C6 Wheels on a C5?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
Likes: 9
From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
I bought a set of OEM C6 tires and Polished wheels.. I installed them on my C5 with a small spacer in the rear. Worked very well for the 3 months I had them on the car. I would have kept them but they wouldnt work with my big brake package. 
I replaced them with a custom set of 18/19 HRE's and re-installed my big brake setup.
VR
I replaced them with a custom set of 18/19 HRE's and re-installed my big brake setup.
VR
Last edited by vetterdstr; Mar 3, 2006 at 04:38 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by randy814u
I found this on the web, and maybe it will help.
C5
Front: 17 x 8.5 +58mm offset
Rear: 18 x 9.5 +65mm offset
C6
18x8.5 Offset: +56mm
19x10 Offset: +79mm
There is only a 2mm difference in the front, not a big deal.
There is a 14mm difference in the rear which equals .55 inches. Add the 1/4" for the wider tire, thats means the rear will stick out about 3/4" more than where it is.
C5
Front: 17 x 8.5 +58mm offset
Rear: 18 x 9.5 +65mm offset
C6
18x8.5 Offset: +56mm
19x10 Offset: +79mm
There is only a 2mm difference in the front, not a big deal.
There is a 14mm difference in the rear which equals .55 inches. Add the 1/4" for the wider tire, thats means the rear will stick out about 3/4" more than where it is.
More offset pushes the wheel inwards farther.
Compare it to a stock Z06 rear 18x10.5" 58mm offset wheel.
The C5 Z06 18x10.5 wheel has a backspace of 8.03", frontspace is 3.47". If you exceed 3.5" on the frontspace dimension, the wheel will stick out of the fenders.
The C6 19x10 has a backspace of 8.61", frontspace of 2.39".
Obviously the outside edge of the wheel will be tucked into the fender about 1" more. The inner clearance necessary is only .6" more than the Z wheel...I can't see that being a problem in terms of fitment.
Glenn, exactly what problem did you have with them? All you state is that they don't fit. With your car having the rear brake ducts, yes, those may contact the inner edge of the tire when the car is jacked up, but should be ok once on the ground. Other than that, I can't see a clearance issue.
There ARE more than a few people running OEM C6 wheels on C5's, without spacers, so that tells me it is possible.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 0
From: North Canton OH
Originally Posted by randy814u
I found this on the web, and maybe it will help.
C5
Front: 17 x 8.5 +58mm offset
Rear: 18 x 9.5 +65mm offset
C6
18x8.5 Offset: +56mm
19x10 Offset: +79mm
There is only a 2mm difference in the front, not a big deal.
There is a 14mm difference in the rear which equals .55 inches. Add the 1/4" for the wider tire, thats means the rear will stick out about 3/4" more than where it is.
C5
Front: 17 x 8.5 +58mm offset
Rear: 18 x 9.5 +65mm offset
C6
18x8.5 Offset: +56mm
19x10 Offset: +79mm
There is only a 2mm difference in the front, not a big deal.
There is a 14mm difference in the rear which equals .55 inches. Add the 1/4" for the wider tire, thats means the rear will stick out about 3/4" more than where it is.
It is my understanding it makes them "closer" to the center of the car, making it look bad and possibly dragging the calipers or rubbing the inner fenderwell. Which would explain why many have to add spacers.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 46
From: RedSoxNation Cape Cod, MA
GREAT!!! Now i got some good info and vetterdstr your car looks great. How wide where the spacers? I am guessing about .5" would probaly do it but did you have enought threads showing for the lugs?
I thought i had read somewhere you needed spacers for the rears.
Thanks everyone again for the help
Jim
I thought i had read somewhere you needed spacers for the rears.
Thanks everyone again for the help
Jim
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 19,557
Likes: 1,470
From: I love you & miss you Linda
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Contributor
Originally Posted by Y2Kvert4me
Uhh, no.
More offset pushes the wheel inwards farther.
Compare it to a stock Z06 rear 18x10.5" 58mm offset wheel.
The C5 Z06 18x10.5 wheel has a backspace of 8.03", frontspace is 3.47". If you exceed 3.5" on the frontspace dimension, the wheel will stick out of the fenders.
The C6 19x10 has a backspace of 8.61", frontspace of 2.39".
Obviously the outside edge of the wheel will be tucked into the fender about 1" more. The inner clearance necessary is only .6" more than the Z wheel...I can't see that being a problem in terms of fitment.
Glenn, exactly what problem did you have with them? All you state is that they don't fit. With your car having the rear brake ducts, yes, those may contact the inner edge of the tire when the car is jacked up, but should be ok once on the ground. Other than that, I can't see a clearance issue.
There ARE more than a few people running OEM C6 wheels on C5's, without spacers, so that tells me it is possible.
More offset pushes the wheel inwards farther.
Compare it to a stock Z06 rear 18x10.5" 58mm offset wheel.
The C5 Z06 18x10.5 wheel has a backspace of 8.03", frontspace is 3.47". If you exceed 3.5" on the frontspace dimension, the wheel will stick out of the fenders.
The C6 19x10 has a backspace of 8.61", frontspace of 2.39".
Obviously the outside edge of the wheel will be tucked into the fender about 1" more. The inner clearance necessary is only .6" more than the Z wheel...I can't see that being a problem in terms of fitment.
