There's nothing like lining up at the drag strip, hitting the perfect launch, or cornering at your favorite track in your Chevrolet Camaro. Even if you don't plan on doing any racing, having the right tires and tire size is essential if you want to get the most out of your vehicle. Tires play an important role in ensuring that the power from your engine reaches the pavement. Without the right tires, you'll end up sliding around or losing precious time at the starting line.
That said, finding the right tire and tire size can be complicated. For example, a handful of numbers and letters on the sidewall might cause confusion, and it's essential to know the difference between a slick tire and a radial tire. Thankfully, we're here to help with our Chevrolet Camaro tire size guide.
How to Size a Chevy Camaro for Tires
When you want to size a Chevy Camaro for tires, you need to start by reading the sidewall. The sidewall contains information about the current tire size on your vehicle. Whether you want to increase the size of your tires or replace the factory tires on your Camaro, knowing how to read a sidewall is the first step you need to follow.
The first number on the sidewall represents how wide the tire is across the tread, in millimeters, to help you determine wheel spacing and rim width. The second number is the aspect ratio of the tire, which gives you the height of the tire profile. Finally, the last number on the sidewall represents the wheel diameter in inches. This is useful for finding rims and determining the wheel size that will fit.
It's also important to note that the tire size on the front and rear wheels might differ. For example, the 2015 Camaro SS tire size is P275/40R20 on the rear of the P245/45R/20 on the front. You can also check your Camaro's owner's manual for more information about tire size.
Factory Chevrolet Camaro Tire Sizes 1967-2024
1967-1970
Base - 195/75R14
SS, Z/28, and RS - 195/75/R14 or 205/70R14
1971-1981
Base, RS, SS, and Z/28 - 205/75R14 or 235/60R15
1982-1984
Base - 205/75R14, 215/65R15, 235/60R15
1985-1989
Base and convertible- 205/75/R14, 215/65R15, or 235/60R15
IROC/IROC-Z - 245/50R16
1990
Base and IROC/IROC-Z - 205/75/R14, 215/65R15, or 235/60R15
1991-1992
Base, RS, and Z/28 - 215/65R15, 235/55R16, or 245/50R16
1993
Base - 215/60R16 or 235/55R16
Z28 - 235/55R16 or 245/50R16
1994-1995
Base & Convertible - 215/60R16 or 235/55R16
Z28 & Z28 Convertible - 235/55R16 or 245/50R16
1996-1997
Base & Convertible - 215/60R16 or 235/55R16
Z28, Z28 Convertible, and SS - 235/55R16 or 245/50R16
1998-2001
Base & Convertible - 215/60R16 or 235/55R16
Z28 & Z28 Convertible - 235/55R16 or 245/50R16
SS & SS Convertible - 275/40R17
2002
Base & Convertible - 235/55R16
Z28 & Z28 Convertible - 245/50R16
SS & SS Convertible - 275/40R17
2010-2011
LS - 245/55R18 or Front 245/40R21 and Rear 275/35R21
LT - 245/55R18 or 245/50R19, or Front 245/40R21 and Rear 275/35R21
LT / RS, SS, and SS / RS -Front 245/45R20 and Rear 275/40R20 or Front 245/40R21 and Rear 275/35R21
2012-2013
LS - 245/55R18 or Front 245/40R21 and Rear 275/35R21
LT - 245/55R18 or 245/50R19, or Front 245/40R21 and Rear 275/35R21
LT / RS, SS, and SS / RS -Front 245/45R20 and Rear 275/40R20 or Front 245/40R21 and Rear 275/35R21
ZL1 - Front 285/35R20 and Rear 305/35R20
2014-2015
LS - 245/55R18 or Front 245/40R21 and Rear 275/35R21
LT - 245/55R18 or 245/50R19, or Front 245/40R21 and Rear 275/35R21
LT / RS, SS, and SS / RS -Front 245/45R20 and Rear 275/40R20 or Front 245/40R21 and Rear 275/35R21
ZL1 - Front 285/35R20 and Rear 305/35R20
SS 1LE - 285/35R20
Z/28 - 305/30R19
2016
LT and LT/RS - 245/50R18 or 245/40R20
SS - Front 245/40R20 and Rear 275/35R20
2017
LS and LT - 245/50R18 or 245/40R20
LS 1LE and SS - Front 245/40R20 and Rear 275/35R20
LS/RS and LT/RS - 245/40R20
SS 1LE and ZL1 - Front 285/30R20 and Rear 305/30R20
2018
LS and LT - 245/50R18 or 245/40R20
LS 1LE and SS - Front 245/40R20 and Rear 275/35R20
LS/RS and LT/RS - 245/40R20
SS 1LE and ZL1 - Front 285/30R20 and Rear 305/30R20
ZL1 1LE - Front 305/30R19 and Rear 325/30R19
2019
LS - 245/50R18
LT - 245/50R18 or 245/40R20
SS and LT 1LE Track Package - Front 245/40R20 and Rear 275/35R20
LT/RS - 245/40R20
ZL1 and SS 1LE Track Package - Front 285/30R20 and Rear 305/30R20
ZL1 1LE Extreme Track Package - Front 305/30R19 and Rear 325/30R19
2020-2022
LS - 245/50R18
LT - 245/50R18 or 245/40R20
SS and LT 1LE Track Package - Front 245/40R20 and Rear 275/35R20
LT/RS and LT1 - 245/40R20
ZL1 and SS 1LE Track Package - Front 285/30R20 and Rear 305/30R20
ZL1 1LE Extreme Track Package - Front 305/30R19 and Rear 325/30R19
2023
LS - 245/50R18
LT - 245/50R18 or 245/40R20
SS - Front 245/40R20 and Rear 275/35R20
LT/RS and LT1 - 245/40R20
ZL1 and SS 1LE Track Package - Front 285/30R20 and Rear 305/30R20
ZL1 1LE Extreme Track Package - Front 305/30R19 and Rear 325/30R19
2024
LT - 245/40R20 or 245/50R18
LT1 - 245/40R20
SS - Front 245/40R20 and Rear 275/35R20
SS With 1LE Package and ZL1 - Front 285/30R20 and Rear 305/30R20
ZL1 With 1LE Package - Front 305/30R19 and Rear 325/30R19
Best Tires for a Chevy Camaro
The best tires for a Chevrolet Camaro vary depending on how you plan on driving. For example, you might want a slick tire only meant for drag racing (and not even street-legal) if you're looking for straight-line traction and speed. On the other hand, radial tires are better for street and daily-driven use. All-season tires are excellent for driving in the rain or wintery conditions, whereas summer tires are only meant for warm summer pavement.
