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fender gap !

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Old May 1, 2012 | 02:43 PM
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Default fender gap !

I am sure this has been beat to death,did a search but couldn t really find what I am looking for, lowered my C5 and still have a huge fender / tire gap,I would like to get it close, Presently I have 295/35x 18 and 265/40 17 on it. Can t lower it much more or will be to the end of the bolts and no suspension. Any ideas would be appreciated, looked at 315/35 and 315/40 but only available in drag radials.

Thanks
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Old May 1, 2012 | 03:14 PM
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Couple thing come to mind and the first is have you driven the car much since you lowered it.It takes some miles for it to settle. The other thing, is (and I am no tire expert), but I think the tires you have on now are a lower profile then the stock 245/45/17 front and 275/40/18 rear. So if they are a lower profile, then there will be more of a gap then if you lowered it with stock size tires. A lot of the cars you see here that are lowered are also running a size or two larger wheel such as 18/19 or 19/20. That alone will fill the wheel well more. So you may want to rethink the next set of tires and go with on or two sizes larger on the wheels at the same time.
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Old May 1, 2012 | 04:37 PM
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yup, been driving around, probably 300 mi on it.. i was thinking I may have to go to 18/19
thank you
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Old May 1, 2012 | 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted by walleyejack
yup, been driving around, probably 300 mi on it.. i was thinking I may have to go to 18/19
thank you
18/19 would help fill the gap since you're lowered on stock bolts. you could do it right and get coil-overs... not sure if thats practical if you're just doing it for appearance. but you'll also have to be mindful of speed bumps, curbs, and small insects if you go too low
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Old May 1, 2012 | 06:22 PM
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You never mentioned if you were on stock bolts?
Full bushings?

If that is the case, go with an after market kit, that has no front bushings on the front adjusters & larger (length) bolts for the rear.
That will get another 1/2"-3/4" drop.
Good luck.
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Old May 1, 2012 | 07:06 PM
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IMHO ya gotta keep it driveable on the street...
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Old May 1, 2012 | 07:58 PM
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The overall diameter of your tire is what you need to change, not your wheel diameter. It doesn't matter if you run 17", 18", 19", or 20" wheels. The wheel diameter has NOTHING to do with filling up your fenders. I am surprised people still think that way.
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Old May 1, 2012 | 08:55 PM
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yes, stock bolts, not gonna do the coil over thing, just for appearance mostly, don t track it,I realize it is the tire size. but no one makes a 305 / 35 or 45. maybe i am looking at that wrong also.
Thanks Al
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Old May 2, 2012 | 01:12 AM
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For the most drop remove the front bolts and buy longer bolts for the rear. Mine is lowered about 1.75" lower than stock.




The ride is definetly worse this way. Since the srpings pretty much stay near full compression all the time. Not much travel in the suspension as far as upwards. but its tolerable. The car is my daily driver.
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Old May 2, 2012 | 01:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Qwik01
For the most drop remove the front bolts and buy longer bolts for the rear. Mine is lowered about 1.75" lower than stock.




The ride is definetly worse this way. Since the srpings pretty much stay near full compression all the time. Not much travel in the suspension as far as upwards. but its tolerable. The car is my daily driver.
for what its worth... thats a great stance. nice shoes, too.

got any more pics from different angles?
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Old May 2, 2012 | 02:00 AM
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Originally Posted by darkstar.c5
for what its worth... thats a great stance. nice shoes, too.

got any more pics from different angles?
Thank you! I do have a couple more..


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Old May 2, 2012 | 04:00 AM
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I just sold my 2002 Z06 and had a 2001 convertible right next to it both with Z06 wheels except on the 2001 I put 18"x10.5" wheels on the front with 265-35-18 PS2's. I know the specs say the 265-40-17 are the same overall diameter as the 265-35-18 but the tires on the 2001 were much closer to the top inside fender than the Z06. It looked much better and filled out the wheel wells much better. Maybe it was just the build of those cars as neither were lowered at all.
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Old May 2, 2012 | 08:40 AM
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Here is a link to a wheel calculator. this will help you find a wheel 7tire size that will help., and I disagree that the wheel size has no gearing on this. It does change the overall diameter, along with the tire profile http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecal...r-snt-emty-str.
A stock front wheel/tire combo 245/40/17 has a diameter of 25.68 inches a 265/40/17 is only 25.34 inches but if you go to a 275/40/18 the diameter is 26.66 inches.
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Old May 2, 2012 | 10:18 AM
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For those who are increasing the overall diameter (wheel and tire), are you recalibrating the speedo or living with the error?

To ask the question another way, can you reprogram the speedo in the C5 to account for different diameter wheels?
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Old May 2, 2012 | 10:48 AM
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Originally Posted by 3sACROWD
For those who are increasing the overall diameter (wheel and tire), are you recalibrating the speedo or living with the error?

To ask the question another way, can you reprogram the speedo in the C5 to account for different diameter wheels?
Good point and the link I supplied does show the difference in the reading from the stock size tire to the one you want to go with.
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Old May 2, 2012 | 10:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Qwik01
For the most drop remove the front bolts and buy longer bolts for the rear.
That's the only way to get the look you want. Myself along with countless others have done it with no issues. It will ride a little harsher but honestly I don't really notice it. I am also running Bilstein Sports.
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Old May 2, 2012 | 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by j84buick
That's the only way to get the look you want. Myself along with countless others have done it with no issues. It will ride a little harsher but honestly I don't really notice it. I am also running Bilstein Sports.
I understand you can drop it.. but needs to be level from side to side also with the proper rake, just because the bolts are out and it is down,doesn t mean it will be level.
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Old May 2, 2012 | 11:17 PM
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A 265-40-17 is the exact same overall diameter as an 265-35-18, which iws 25.3.
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Old May 3, 2012 | 07:01 AM
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Still looking for an answer.... Has anyone increased the actual diameter of their wheels? Did they have the speedo recalibrated or live with the offset?

Increasing the rim diameter and decreasing the sidewall height to keep overall diameter the same does zip, zero, nada for filling the wheel well. I'm considering increasing the overall diameter AND lowering the car. This will allow me to fill the wheel well and maintain a close to stock ground clearance. Then I can add a splitter and side skirts without too much fear of ripping them off driving through the Michigan mine fields they call roads.
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Old May 3, 2012 | 08:19 AM
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Originally Posted by 3sACROWD
Still looking for an answer.... Has anyone increased the actual diameter of their wheels? Did they have the speedo recalibrated or live with the offset?

Increasing the rim diameter and decreasing the sidewall height to keep overall diameter the same does zip, zero, nada for filling the wheel well. I'm considering increasing the overall diameter AND lowering the car. This will allow me to fill the wheel well and maintain a close to stock ground clearance. Then I can add a splitter and side skirts without too much fear of ripping them off driving through the Michigan mine fields they call roads.
I incereased the dia, but did nothing with the speedo,its not necessary,if you go to tire rack tire calculator and install the sizes it will tell you the difference in speed.
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