Ferrari 288 GTO Tyres
Ferrari 288 GTO Tyres
Ferrari 288 GTO 1984–1987
- When the Ferrari 288GTO came out it fitted Goodyear NCT Gatorback tyres which are no longer made.
- Today we would suggest fitting 225/50YR16 Pirelli P-Zero directional front tyres and 255/50 YR 16 Pirelli P-Zero Asimmetrico on the rear.
- There is also the excellent option of the 225/50 R 16 Michelin Pilot Sport and the 255/50 YR 16 Michelin Pilot Sport as another option.
- Tyres with a profile below 70% (e.g 225/50YR16 Pirelli P-Zero) cannot fit innertubes.
- Original tyre pressures for the Ferrari 288GTO were 34psi front and 38psi rear. Click here for a look at a period tyre pressure guide, that includes some other technical information.
Ferrari 288 GTO Recommended Tyres
Ferrari 288 GTO Tyres and Tyre Pressure
History of the Ferrari 288 GTO
Contrary to popular belief, the Ferrari GTO was not born to participate in the new 1982 Group B Circuit Race series; Enzo Ferrari did not have total control of the Road Car division, which was overseen at the time by General Director Eugenio Alzati and FIAT MD (CEO) Vittorio Ghidella. In 1983, Mr. Ferrari saw, based on conversations with close friends and clients, that road vehicle sales were declining. This was thought to be due to increased competition from other manufacturers and what Mr. Ferrari called the "excessive gentrification" of the Ferrari model portfolio.
The GTO had bulging fender flares, bigger front/rear spoilers, huge exterior mirrors, and four driving lights on the outer edges of the grille. Slanted air vents were retained from the original 250 GTO and installed in the GTO's rear fenders to cool the brakes, as was the design of the rear wing, which was derived from the original 250 GTO wing. The body panels on the GTO were likewise broader than those on the 308 because they had to cover significantly bigger Goodyear tyres placed on race wheels.
The GTO was derived from the rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2.9 L V8 308 GTB. The "288" alludes to the GTO's 2.8-litre DOHC 4 valves per cylinder V8 engine, which was de-bored by 1 mm (0.04 in) and had twin turbochargers, Behr air-to-air intercoolers, Weber-Marelli fuel injection, and a compression ratio of 7.6:1. The 2.85-litre engine capacity was determined by the FIA's rule that the capacity of a turbocharged engine be increased by 1.4. This gave the GTO an equivalent engine size of 3,997 cc, narrowly under the Group B restriction of 4.0 litres.
Ferrari 288 GTO Wheels and 225/50YR16 Pirelli P-Zero Tyres
Original Ferrari 288 GTO Tyres
A: When the 288GTO left Modena, Ferrari fitted it with 255/50R16 Goodyear NCT tyres on the rear and 225/50R16 Goodyear NCT on the front. These original Ferrari 288GTO tyres also had the nickname Goodyear Gator Back. Currently, Goodyear is not making any classic car tyres. In 1986, Pirelli developed the P-Zero system, with directional tyres for the front and asymmetric tyres for the rear. Pirelli currently makes these tyres for the 288GTO and the Testarossa.
A: In the day, Ferrari put 34 psi in the front 8”X16 wheels with 225/50VR16 Goodyear Gatorback and 38 psi in the 9” rear wheels with 255/50VR16 Goodyear tyres. Good year no longer make these tyres. Fortunately, Pirelli makes the correct tyres in their P-Zero system. Pirelli’s period recommended tyre pressures for the 288 GTO were also 34 psi front and 38 psi rear.
