Wheel Size Question
Thread Starter
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Wheel Size Question
So I have the stock wagon wheels on my 99 C5, and I am looking to replace them with something, well a little more stylish. Here is the catch: They have brand new tires mounted on them, so I need the wheels that I buy to be the exact same size, front and back.
I am planning to go to my buddy at discount tire and have the tires taken off the wagon wheels and then put on whatever I buy.
Thanks in advance for your help!
I am planning to go to my buddy at discount tire and have the tires taken off the wagon wheels and then put on whatever I buy.
Thanks in advance for your help!
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Well, your wagon wheels are 17x8.5 in the front and 18x9.5 in the rear. You might be able to go a bit wider but not by much and still have the stock size tires fit. Check on a site like Tire Rack under the various brands of tires - they have a spec tab under each brand of tire that will tell you what size rim it is safe to run it on for that particular size tire.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 20,030
Likes: 289
From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !
Sell your 17/18 tires on Ebay...
If your going to get more stylish wheels then don't go with 17/18. 17/18 setups are very out dated.
Go with at least a 18/18 setup, 18/19, or 19/19 setup.
Keep an eye out for HEAVY cheap aftermarket wheels. You don't want to add a ton of extra rotating mass. I have been there and its not a good feeling.
When you need to buy new tires for a larger wheel shoot me a PM and I can help you get the right size.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...agger-etc.html
Toque
If your going to get more stylish wheels then don't go with 17/18. 17/18 setups are very out dated.
Go with at least a 18/18 setup, 18/19, or 19/19 setup.
Keep an eye out for HEAVY cheap aftermarket wheels. You don't want to add a ton of extra rotating mass. I have been there and its not a good feeling.
When you need to buy new tires for a larger wheel shoot me a PM and I can help you get the right size.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...agger-etc.html
Toque
Thread Starter
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Well, your wagon wheels are 17x8.5 in the front and 18x9.5 in the rear. You might be able to go a bit wider but not by much and still have the stock size tires fit. Check on a site like Tire Rack under the various brands of tires - they have a spec tab under each brand of tire that will tell you what size rim it is safe to run it on for that particular size tire.
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/pts/3141990018.html
What about these c6 chrome wheels?
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/pts/3115016524.html
Thread Starter
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Thanks for the help guys! So a few more questions about the tire pressure sensors. Assuming I buy wheels with tires, do I need to swap those out as well? How do I know which ones to use?
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis MO
This is all great info, thanks for posting the question and for the great info guys.
Will C5 Z06 wheels fit on a 04 coupe? Is there any fitment issues with the different backspacing and the wheels being 1" wider? I like the idea of the wheels being wider.
Will C5 Z06 wheels fit on a 04 coupe? Is there any fitment issues with the different backspacing and the wheels being 1" wider? I like the idea of the wheels being wider.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 448
Likes: 1
From: Clarksville TN
Don't know if this might help in the future. I have 18/18 all the way around. Rear tires 275/40 and front 245/40. ratios work out fine compared to stock sizes. Might bump the front up to 265 next time around. 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: SW Nuh Hampsha
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chstitans42, FWIW, if money isn't much of a problem (hey we're all rich, right?) you can purchase wheels and tires already mounted from Tire Rack. They also sell the TPM sensors, so I'd imagine they'd install those, too. Yours are probably originals and will need replacing soon anyway. This is a good time to do that.
You'd then have a second set of wheels/tires ready to go if anything happened to your new set. I've got my wagon wheels stored with a new set of tires on them, just in case. You could check with your buddy at Discount Tire to see if they offer the TPM sensors, in which case you could get the whole setup from them.
I'm good at spending other people's money. I should be, I've had enough practice spending my own.
You'd then have a second set of wheels/tires ready to go if anything happened to your new set. I've got my wagon wheels stored with a new set of tires on them, just in case. You could check with your buddy at Discount Tire to see if they offer the TPM sensors, in which case you could get the whole setup from them.
I'm good at spending other people's money. I should be, I've had enough practice spending my own.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 234
From: SW Nuh Hampsha
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 448
Likes: 1
From: Clarksville TN
Floyd
Thread Starter
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
chstitans42, FWIW, if money isn't much of a problem (hey we're all rich, right?) you can purchase wheels and tires already mounted from Tire Rack. They also sell the TPM sensors, so I'd imagine they'd install those, too. Yours are probably originals and will need replacing soon anyway. This is a good time to do that.
You'd then have a second set of wheels/tires ready to go if anything happened to your new set. I've got my wagon wheels stored with a new set of tires on them, just in case. You could check with your buddy at Discount Tire to see if they offer the TPM sensors, in which case you could get the whole setup from them.
I'm good at spending other people's money. I should be, I've had enough practice spending my own.
You'd then have a second set of wheels/tires ready to go if anything happened to your new set. I've got my wagon wheels stored with a new set of tires on them, just in case. You could check with your buddy at Discount Tire to see if they offer the TPM sensors, in which case you could get the whole setup from them.
I'm good at spending other people's money. I should be, I've had enough practice spending my own.