ZeeOSix

A Marsh ... your Zee looks great with the Brickyards!

So with the 305s on the rear, I take it there is still some decent air gap between the inside of the tire and the inner fender and rear brake cooling ducts - like maybe around 1/4~3/8" gap still?

That's the setup I want to go with, except I think I'd go with the 18 x 9.5 wide fronts with +56mm offset. That wheel will stick out the same as the 18 x 9, +50mm offset. I'd also run 265s on the front and either 295s or 305s in the rear.

I can't tell from the photos, but I'm assuming they did a 2-plane tape on weight balance and put the outer side weight up on the large step behind the spokes and not on the big flat lip behind the spokes (?).

ZeeOSix

Without the 5mm spacer, I'm assuming the inside of the tire was rubbing on either the inner fender or the brake cooling duct (?). That's what my layouts on paper were telling me. Thanks for that info.

ZeeOSix

While I'm here, I had a couple other questions:

1) Did the chrome lug nuts come with the Cray wheels, or bought separately? I thought I read someplace that they come with the wheels.

2) Does anyone know the taper angle of the seat on the lug nuts? I'm assuming this wheel uses a tapered lug nut seat.

3) Are you guys using locking lug nuts ... if so, what brand?

A Marsh

There's sufficient clearance in the back, although I don't know how much. I've not had any problems with rubbing.

265s on 9.5 wheels will look a little stretched. The sidewall height and appearance match very well with 265s and 305s for the Continental tires I got on 9" and 10.5" wheels.

In my opinion, you need 275s on 9.5" wheels to not look stretched. Additionally, the sidewalls of the 275s were noticeably taller than the 305s and I didn't like the look.

The weights are on the back land and behind the spokes.

I ordered my tires through Tire Rack and had them delivered to and installed by a preferred installer. I was very disappointed with their balancing. I had the fronts re-balanced at another shop and am having the rears re-balanced tomorrow.

I'm pleased with the ride and handling after getting the pressures set correctly.

Alan

ZeeOSix

Alan - thanks for the info!

On the stock OEM wheels, they run the 265 fronts on 9.5" wide wheels. I believe the OEM C5 Z06 front wheels are 9.5" and the rears are 10.5" wide.

Also, all the tire specs on the Tire rack show 9.5" wide wheels in the middle of the wheel width range for 265 tires. I'll have to look at this some more.

So what did the first tire shop do with the balancing that wasn't right?

A Marsh

Take a look at the first set of photos I posted. I had 275/35-18 on the 9" wheels and didn't like the look. The sidewalls were noticeably taller and they stuck out farther, which accentuated it.

I first put C6 reproduction wheels on the Z. I put 265/35-18 on the front and 295/35-18 on the rear. The wheels were 9.5" and 10.5". The 265s looked stretched on the 9.5" wheels compared to the rears. I was surprised because, you're right, the cars come stock with 265s on 9.5" wheels. Tire selection probably plays a role in it.

265s on 9.5" front wheels with 295s on 10.5" rears would probably look good, but I think the 265s would look stretched compared to 305s on the rear.

ZeeOSix

^^^ A-Marsh ... good info, I appreciate the what you've seen with different setups.

So did those Cray Brickyard wheels come with the chrome lug nuts or did you have to get those separately? Do you know what taper angle the Brickyards use on the lug holes?

A Marsh

I'll send a you a PM.

troyguitar

The chrome lug nuts that came with mine were not really usable. The caps fall off if you use an impact on them. I'm 99% sure the taper is the same as the stock wheels.

troyguitar

Also on the tire subject, the best matches for tire size + 18/19 wheel width are:

255/35/18 on 18x9.0 front with 295/30/19 on 19x10.5 rear
265/35/18 on 18x9.0 front with 305/30/19 on 19x10.5 rear
265/35/18 on 18x9.5 front with 305/30/19 on 19x11 rear
275/35/18 on 18x9.5 front with 315/30/19 on 19x11 rear

Those combinations match the sidewall height and tire stretch/pinch to have the closest visual match front to rear.

Chrisbequick

I know this thread is a little old, but I stumbled across it looking for info on these wheels. As somebody who spent two decades in the automotive aftermarket I feel it's necessary to clarify and correct a statement that was made twice in this thread. A Marsh stated the sidewall on the 275/35/18 was noticeably taller than on the 265/35/18. Although, admittedly, it is barely taller, it wouldn't be so by a noticeable amount. The reason: the 275 is only 35% of 10 millimeters, or 3.5 mm taller. That's slightly more than an eighth of an inch. You might still be thinking you would be able to notice that difference, but you wouldn't because it's such a small percentage of the total. A 275/35/18 tire is approximately 650 mm tall, so the 3.5 mm height difference accounts for slightly more than a .005% height difference. You would be hard-pressed to notice that difference, even if you had the two tires rolled up right next to each other. Mounted on the car? They're functionally identical.

Now width? 10mm is just under half an inch. A trained eye could probably spot that if they knew what they were looking for.

Rookieracer

It is important to remember that the stated size is not absolute. The numbers such as 275/35/18 are nothing more than a theoretical guideline.

Purchase a 275/35/18 tire from 4 different manufacturers and I guarantee you, you will end up with 4 different size tires. I have found widths and O.D. to differ by as much as a 1/2" from manufacturer to manufacturer.

ajrothm

Wow.. Those 305s must run very small from continental.

I've got some 19x11 65mm wheels on the way, maybe I'll try a 325 on them. I like some meat on my plate.