Glenn, exactly what problem did you have with them? All you state is that they don't fit. With your car having the rear brake ducts, yes, those may contact the inner edge of the tire when the car is jacked up, but should be ok once on the ground. Other than that, I can't see a clearance issue.
There ARE more than a few people running OEM C6 wheels on C5's, without spacers, so that tells me it is possible.
If you guys really want OEM C6 wheels, then go buy em and put em on your C5's.
Do what ya gotta do..
When they don't fit right, do what ya gotta do to get them on.
I physically did it, it did not work.
I expalined above why. TOO MUCH POSITIVE OFFSET.
Of course you could buy a spacer and reduce the positive offset. That's where anyone wanting to do this has use THEIR own common sense.
"The guy tried it, he says it would not fit becasue of too much positive offset, so what could I do if anything to make this work for me"
You guys have to use your own minds a little.
I explained why they won't fit... I'm not telling anyone how to make it fit. you're on your own.. Figure out how you would want to manage that poistive offset being too much.....
I am just trying to help here.... That's all..... THINK A LITTLE for yourself.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 46
From: RedSoxNation Cape Cod, MA
Rickc5 just PMed me and gave me a pic of his car w/ c6 wheels on it. he said he "used a 5/16" spacer in the rears that I got on ebay and im running 295/30/19 rear and 245/40/18 up front"
Thanks everyone for your help and thanks Rick for the info.
Jim
Thanks everyone for your help and thanks Rick for the info.
Jim
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by Glennm27
You always seem to want to question what I have to say on this forum.
If you guys really want OEM C6 wheels, then go buy em and put em on your C5's.
Do what ya gotta do..
When they don't fit right, do what ya gotta do to get them on.
I physically did it, it did not work.
I expalined above why. TOO MUCH POSITIVE OFFSET.
If you guys really want OEM C6 wheels, then go buy em and put em on your C5's.
Do what ya gotta do..
When they don't fit right, do what ya gotta do to get them on.
I physically did it, it did not work.
I expalined above why. TOO MUCH POSITIVE OFFSET.
I was hoping you could be more detailed as to what contacted what, because I truly am curious why they didn't fit for you, yet seemingly work ok for others, but apparently that's too much to ask.
I get many many requests of people asking me about specific wheel fitments and the one aspect I admit I am no expert on is inner clearances and backspace limits, and my reason for asking you was for my knowledge, and certainly not intended to accuse you of being inaccurate. I appreciate first-hand knowledge a great deal, which is why I hoped you could have elaborated.
I don't doubt you tried the wheels and they didn't work for you...but with that reply, that just isn't enough to convince me a wheel with 8.6" backpace will not fit. I guess my curiousity will force me to try it myself this weekend, since you are unable to share your firsthand knowledge.
No problem.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,320
Likes: 2
From: Salem Oregon
Originally Posted by Y2Kvert4me
Uhh, no.
More offset pushes the wheel inwards farther.
Compare it to a stock Z06 rear 18x10.5" 58mm offset wheel.
The C5 Z06 18x10.5 wheel has a backspace of 8.03", frontspace is 3.47". If you exceed 3.5" on the frontspace dimension, the wheel will stick out of the fenders.
The C6 19x10 has a backspace of 8.61", frontspace of 2.39".
Obviously the outside edge of the wheel will be tucked into the fender about 1" more. The inner clearance necessary is only .6" more than the Z wheel...I can't see that being a problem in terms of fitment.
Glenn, exactly what problem did you have with them? All you state is that they don't fit. With your car having the rear brake ducts, yes, those may contact the inner edge of the tire when the car is jacked up, but should be ok once on the ground. Other than that, I can't see a clearance issue.
There ARE more than a few people running OEM C6 wheels on C5's, without spacers, so that tells me it is possible.
More offset pushes the wheel inwards farther.
Compare it to a stock Z06 rear 18x10.5" 58mm offset wheel.
The C5 Z06 18x10.5 wheel has a backspace of 8.03", frontspace is 3.47". If you exceed 3.5" on the frontspace dimension, the wheel will stick out of the fenders.
The C6 19x10 has a backspace of 8.61", frontspace of 2.39".
Obviously the outside edge of the wheel will be tucked into the fender about 1" more. The inner clearance necessary is only .6" more than the Z wheel...I can't see that being a problem in terms of fitment.
Glenn, exactly what problem did you have with them? All you state is that they don't fit. With your car having the rear brake ducts, yes, those may contact the inner edge of the tire when the car is jacked up, but should be ok once on the ground. Other than that, I can't see a clearance issue.
There ARE more than a few people running OEM C6 wheels on C5's, without spacers, so that tells me it is possible.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Miami/Ft. Lauderdale FL
The C6 wheels will fit fine on a C5 with a 5/16" spacer.
Im running 295's in the rear using this setup.
Now the only thing is it isnt as FLUSH as stock C5 rims but close enough to where you wont say, damn that car has alot of positive offset in the back!
-rick
Im running 295's in the rear using this setup.
Now the only thing is it isnt as FLUSH as stock C5 rims but close enough to where you wont say, damn that car has alot of positive offset in the back!
-rick
