C6 wheels on a C4
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 181
Likes: 21
From: north central Iowa
C6 wheels on a C4
I'm thinking of putting some oem 2008 base 5-spoke wheels on my base 1994, and from what I've gathered, should work well. The C6 wheels measure fronts at 18x8.5, back spacing 6.45. Rear wheels are 19x10, back spacing 8.1. I'd like to know if anyone here can tell me they will or won't fit nicely. Would sure feel bad buying a set that I can't use. TY
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,113
Likes: 1,994
From: St. Charles MO
Your base 1994 came with front wheels at 17x8.5 et56 and 255/45/17 tires. The front C6 wheels are 18x8.5 et56 with 245/40/18 tires. They will be perfect.
Your stock rears are 17x9.5 et56. The C6 rear wheels are 19x10 et79 with 285/35/19 tires. That offset is too much, and the tires are about 1" taller than stock C4 tires. A C4 is likely to get rubbing of the tire on the suspension in back with 8.0 or more backspacing. But beyond that, a C4 looks goofy with wheels set too far inboard. You'll want 1" spacers or adapters to push those wheels out where they should be in the wheel wells. That would net you an offset of 54mm, and then the wheels will fit fine. Aside from looking goofy on a C4, the taller rear tires aren't the greatest for handling and they might rub things in the fender wells. Plenty of people run them, but you would be better off with 285/35/18 to get a more reasonable outer diameter.
Your stock rears are 17x9.5 et56. The C6 rear wheels are 19x10 et79 with 285/35/19 tires. That offset is too much, and the tires are about 1" taller than stock C4 tires. A C4 is likely to get rubbing of the tire on the suspension in back with 8.0 or more backspacing. But beyond that, a C4 looks goofy with wheels set too far inboard. You'll want 1" spacers or adapters to push those wheels out where they should be in the wheel wells. That would net you an offset of 54mm, and then the wheels will fit fine. Aside from looking goofy on a C4, the taller rear tires aren't the greatest for handling and they might rub things in the fender wells. Plenty of people run them, but you would be better off with 285/35/18 to get a more reasonable outer diameter.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 181
Likes: 21
From: north central Iowa
You give me much to think about. I hadn't considered a different look with C6 wheels on my '94 C4. Looking for an upgrade to my stock sawblades has been troubling. There's many C5 18" 5-spoke wheels available, but I don't care much for the straight spokes. I also don't appreciate the very thin spoke wheels that are available in 18" version. I'm going to try to find and view some C4's running the C6 5-spoke wheels. I suppose they'll look odd to me too, but would sure like a chance to see. Thanks loads for your reply Matt. Doug K.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2020
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From: Stay dangerous my friends
Just rambling here... The 18" diameter C5 fitments (aftermarket wheels or narrower OEM and wider Z06) are a good idea, same as the narrow body C6/7 but be careful of the hub bore measurement on those it needs to be 70.3mm (I've seen 68 or something like that before). The stagger can be more problematic as Matt mentioned, sticking with 18 inch wheels and 25-25.5" diameter tires is ideal, that's for sure. I've found that Trackspec carries some great 11" wheels for the spec corvette series that should work well for a maximum square setup, the flow formed wheels are cheap, they also have forged versions... and then there's Apex... Forgestar... or if you can find the robotron looking C5 Z06 wheels but I haven't looked into that direction myself, but have seen people run those fairly often as a square setup on the late C4... and on 11's you can run 275-285-295-305-315 widths typically, although the wider 315's available these days are a little too big for the front.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 181
Likes: 21
From: north central Iowa
You help me. I've decided C6 wheels aren't right for my '94 base. Unless someone tells me good reason otherwise, I'm going to order four new 18x9.5, 54mm offset replica wheels. They're advertised as C5 replacement wheels, but say they'll fit well on my c4 as well. Does anyone have an opinion on these for both front and rear, and can anyone tell me what size tires work and look best for me? Thank you
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,113
Likes: 1,994
From: St. Charles MO
You help me. I've decided C6 wheels aren't right for my '94 base. Unless someone tells me good reason otherwise, I'm going to order four new 18x9.5, 54mm offset replica wheels. They're advertised as C5 replacement wheels, but say they'll fit well on my c4 as well. Does anyone have an opinion on these for both front and rear, and can anyone tell me what size tires work and look best for me? Thank you
With 18x9.5, I would stick with 275/35/18. These will have the exact same outer diameter as the 275/40/17 tires that came on the Z51/Z07 option for your car (25.6"). There are lots and lots of choices to buy in that size, too, which is really helpful. I see you're in north-central Iowa, so you have hard-core winters. Tell us how you use the car, we can recommend some good tires in that size as well. For example, do you drive it in winter at all? Will you drive it in rain in the summer? Do you just street drive, or do you plan to autocross or track it as well? Is your street driving more cruising or bruising?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 181
Likes: 21
From: north central Iowa
Yes , the wheels I like are deeper dish chrome CV05 listed, and sold by an outfit called "buyonewheel", also called Superior Autoparts. It looks identical to another wheel sold for more money by a company called EliteAutoChrome. I can get 4 of these delivered for a little less than $1200 which seems like a good deal. I'll be looking for tires the dimension you recommended. I thank you so much for your help Matthew. Doug K.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 181
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From: north central Iowa
cold weather
I don't plan on putting many winter miles on, but would like a tire that favors cold and wet over traction. I do almost no hard fast driving
. At age 69, that's not as safe or comfortable as once was. My car has less than 25,000 mi, is mint, and I want it to remain mint, so driving on salty winter roads is unlikely, but I'll like knowing early Spring and late Fall is ok. Thank you all..
. At age 69, that's not as safe or comfortable as once was. My car has less than 25,000 mi, is mint, and I want it to remain mint, so driving on salty winter roads is unlikely, but I'll like knowing early Spring and late Fall is ok. Thank you all..
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,113
Likes: 1,994
From: St. Charles MO
I don't plan on putting many winter miles on, but would like a tire that favors cold and wet over traction. I do almost no hard fast driving
. At age 69, that's not as safe or comfortable as once was. My car has less than 25,000 mi, is mint, and I want it to remain mint, so driving on salty winter roads is unlikely, but I'll like knowing early Spring and late Fall is ok. Thank you all..
. At age 69, that's not as safe or comfortable as once was. My car has less than 25,000 mi, is mint, and I want it to remain mint, so driving on salty winter roads is unlikely, but I'll like knowing early Spring and late Fall is ok. Thank you all..