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Need wheel and tire sizing advice..

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Old Jul 28, 2006 | 10:00 PM
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Default Need wheel and tire sizing advice..

Hi folks,
I'm about ready to buy a set of aftermarket chrome C6Z06 wheels.
I'm leaning towards getting 17X9.5 in the front and 18X10.5 in the rear.

I'm wondering about tire sizing for these wheels though. The tires I'm considering are 255/40/17 and 285/35/18.

First, will these tires fit ok on the wheels sizes listed above?
Second, will these new tire sizes affect the traction control or active handling at all. I definitely don't want to do something that will give me trouble codes.

Thanks for your help
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Old Jul 28, 2006 | 10:06 PM
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They'll fit and work just fine, but realize they are quite a bit shorter than your stock tires.
There's nothing wrong with going shorter, but a lot of people don't like the aesthetics due to the larger tire-to-fender gap that results.

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Old Jul 28, 2006 | 10:09 PM
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any particular reason you want such small wheels and tires?

you can get the same wheels in 18x9.5 & 19x11 and go with 265/35 & 305/30 and have a much better looking setup IMHO.

those sizes are shown here:

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Old Jul 28, 2006 | 10:21 PM
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Originally Posted by jdmvette
any particular reason you want such small wheels and tires?

you can get the same wheels in 18x9.5 & 19x11 and go with 265/35 & 305/30 and have a much better looking setup IMHO.
Mainly due to cost. The price of the set almost doubles with 18 and 19 inch tires.
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Old Jul 28, 2006 | 10:53 PM
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Your car doesn't look lowered in the photo, so if you get the smaller wheels you could always lower it on the stock bolts.
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Old Jul 29, 2006 | 02:34 AM
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Originally Posted by jdmvette
any particular reason you want such small wheels and tires?

you can get the same wheels in 18x9.5 & 19x11 and go with 265/35 & 305/30 and have a much better looking setup IMHO.

those sizes are shown here:


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Old Jul 29, 2006 | 09:38 AM
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Hmmm. Well the plan is to lower it all they way on stock bolts. But I hadn't really thought of these tire sizes being that much shorter than stock. That certainly doesn't sound like the direction I want to take. The particular brand of tire I'm looking at doesn't have any better options for the rear but maybe in the front I could go 255/45/17. Would that make any difference or throw off the necessary size difference ratio between the front and back?

Thanks again for your help.
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Old Jul 29, 2006 | 10:43 AM
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how about stock Z sizes....265 and 295, since you are getting z oem sizes
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Old Jul 29, 2006 | 04:39 PM
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Originally Posted by GreenHornet1
Hmmm. Well the plan is to lower it all they way on stock bolts. But I hadn't really thought of these tire sizes being that much shorter than stock. That certainly doesn't sound like the direction I want to take. The particular brand of tire I'm looking at doesn't have any better options for the rear but maybe in the front I could go 255/45/17. Would that make any difference or throw off the necessary size difference ratio between the front and back?

Thanks again for your help.
Go with a 'brand name' tire, and get aleast Z06 oem sizes! You are getting new wheels to make the car look better, yet farting around with undersized, or incorrect aspect ratio tires. Might as well throw your money out the window, do it right, or forgetaboutit!
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Old Jul 29, 2006 | 10:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Miguels
how about stock Z sizes....265 and 295, since you are getting z oem sizes
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Old Jul 29, 2006 | 11:36 PM
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Originally Posted by JETZ
Go with a 'brand name' tire, and get aleast Z06 oem sizes! You are getting new wheels to make the car look better, yet farting around with undersized, or incorrect aspect ratio tires. Might as well throw your money out the window, do it right, or forgetaboutit!
Moreover, my good buddy JDMVette has already presented excellent advice above. Furthermore, if you are concerned about cost, then do install at least a C5 Z06 o.e. wheel and tire upgrade, as suggested by Miguels above. Lastly, I suggest that you DO NOT install a 255mm tire onto an 9.5 inch wide wheel. In general, a 255mm width tire is more ideal installed upon an 8.5 inch wide wheel.

In fact, this specific tire width size (255mm) was the early Corvette C4 o.e. tire width size that was mounted onto o.e. Corvette C4 16X8.5 inch wheels. Hence, definitely, take your time to shop around, and, inform yourself on proper Plus I and Plus II wheel upgrades. And, in doing so, you are bound to select a tire and wheel combo that is far more appropriate. Please feel free to ask any further questions. We are all happy to help you. Good luck to you.
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