Hello All, my first post here! My plan is to buy a 599 GTB and modify it for improved handling, performance and sound, but also to improve appearance when possible. The things I have decided on doing or investigating this far is: * KW V3 coilovers * Possibly: thicker swaybars * 6-1 equal length headers * Race cats * X-pipe with no mufflers * New rims * Possibly: custom made rear diffusor as on the 599XX, for appearance and increased downforce * Possibly: modified front fender with splitter and winglets, for increased downforce * Possibly: side splitters, for appearance and increased downforce * ... (the list will grow over time) My question now is how wide tires is will be possible to run? I plan on sticking to about the same ET on the rims, not to mess with suspension geometry. I will however lower the car moderately with the coilovers, so there will be some more camber. But that is maybe possible to adjust away on the 599? I think I will stick to 20" wheels front and back. The 315/35 20" look I have seen on the GTO looks good. But maybe one can go up to 21" in the rear? If that would be ok from a performance perspective, and not just looks. Anything that worsens performance is banned in this project
Hi 285/30 and 315/35 in 20" is a very good (the best ?) combination, used also on the GTO. Don't forget the weight of the wheels ! So GTO wheels should be the best choice in combination in size, weight, performance, strength and also in look. I think you know, i have a set for sale. Daniel
Don't go with an X pipe, just straight pipes: Fabspeed or Tubi. Yes, swaybars are an easy upgrade. If you change the shocks you lose the manettino settings which some say are worth the change. Fabio's 6-1 headers are the best. I'm running Tubi mufflers with Fabspeed straight pipes and I love the sound.
Here is what 295/30's can look like on back. 21's back, 20's front. Had I known, I would have gone 315/35 on back instead. I might still do spacers to push them out just a little.
It looks good with 21" in the back. Is the car lowered? It looks like it to me. What is the width and ET of your rims?
With a 599 you can go to at least a 9.0 J x 21 rim with a 245/30 ZR 21 tire in front and in the rear a 12.0 J x 21 rim with a 345/25 ZR 21 tire. My source is a press release issued back in the day by the German aero kit and wheel manufacturer Hamann Motorsport. Hamann issued this press release in connection with its "Edition Race" forged 3-piece rims. I am attaching a few photos from around the web showing 599s running the Edition Race rims: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login I will go one step further and say that the 599 can accommodate one size larger: a 9.5 J x 21 + 255/30 ZR 21 in front and a 12.5 J x 21 + 355/25 ZR 21 in the rear. My first reason for this assertion is the fact that the '05 612 Scaglietti that I bought in January came with a set of Hamann Edition Race rims and Michelin Pilot Sports in these sizes. Here is a picture of my 612 with this combo installed, as well as a photo of the rims and tires after I removed them from my car: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login The reason I removed the Hamann/Michelin setup from my 612 is that, when going fast on a back road and traversing a dip sufficient to cause both rears to jounce simultaneously, there would be contact between the tires and the wheel wells. Here are some pictures of the right rear, showing the point of contact at the wheel opening and at the front of the inner fender: View attachment 3443197 Image Unavailable, Please Login Nothing major, but enough to be annoying. I could probably clearance the latter rub with a mallet and the former by rolling the fender lips, but rolling a fender risks damage to the paint, a risk I didn't want to take. The second reason for my assertion that a 599 can accommodate a 9.5 J x 21 + 255/30 ZR 21 in front and a 12.5 J x 21 + 355/25 ZR 21 in the rear is an October 2013 Ferrarichat post I recently came across. I am 99.9% certain depicts my own car, nine years ago. I mean, how many Argento Nurburgring 612s could ther be running 21" Hamann Edition Race rims? Anyway, here is a screen cap of the Ferrarichat post: Image Unavailable, Please Login As can be seen, this previous owner describes this setup as "21" hamann package for 599. 12.5" in rear, meaty." In other words, the 255/30 ZR 21 fronts and 12.5 J x 21 + 355/25 ZR 21 rears that I was running on my 612 were actually intended for the 599.
Wow @180 Out, thank you for taking the time to put that info together. Very valuable for me going forward! Best Regards, Fredric
