it's cold and snowy. You do NOT want summer performance tires on your car in the winter in Chicago (I've tried and it was dangerous and dumb).

2. Buy a second set of wheels and summer tires and alternate between them. If you're searching for wheels, I've noticed that sites either don't list the 2021 or don't list the LT1 -- but you can pick 1SS as the car setup is functionally the same.
Most sites will want to pick 'staggered' tires for you - this means the fronts are narrower/wheels are smaller in the front. With enough research, you can also find same-size matching front/rear wheels (called a 'square' setup). The advantage of a square setup is that you can rotate the front tires to the back and increase the life of your tires. RWD cars tend to wear their rear tires much quicker than the fronts. Obviously you'll need a garage or someplace to store whatever wheels/tires aren't on your car.

But as mentioned, unless you want to see a tire pressure warning every time you're driving the car then you will need to buy TPMS sensors (@ $50/wheel) and a TPMS learn tool (find on Amazon, or places like The Tire Rack sell them too).

I feel like I'm only scratching the surface here, but this should be a good start. I decided to buy a second set of 'square' wheels and summer tires. I can't wait to get them on my car, but the weather needs to warm up a lot before I do that.


I'm local and we can chat if you'd like, or you can check out my new wheels when they go onto the car.

[NX01ARCHER]

Originally Posted by NotFast

I've got a new LT1 here in Chicago area too. Yes, the stock tires suck. However, they're also runflats - so unless you have roadside assistance or plan to purchase a compressor and can of fix-a-flat: they are a decent choice.

You do have plenty of options:

1. Upsize tires on existing wheels --- I read you can go up 1 size to 255 width on your current wheels. You can pick all seasons (most of them will be much better than the stock tires), or could get summer tires. If you pick summer, then you would need to switch back to some all-seasons when it's cold and snowy. You do NOT want summer performance tires on your car in the winter in Chicago (I've tried and it was dangerous and dumb).

2. Buy a second set of wheels and summer tires and alternate between them. If you're searching for wheels, I've noticed that sites either don't list the 2021 or don't list the LT1 -- but you can pick 1SS as the car setup is functionally the same.
Most sites will want to pick 'staggered' tires for you - this means the fronts are narrower/wheels are smaller in the front. With enough research, you can also find same-size matching front/rear wheels (called a 'square' setup). The advantage of a square setup is that you can rotate the front tires to the back and increase the life of your tires. RWD cars tend to wear their rear tires much quicker than the fronts. Obviously you'll need a garage or someplace to store whatever wheels/tires aren't on your car.

But as mentioned, unless you want to see a tire pressure warning every time you're driving the car then you will need to buy TPMS sensors (@ $50/wheel) and a TPMS learn tool (find on Amazon, or places like The Tire Rack sell them too).

I feel like I'm only scratching the surface here, but this should be a good start. I decided to buy a second set of 'square' wheels and summer tires. I can't wait to get them on my car, but the weather needs to warm up a lot before I do that.


I'm local and we can chat if you'd like, or you can check out my new wheels when they go onto the car.

First off thanks to everyone who responded all this info has been super helpful!

I am probably gonna look into a staggered setup with new rims but might be a bit over what I am looking to spend right now unfortunately. Also thanks for pointing out the TPMS issue I didn't even think of that.

[Crushin_LT1]

Would a square setup of all seasons in the Ss rear size be sufficient grip? I have zero plans to track it.

[NX01ARCHER]

Originally Posted by Crushin_LT1

Would a square setup of all seasons in the Ss rear size be sufficient grip? I have zero plans to track it.

I would be curious about this too! There doesn't seem to be a huge price difference on the Michelin Sport 4S between 245ish to 275 ish

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by Crushin_LT1

Would a square setup of all seasons in the Ss rear size be sufficient grip? I have zero plans to track it.

Originally Posted by NX01ARCHER

I would be curious about this too! There doesn't seem to be a huge price difference on the Michelin Sport 4S between 245ish to 275 ish

Aren't your wheels 8.5" all around? If yes, 275 will to be too wide, using softer sidewall tires such as the PS4S will probably result in sloppy steering response, plus they'll look bad, too. Not saying a square setup can't be good, but AFAIK it's typically chosen for cost savings through front-to-back tire rotation.

Here's a (slightly conservative, but still practical) wheel/tire sizing guide:

Wheel and Tire Widths
Rim     Min        Ideal       Max
5.0     155     165 or 175     185
5.5     165     175 or 185     195
6.0     175     185 or 195     205
6.5     185     195 or 205     215
7.0     195     205 or 215     225
7.5     205     215 or 225     235
8.0     215     225 or 235     245
8.5     225     235 or 245     255
9.0     235     245 or 255     265
9.5     245     255 or 265     275
10.0    255     265 or 275     285
10.5    265     275 or 285     295
11.0    275     285 or 295     305
11.5    285     295 or 305     315
12.0    295     305 or 315     325
12.5    305     315 or 325     335

[NX01ARCHER]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

Aren't your wheels 8.5" all around? If yes, 275 will to be too wide, using softer sidewall tires such as the PS4S will probably result in sloppy steering response, plus they'll look bad, too. Not saying a square setup can't be good, but AFAIK it's typically chosen for cost savings through front-to-back tire rotation.

Here's a (slightly conservative, but still practical) wheel/tire sizing guide:

Wheel and Tire Widths
Rim     Min        Ideal       Max
5.0     155     165 or 175     185
5.5     165     175 or 185     195
6.0     175     185 or 195     205
6.5     185     195 or 205     215
7.0     195     205 or 215     225
7.5     205     215 or 225     235
8.0     215     225 or 235     245
8.5     225     235 or 245     255
9.0     235     245 or 255     265
9.5     245     255 or 265     275
10.0    255     265 or 275     285
10.5    265     275 or 285     295
11.0    275     285 or 295     305
11.5    285     295 or 305     315
12.0    295     305 or 315     325
12.5    305     315 or 325     335

I meant getting new wheels and tires to support the 275s in a square setup. I meant would it be better to get wheels and do a 245/255 up front with 275/285 in the back or should I get wheels to do 275/285 all around?