Wheel Size Question
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Joined: May 2019
Posts: 64
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From: Waterbury, CT
Wheel Size Question
Hey guys. I’d like to buy a set of wheels to put a lower profile tire on for autocross. Does anyone know the correct specs to order a wheel so it fits the same as a stock wheel just in a size 17 or 18 inch wheel. I’d like to be able to just swap out wheels and tires at the track.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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see the chart below for the stock wheels specs.
http://image.mamotorworksmedia.com/p...ence_Guide.pdf
http://image.mamotorworksmedia.com/p...ence_Guide.pdf
Last edited by MelWff; Feb 9, 2020 at 12:37 PM.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: los altos hills california
I think you will have the most tire choices with 18's. I did the same thing swapping wheels with street tires with wheels for autoX. With regard to dimensions, as long as you have stock calipers you should be OK, but anything else makes clearing the calipers a consideration as well. There is a long long 18" wheel thread here
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ly-thread.html
and you should be able to find any look you like.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ly-thread.html
and you should be able to find any look you like.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 64
Likes: 11
From: Waterbury, CT
I think you will have the most tire choices with 18's. I did the same thing swapping wheels with street tires with wheels for autoX. With regard to dimensions, as long as you have stock calipers you should be OK, but anything else makes clearing the calipers a consideration as well. There is a long long 18" wheel thread here
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ly-thread.html
and you should be able to find any look you like.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ly-thread.html
and you should be able to find any look you like.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,351
Likes: 1,578
From: los altos hills california
Correct. TireRack can tell you your tire selection's dimensional parameters. You will want to match your tire width to wheel width fairly closely. The diameter should approximate your current config if it looks and sits well. I have 275/35 series Hoosier A7 tires on 18" rims. Wheel width is 9" with 4.25" backspace. The top of the wheel just tucks under the fender well with 2 degrees camber so it looks pretty good and handling is good enough for my skill level. Your stock trailing arms will be OK with backspacing up to about 4.25". Many people relocate their emergency brake but that does require welding. I have kind of lost track of what's right for stock arms as I switched to Global West a few years back but there are no insurmountable problems if you are careful.
BTW, there is a "Sticky" in the tech section on wheel tire combo's. Lots of info here.
BTW, there is a "Sticky" in the tech section on wheel tire combo's. Lots of info here.
Last edited by ignatz; Feb 9, 2020 at 03:02 PM.
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From: central Florida
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I wouldn't mix the 555's and the NT05's. Those two tires will have very different handling characteristics. Keep the same time front and rear. (just my 2 ¢....for what it's worth)
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,351
Likes: 1,578
From: los altos hills california
Good catch Jim. Never mix tire types. All tires have a characteristic called 'slip angle' which determines the cornering force in a turn. Two different types will give you very strange and probably dangerous handling characteristics. It is OK to mix sizes within the same tire family as they will have the same tread pattern and internal construction.
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