Ferrari 456 GTA Tires
Ferrari 456 GTA was a late-1990s grand touring coupe built for long-distance speed, refinement, and the unmistakable character of a front-engine V12 Ferrari. Produced here for 1997 through 1998, Ferrari 456 GTA belongs to an era when high-performance road cars relied on increasingly specialized low-profile radial tires and staggered fitments to balance steering precision with rear traction. Tire selection is not trivial because Ferrari 456 GTA uses two different sizes at the same time rather than one universal fitment, with a narrower front and wider rear setup. Before choosing tires, confirm the car still carries the correct 17-inch wheels and verify which size belongs on the front axle and which belongs on the rear.
Ferrari 456 GTA Tire Size Guide
Ferrari 456 GTA uses 2 distinct tire sizes across the 1997 to 1998 production span. Both sizes are modern metric radial fitments built around 17-inch wheels, with a staggered arrangement that pairs one size at the front and a wider size at the rear. That means the key decision is not a year change, but making sure each axle receives the correct size for the car's intended handling balance.
255/45R17 is used on Ferrari 456 GTA models from 1997 through 1998 as the narrower member of the staggered tire pairing. The size code indicates a 255 millimeter section width, a 45-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 17-inch rim diameter. Choose this size when the car calls for the narrower axle fitment, and verify wheel width compatibility against the listed 17-inch products since available sidewall styles include blackwall, redline, and RWL.
285/40R17 is used on Ferrari 456 GTA models from 1997 through 1998 as the wider member of the staggered tire pairing. The size code indicates a 285 millimeter section width, a 40-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 17-inch rim diameter. Choose this size when the car calls for the wider axle fitment, and confirm that the wheel falls within the listed 9.5 to 11.0 inch rim-width range for proper support.
Ferrari 456 GTA Tires by Year
The year listing breaks Ferrari 456 GTA fitments out by model year so you can match the tire size to the specific car. Both 1997 and 1998 use the same two-size 17-inch staggered setup, so the main task is identifying which size belongs on each axle rather than sorting out a year-to-year wheel change.
1997 Ferrari 456 GTA
- 255/45R17
- 285/40R17
1998 Ferrari 456 GTA
- 255/45R17
- 285/40R17
Best Ferrari 456 GTA Tires for Sale
Available Ferrari 456 GTA tires span 3 brands and 5 products across 255/45R17 and 285/40R17 sizes. Blackwall, redline, and RWL options appear in the listed products, so confirm the correct size and 17-inch rim fitment before selecting.
255/45R17 Products
These are the available products for 255/45R17.
285/40R17 Products
These are the available products for 285/40R17.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQ below focuses on the staggered 17-inch fitment used by Ferrari 456 GTA, how to read the two metric radial sizes, and how to choose among the available brands, sidewall styles, and tire series.
Size Basics & Fitment
Ferrari 456 GTA uses two tire sizes for both 1997 and 1998: 255/45R17 and 285/40R17. Both are radial tires built for 17-inch wheels. The 255/45R17 products listed fit 17-inch rims with widths beginning around 8.0 inches, while the 285/40R17 product listed fits 17-inch rims from 9.5 to 11.0 inches wide.
Because Ferrari 456 GTA uses a staggered setup, the important point is not simply matching the year but confirming which axle takes which size on the actual car. Check the existing tire placard, wheel widths, and the tires currently mounted before replacing anything. On a grand touring Ferrari, preserving the intended front-to-rear size relationship matters for steering feel, balance, and rear grip.
On Ferrari 456 GTA, 255/45R17 is a metric radial size. The 255 is the nominal section width in millimeters, 45 is the aspect ratio showing the sidewall height as 45 percent of the width, R means radial construction, and 17 is the wheel diameter in inches. Every listed product in this size is built for a 17-inch rim.
That decoding helps you avoid one of the most common mistakes on later collector cars: matching only part of the size. A tire that shares the same rim diameter but changes the width or aspect ratio can alter stance, clearance, gearing feel, and handling balance. On Ferrari 456 GTA, keep the full size code intact unless a marque specialist has a clear reason for a different fitment.
A 1997 Ferrari 456 GTA has two tire sizes listed because the car uses a staggered fitment rather than four identical tires. The listed sizes are 255/45R17 and 285/40R17, and both share the same 17-inch rim diameter while differing in section width and aspect ratio. That points to an axle split rather than a wheel-diameter change.
