Best C5 Corvette tires
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
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Racer
Joined: May 2013
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From: Panama City, FL
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
sizes do you guys run on front and rear? Any noticeable issues?[/QUOTE]
Chris, Z06 sizes are few now if I wanted to stay stock. I have 275/40 on front,295/35 rear. NO ISSUES, and handles like on rails, on stock rims. I could not be happier.
Chris, Z06 sizes are few now if I wanted to stay stock. I have 275/40 on front,295/35 rear. NO ISSUES, and handles like on rails, on stock rims. I could not be happier.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: oregon
I wouldn't hesitate to drive it in the rain, but I'm not looking for great performance in wet weather. I just need it to be safe at reasonable speeds. As far as all-seasons go, the car goes into the garage when snow-time comes around each year. If I were going to drive in the snow, like my '97 BMW 318 beater, I wouldn't mess around with AS tires; I'd go with full winters. Here in Germany, I'm much more concerned with high-speed stability and good braking performance in the dry.
all season tires aren't good at anything
a full summer tire is good in heat and the dry and dedicated winter tires will kill all seasons in the cold weather
if you can get your hands on the RE11 i think that may be the tire to use for your situation. it's as fast or faster than the PSS and has large blocks of tread to aid in high speed stability. it's bridgestones highest performing street tire. it just doesn't have the treadlife of a pss with a 180 or 200 UTQG , can't remember which. last year i know they came in 275 40 18 and 245 45 17 but you would have to find out if they are still being made. for some reason c5 tire sizes have been getting discontinued more than i like seeing
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if you can get your hands on the RE11 i think that may be the tire to use for your situation. it's as fast or faster than the PSS and has large blocks of tread to aid in high speed stability. it's bridgestones highest performing street tire. it just doesn't have the treadlife of a pss with a 180 or 200 UTQG , can't remember which. last year i know they came in 275 40 18 and 245 45 17 but you would have to find out if they are still being made. for some reason c5 tire sizes have been getting discontinued more than i like seeing
Race Director
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From: oregon
Crap! I was getting pretty excited about the RE11s after reading a few reviews. Look good in the rain, and people rave about their handling. Went to tire rack, and they have them in stock, but they're unfortunately only W speed-rated. That's a 168mph rating. I obviously do not run at a sustained speed of anything above that, but the thought of a tire blow out at 170 is terrifying. I think I better stick to Y rated and higher.
these tires have EXCELLENT traction and if you get right down to it. your other plan of pss in front and ps2 in rear may have a Y rating but you throw the car out of balance and trail brake into a ditch
may be better off staying under 168mph and having a street tire that can perform and offers outstanding grip for a non R tire
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i would be chatty with birdgestone before you discount them. people use that tire on extended high speed lap days frequently. the tread compound has its best grip about 200 deg.
these tires have EXCELLENT traction and if you get right down to it. your other plan of pss in front and ps2 in rear may have a Y rating but you throw the car out of balance and trail brake into a ditch
may be better off staying under 168mph and having a street tire that can perform and offers outstanding grip for a non R tire
these tires have EXCELLENT traction and if you get right down to it. your other plan of pss in front and ps2 in rear may have a Y rating but you throw the car out of balance and trail brake into a ditch
may be better off staying under 168mph and having a street tire that can perform and offers outstanding grip for a non R tire
And uneven wear, and wet handling characteristics... And I don't have to worry about retuning everything, or reducing the already very low clearance of the vette by another 1/2"...
Le Mans Master
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From: Morristown New Jersey
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Chris, I think you are making this a bit more complex than it has to be. I learned the hard way about tires from my first car, and studied the subject all the 50 years I've owned cars. Tho' many things can be "ok" putting dissimilar tires on a high performance automobile is a risk I would not recommend. In addition very sticky tires could be a liability for normal street use.
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Chris, I think you are making this a bit more complex than it has to be. I learned the hard way about tires from my first car, and studied the subject all the 50 years I've owned cars. Tho' many things can be "ok" putting dissimilar tires on a high performance automobile is a risk I would not recommend. In addition very sticky tires could be a liability for normal street use.
They haven't shipped, yet. So, I guess I'll cancel the order, and I'll probably end up going the RE11 route. Looks like they're a good performing, relatively long-lasting tire that work in the dry and in the wet. My quick google-based research doesn't show any problems with blowouts, although I have seen that they aren't legal in europe from a member on one forum.
The only other route I'm considering at this point is the complicated one. The biggest advantage of going this route is being able to retune the car for any tire size in the future, which will keep my tire & wheel options open.
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racebum, I'm gonna sleep on it, but hell, I've only ever had the vette 8mph faster than a W rating. Everything I've read in comparison to the PSS shows that the RE11 are the better dry performer. Even the critics that have driven both say that the RE11 out grop the PSS. The PSS apparently have a lot of other things going for them: wet, noise, wear, but they don't come in the right size for the stock C5 rear, which is a big disadvantage to me.
Unless something new comes up, I'll put a set of RE11s on order tomorrow.
Unless something new comes up, I'll put a set of RE11s on order tomorrow.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Vancouver B.C.
Since you're already in Germany why not get a set of Continental Extreme Contact DW tires. They're summer performance tires and better performing than the Toyo T1Rs I had before. (Not that the Toyos were a bad tire they were good - and long lasting, I got 40,000 miles out of them I suspect the Contis will wear out a little sooner.)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Conejo Valley CA
Agree with all comments above. I also have them and I'm quite pleased. I can't say if they are the all around best tire for the C5 but I can definitely say this: you will not buy a better tire for the C5 for the money spent on the Hankooks.
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http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article...-Tyre-Test.htm
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article...-Tyre-Test.htm
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article...-Tyre-Test.htm
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Since you're already in Germany why not get a set of Continental Extreme Contact DW tires. They're summer performance tires and better performing than the Toyo T1Rs I had before. (Not that the Toyos were a bad tire they were good - and long lasting, I got 40,000 miles out of them I suspect the Contis will wear out a little sooner.)
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article...-Tyre-Test.htm
The MPSS would be my tire of choice if it came in the right size. The RE11 supposed out handles the MPSS in dry, but loses in everything else. It's the same story against the S04 Pole Position tires. In fact, I'd say that the S04 is more a direct competitor with the MPSS than the RE11 is. The RE11 is a heavier tire, and sounds like it will have more high speed stability than any tire I've looked at so far. I also have taken the car to the nurburgring a couple times, and I plan to visit the hockenheim ring and potentially a couple other tracks on this set of tires. The argument for the RE11s is getting stronger and stronger.
MPSS will be my next tire if they ever make it in a 275/40 series for the 18" wheel.
Anyway, thanks for all of the advice everyone. I feel more educated about tires than I have been in a very long time.