Consider some examples of the best tires for a Chevy Camaro below.
1. Toyo Tires Proxes Sport Max Performance Summer Tires
Toyo Tires produces a wide range of high-performance tires, and the Proxes Sport Max Performance Summer Tire is no exception. This tire has an improved rib design for the best possible contact with the road and a dynamic taper tread that improves handling. These Toyo tires also have a silica compound that's perfect for better traction in wet conditions. Moreover, these tires work perfectly for the rear wheels on most late-model Camaro models.
2. Mickey Thompson ET Street Radial Pro Drag Tires
Mickey Thompson has been around since 1963 and is known for making premium tires for muscle cars and other racing vehicles. These tires also feature a tubeless construction that provides a leak-free seal, so you don't have to worry about dealing with tubes. Moreover, you can find these tires in most sizes and should fit most Chevy Camaro models. The last thing to note is that these tires are approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT), so you can take them out on the street and not just on the track.
3. JEGS “Big Meats”
Want to get new rims and tires in one place? JEGS has a “BIG MEATS” package that offers new rims and tires for your Chevy Camaro. Size options are available for 1993 to 2015 Chevy Camaro Models, and there are multiple color options, including bronze, silver, and black. The BIG MEATS kit is also a premium kit. You get to pair Mickey Thompson tires with Race Star 92 Series wheels, which give you excellent traction, durability, and lightweight.
When to Replace Chevy Camaro Tires
You'll know it's time to replace your Chevrolet Camaro tires once you notice the signs and symptoms of worn-down tires. The first indication of worn-down tires is a lack of traction in poor weather conditions. If it's snowing or raining, and your vehicle isn't handling like it used to, it's time to change your tires. You can also check your tire's tread to ensure you have more than 2/32 of an inch of tread depth. Your tires need to be replaced once you fall within this range or less.
A good rule of thumb is that you should replace your tires every 25,000 to 50,000 miles on a vehicle like a Chevy Camaro. That number can decrease if you race often or increase if most of your miles are highway miles. If you don't drive often, you still have to replace your tires every six years from the manufacturing date.
It's also important to note that because Chevrolet Camaros are rear-wheel drive vehicles, the rear wheels will wear unevenly if they are not rotated. To avoid uneven wear, this should be done every 5,000 to 7,500 miles.
How to Replace Chevy Camaro Tires
Replacing Chevy Camaro tires is the same process as replacing the tires on any other vehicle. If you want to remove an old tire and install a new one, you'll need the right tools and about an hour or two of your time. Even if you've never done this before, it's not a hard process, even if you're not a seasoned DIYer.
Before you get started, you should have a tire iron or tire changing machine, a bead breaker, a lug wrench, and a jack if you have the space. Also, make sure you have the right tires before getting started.
First, secure the vehicle by placing it in park or activating the parking brake if you drive a manual transmission Camaro. Then, place your jack underneath the vehicle at the jack point (check the owner's manual for the right location) and raise the vehicle.
Once the vehicle is on the jack, you can loosen the lug nuts with your lug wrench and remove the wheels. Then, follow the ten steps below to change the tire.
- Remove the valve stem to deflate the tire. Then, use a tire pressure tool to push into the stem to let the air out.
- Use the bead breaker tool to break the seal between the rim and the tire's bead.
- Use a tire iron or changing machine to remove the tire from the wheel on one side.
- Remove the tire from the other side of the rim using the same tools; it should be easier the second time.
- Make sure the rim and tire are clean.
- Install the new tire by stretching it over one side of the rim.
- Choose a starting point and work the tire onto the wheel.
- Work the bead over the rim until the seal is secure.
- Inflate the tire using an air compressor.
- Mount the wheel back on your vehicle.
Ensure you tighten the lug nuts and inflate the tire to the manufacturer's recommended PSI.
Tires and More at JEGS
Whether you need new tires, wheels, or racing suspension for your Camaro, we’re here for you. At JEGS, we stock what you need to keep your car in great shape all the time, and our experts are here to help with trusted advice.