When a Ferrari 456 GTA carries two sizes in the same year, the practical job is to identify which wheels are on the front and rear and confirm their widths. Do not assume that any 17-inch tire can be swapped position to position. The narrower and wider sizes serve different roles, so the car should be inspected as a complete set before replacing one pair or all four tires.
Buying the Right Tire
A 1998 Ferrari 456 GTA uses the same two listed sizes as the 1997 model year: 255/45R17 and 285/40R17. The first step is to confirm the wheel diameter and wheel width on the car, since both sizes fit 17-inch wheels but require different width ranges. The 255 size suits narrower wheels than the 285 size.
Start at the car, not the catalog. Read the size off the existing tires, measure or verify wheel widths, and make sure the front and rear positions have not been altered during prior service. If the car has aftermarket wheels, the width range becomes especially important. Matching the correct size to the correct axle is what keeps Ferrari 456 GTA driving as intended.
Ferrari 456 GTA tires are listed with blackwall, redline, and RWL sidewall styles. Blackwall appears in both 255/45R17 and 285/40R17 products, while the redline and raised white letter options appear in 255/45R17 through the Pro-Trac Street Pro III series. All of the listed options are radial tires built for 17-inch wheels.
For many owners, sidewall style is as much a visual decision as a fitment one. A blackwall generally preserves the understated late-1990s grand touring look, while redline or RWL adds a more customized appearance. On Ferrari 456 GTA, choose the sidewall style only after the size, wheel width, and intended axle position are confirmed, since appearance should never override the basic fitment requirements.
The listed Ferrari 456 GTA tires come from BFGoodrich, Nitto, and Pro-Trac. BFGoodrich appears in 255/45R17 with the g-Force Sport COMP-2, Nitto appears in both 255/45R17 and 285/40R17 with the NT555 G2, and Pro-Trac appears in 255/45R17 with Street Pro III products. All listed products are radial tires for 17-inch rims.
Brand choice matters most after the fitment basics are settled. A Ferrari 456 GTA owner should first identify the correct front and rear sizes, then compare the available series and sidewall appearance within those dimensions. If you want to keep one brand across both axles, pay attention to which sizes each brand actually offers, because the rear size has a narrower product selection than the front.
Ferrari 456 GTA products are listed in three tire series: g-Force Sport Comp 2, Nitto NT555 G2, and Street Pro III. All are radial 17-inch fitments, but they differ in brand family and in available sidewall presentation. Street Pro III is also the series tied to the redline and RWL options in the 255/45R17 size.
For a Ferrari 456 GTA owner, the practical difference is not a change in basic fitment but in the combination of brand, appearance, and size coverage. If visual originality or a custom look matters, compare the sidewall style options first. If you are trying to keep the same series family across the car, verify that the matching front and rear sizes are offered in the same line before finalizing a set.
Maintenance & Longevity
A Ferrari 456 GTA should be stored on clean, properly inflated tires in a cool, dry, dark space away from ozone sources such as electric motors, welders, and battery chargers. The car should sit on a flat surface, and long static periods are easier on the tires if the vehicle is moved slightly from time to time or supported in a way that avoids concentrated flat spotting.
Low-profile radial tires on a heavy grand touring car can develop temporary or lasting deformation if the car sits neglected for long periods. Keep inflation pressures checked during storage, avoid direct sunlight, and inspect the sidewalls before the car returns to use. Good storage habits are one of the simplest ways to protect both ride quality and the cosmetic condition of Ferrari 456 GTA tires.
Tires on a Ferrari 456 GTA should be inspected before any meaningful drive and at regular intervals even if the car covers very few miles. Look for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, punctures, and any signs that the tire has been rubbing the body or suspension. On a staggered setup, inspect front and rear pairs separately because they may wear differently.
Collector cars often age their tires out before they wear them out, so mileage alone is not a reliable guide. Make tire inspection part of every fluid check and seasonal recommissioning routine. If the steering feel changes, the car develops a vibration, or the tread wears unevenly, have Ferrari 456 GTA alignment and wheel condition evaluated promptly before continued road use.
Ferrari 456 GTA tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, deformation, impact damage, or persistent vibration makes them unfit for service, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector-car tires can appear presentable while losing the flexibility and structural integrity needed for safe road use. Any tire with visible sidewall deterioration or unexplained air loss deserves immediate attention.
