Wheel/Tire Combo
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 158
Likes: 3
From: VA/MD
Wheel/Tire Combo
I just put my 72 in the paint shop the other day, getting painted black. I'm torn between running 18" matt grey coys with Nitto 555's, or diamond back red lines, what do yall think?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 871
Likes: 73
From: Memphis Tennessee
There is a good following of 17/18 inch rims in the C3 forum, but I don't think you'll get a whole lot of feedback on the direct comparison of these specific tires. If you look them both up on tirerack.com you can read user reviews for each tire in the size you plan on using.
Are you going to stick with 18x8 all the way around, or use wider wheels/tires in the back? One advantage to the 18 wheels is you can run a 9 or 9.5 rim in the back with 5-5.5 inch backspacing without clearance problems with the parking brake cable mount. I think 285 is the widest tire that's being run, but that will vary car to car with spring and sway bar clearance as variables. The wheels I liked only came in 9" with 5" backspacing, limiting me to 275/40/18s. If I had gone with a wider combo, I think I would have had clearance problems.
Are you going to stick with 18x8 all the way around, or use wider wheels/tires in the back? One advantage to the 18 wheels is you can run a 9 or 9.5 rim in the back with 5-5.5 inch backspacing without clearance problems with the parking brake cable mount. I think 285 is the widest tire that's being run, but that will vary car to car with spring and sway bar clearance as variables. The wheels I liked only came in 9" with 5" backspacing, limiting me to 275/40/18s. If I had gone with a wider combo, I think I would have had clearance problems.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
I went with the Coy C5 20's in Black Chrome with the Nitto 555. Haven't put them on the car yet, work in progress, but like the look. Friends of mine that do road course rallies seem to like the 555 for traction and cornering for what that is worth. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,948
Likes: 3,351
From: NYC NY
Diamond Back will put red lines (or any of their other colors for that matter) on Nitto 555s. They offer them on their website. You can have your Coys with your Nitto 555 red lines if that's what you want.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,404
Likes: 791
From: Redondo Beach, California
T
I think 285 is the widest tire that's being run, but that will vary car to car with spring and sway bar clearance as variables. The wheels I liked only came in 9" with 5" backspacing, limiting me to 275/40/18s. If I had gone with a wider combo, I think I would have had clearance problems.
I think 285 is the widest tire that's being run, but that will vary car to car with spring and sway bar clearance as variables. The wheels I liked only came in 9" with 5" backspacing, limiting me to 275/40/18s. If I had gone with a wider combo, I think I would have had clearance problems.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 158
Likes: 3
From: VA/MD
There is a good following of 17/18 inch rims in the C3 forum, but I don't think you'll get a whole lot of feedback on the direct comparison of these specific tires. If you look them both up on tirerack.com you can read user reviews for each tire in the size you plan on using.
Are you going to stick with 18x8 all the way around, or use wider wheels/tires in the back? One advantage to the 18 wheels is you can run a 9 or 9.5 rim in the back with 5-5.5 inch backspacing without clearance problems with the parking brake cable mount. I think 285 is the widest tire that's being run, but that will vary car to car with spring and sway bar clearance as variables. The wheels I liked only came in 9" with 5" backspacing, limiting me to 275/40/18s. If I had gone with a wider combo, I think I would have had clearance problems.
Are you going to stick with 18x8 all the way around, or use wider wheels/tires in the back? One advantage to the 18 wheels is you can run a 9 or 9.5 rim in the back with 5-5.5 inch backspacing without clearance problems with the parking brake cable mount. I think 285 is the widest tire that's being run, but that will vary car to car with spring and sway bar clearance as variables. The wheels I liked only came in 9" with 5" backspacing, limiting me to 275/40/18s. If I had gone with a wider combo, I think I would have had clearance problems.
I plan 8" up front 9.5 in the rears. Gonna get the shortened composite spring like yours if I go the larger rim route
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 158
Likes: 3
From: VA/MD
got any pics???
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
I'm going with cragar polished aluminum 17x8 4.5" b.s. all around. I'll probably stick with 235/55/17 all around too. I'm after a specific look. I mulled this over for a long time, love the cragar ss wheel. But 15" tire choices are dismal. So I'm stepping up to 17's because the 55 aspect ratio will give the car the tire dia. I want to fill the wheel well, yet open up the door to the performance tire choices. I'm not a fan of low profile tires with big hoops on the stingray. An awesome look on newer vettes, but I prefer the classic looks with a bit more sidewall height.
Decide on the look you prefer first, then start looking at tire dia.
I don't know about your budget, but 18" tires are really expensive vs 15" or even 17".
As for your choices, the redlines certainly give the stingray classic good looks.
Decide on the look you prefer first, then start looking at tire dia.
I don't know about your budget, but 18" tires are really expensive vs 15" or even 17".
As for your choices, the redlines certainly give the stingray classic good looks.
Last edited by Sunstroked; Jan 26, 2013 at 10:35 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 158
Likes: 3
From: VA/MD
Thanks. I'm torn because I like the looks of red lined rally's on a black paint job, but I also love the 17/18 look too!
I talked to Gunther c3 and if I go with larger wheels and tires I will be going the route he went with
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...backspace.html
I talked to Gunther c3 and if I go with larger wheels and tires I will be going the route he went with
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...backspace.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 871
Likes: 73
From: Memphis Tennessee
I don't think my composite is the shorter version. It came as part of a supension package and was not specified as such. But if I had gone with a 9.5 wide 5.5 backspace I would have surely needed one.