nuclearnick

Hello all. I recently purchased my first Corvette ('06 Z06/stock suspension), and am new to Corvette forum. Although I do have a fair amount of HPDE experience in a Mustang, I'm still learning what's available for Corvettes in regards to tires. I would like to run a 200 treadwear tire, but there don't seem to be many choices. I have had very good experiences with the BFGoodrich Rival T/A tire on a Mustang, but finding them in C6 Z06 sizes seems to be nearly impossible. My current plan is to run Bridgestone RE-11 tires, 265/35-18 and 325/30-19. I'm not real excited about giving up 10mm of front tire width compared to stock, but couldn't find a better combination. Thoughts? Opinions? Feedback?

All help is appreciated.
-Nick

Xian

The Rival should start getting restocked relatively soon (April-ish) and there's also the Rival-S coming too... but no 19's.

I'd also take a look at the Hankook RS3 and Yokohama AD08R. Pay attention to the tread width measurement on TR vs. the spec'd size. You'll find that some brands run wider than others. i.e. the 305 RS3 is wider than the 325 RE-11.

PS
Congrats on the purchase!

FAUEE

Pilot Super Sport is where it's at for the stock wheels on the widebody C6s, especially if you're going to dual use the tires (street and track). I use them on my Grand Sport and they're really an awesome tire.

Outside of that, I think a lot of people run 18s all around.

Phoenix1911

IMHO, the best street/track tire out there is the Michelin PS2 runflat in proper OE sizes. They are expensive to buy up front, but have great longevity, give fantastic (street & track) performance down to the wear bars. They are just a good quality performing tire. Granted you won't get the traction as some R888's ot NT05s, but if you run one set of rims it's a no brainer. I've heard very good things about the Pilot Super Sports as well, but (and unless things have changed), they don't come in a RF flavour.

Given this tire is the only thing between your read end moving at 150+mph and the asphalt, now is probably not the time to start nickel & diming over a few hundred bucks.

bluemagoo

For dual use in stock sizes - Michelin Pilot Super Sport

strano@stranoparts.com

I'm going to vote RE-11. PSS's are awesome, but RE-11's are better handling and put power down really well, and as I recall... cheaper too. If you run the rain a lot then I'd maybe move more to the PSS's instead.

RE-11's are better to beat on, less tread and void area, they'll wear better.

troyguitar

I run RE-11 on my C5Z and like them a lot, rain or shine. The 265/35/18 is a perfect fit on an 18x9.5 wheel and the 325 should be perfect on your 12" rears (I run the 305 on 11" rears).

The only criticism of the RE-11 is that the stiff sidewall which makes it feel great on the track also makes it harsh on a bumpy road, but it is not bad enough to use any other tire in my opinion.

I ran PSS in 2013 and that tire is a fantastic street tire but really lacking on the track.

nuclearnick

Thanks for the guidance. I appreciate it.

0SpeedFreaksUSA

Stick with whatever you can in the EHP (extreme high performance) tire segment. Almost everything from that category will be be faster, feel better, go longer before overheating and wear better on track than a tire from a max performance or UHP (ultra high performance) summer tire category. Plus they typically run wider for their nominal size (RE-11 and NT05 run a little wider in some sizes but not nearly as much as others).

RE-11 are great in the rain as well- I used to keep a set of them on a separate set of wheels for the possible wet track day in the winter time

If you're looking for outright fastest dry times on street tires then its going to be between the Hankook R-S3 and Yokohama AD08r if you're limited to an 18 and 19 inch stagger. ZII star specs are arguably a little faster than both but you can't get them in really wide 19" sizes in the US yet. All of them are have great wet grip as well but the R-S3 struggles to push standing water. The other two (especially the AD08r) are phenomenal in the wet if you can get any heat into them.

-Matt M.

FAUEE

I didn't think the RE-11 comes in sizes for the widebody C6?

Bill Dearborn

However, they are not available in the correct sizes for the rear whether or not you use 18 inch rears or stock 19 inch rears.

Bill

Chets LS3

I run a 275/35/18 re 11 up front and 305 in the back on a narrow body.

As of now I have :

approximatley 8k miles on them;
2 HPDE's (4 days)
1 season of autocross
1 drag strip outting (4-5 passes)

4/32 tread left all the way around.
My car is making a 445/456 at the wheels close to z06 power and I driver pretty aggressive on the street and track. I plan to go back to this tire!!

nuclearnick

You have a Bridgestone RE11 in size 275/35-18? Where did you buy it? The TireRack does not list that size...

Chets LS3

ordered about two years ago, from firestone.

Chets LS3

http://www.bridgestonetire.com/tire/potenza-re-11

nuclearnick

Copy that. Thanks!

Dr.Ron

They do.

0SpeedFreaksUSA

In the both the R-S3 and AD-08R you can have a 305/30R19 rear. Its slightly shorter (more advantageous gearing on most tracks) but they have the same or wider tread widths than most 325 section width rears and a very good compound which is more important than width. I wouldn't hesitate to use that rear size in those tires.

-Matt M.

nuclearnick

I just learned from the TireRack that the Bridgestone RE11 will cease production sometime soon. The "replacement" tire is called the 71R, but there are no appropriate rear tire sizes available yet. Does anyone have experience with this new tire?

Xian

Folks just started getting them this week (I think a couple people may have gotten them last Friday). Should be some initial reviews after this weekend though...