A grand touring Ferrari can expose an aging tire quickly because speed capability and vehicle weight place real demands on the carcass. Check the age of every tire on the car, including one that may have been used little. Replacing a marginal set early is usually wiser than trying to stretch service life from tires that no longer match the performance and stability expected of Ferrari 456 GTA.
Restoration & Authenticity
Ferrari 456 GTA is listed here with two radial sizes used across 1997 and 1998: 255/45R17 and 285/40R17. The available products are all modern radial constructions on 17-inch rims, which aligns with the car's late-1990s high-performance grand touring character. Multiple brand and series options are available within that basic fitment pattern.
If originality matters, use the listed sizes as the starting point and then compare the car against factory literature, window sticker records, or marque-club references. Authenticity on a Ferrari 456 GTA is usually tied more closely to the correct staggered dimensions and overall appearance than to any one currently available replacement brand. The wheel finish, tire profile, and sidewall look should all be considered together.
Correct tire fitment can affect how a Ferrari 456 GTA is perceived in both market and judging contexts. A car wearing the proper 255/45R17 and 285/40R17 staggered combination on 17-inch wheels presents more convincingly than one wearing mismatched dimensions or obviously incorrect proportions. Fitment errors also tend to raise questions about how carefully the car has been maintained overall.
For an owner focused on preservation, the goal is to keep the car visually and mechanically coherent. That means matching the proper front and rear sizes, selecting a sidewall style that suits the era, and avoiding improvised substitutions that change the car's stance. Ferrari specialists and marque organizations remain the best reference points when a Ferrari 456 GTA is being prepared for serious judging or resale presentation.
Ferrari 456 GTA tires are available here in blackwall, redline, and RWL sidewall styles. Blackwall appears in both listed sizes, while redline and raised white letter options are offered in the 255/45R17 size. For a late-1990s Ferrari grand tourer, blackwall is generally the most restrained and era-consistent appearance among the listed choices.
A restoration-minded owner should think about how the tire sidewall looks against the car's original character rather than choosing on novelty alone. Blackwall usually preserves the clean OEM-style presentation expected on Ferrari 456 GTA, while redline or RWL pushes the car toward a more customized visual statement. If the goal is authenticity, choose the sidewall style that best matches the car's original delivery appearance and current judging standard.
Safety & Road Use
The listed Ferrari 456 GTA tires are modern radial designs in the correct 17-inch size family for the car's 1997-1998 fitment pattern, which makes them far more suitable for public-road use than aged or improvised replacements. Safety still depends on more than size alone: condition, age, inflation, wheel width, alignment, and proper front-to-rear placement all matter.
Before regular road use, make sure Ferrari 456 GTA has a matched and healthy set with no cracking, impact damage, or unusual wear. Public-road driving is reasonable only when the tires are in sound condition and the rest of the car is equally ready. A V12 grand tourer can reach speeds and loads that quickly expose weak tires, so careful inspection should come before enthusiasm.
Before driving a Ferrari 456 GTA, check tire pressures, tread and sidewall condition, wheel and valve-stem integrity, and whether the correct 255/45R17 and 285/40R17 sizes are mounted in the proper positions. Also look for signs of flat spotting after storage and any unusual bulges or vibration that suggest internal damage. Because the car uses a staggered setup, front and rear should never be treated as interchangeable.
That pre-drive routine should be paired with a broader mechanical review on any collector Ferrari that sits for long intervals. If the steering feels vague, the car pulls, or a vibration develops, stop and investigate before continuing. A careful inspection routine helps Ferrari 456 GTA deliver the stable, confident road manners its chassis was designed to provide.
A Ferrari 456 GTA should only be driven at speeds appropriate to the actual condition, age, and specification of the tires currently fitted, not simply the car's performance potential. The listed replacement products include modern radial tires with performance-oriented sizing, but any collector car tire must be treated according to its real age, inflation state, and overall health. Speed should always follow tire condition first.
In practical terms, build speed gradually after inspection and avoid sustained high-speed use on tires of uncertain age or history. A Ferrari 456 GTA can mask tire problems until the loads rise, so conservative driving is wise whenever a set is newly installed, freshly recommissioned, or only lightly used over time. Safe road use comes from respecting the tires as much as the car's capabilities.