Tire question 2014
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 70
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From: Boulder CO
Tire question 2014
Greetings all. I'm in the market for new high-performance tires for my C5 Z, stock sizes. After an hour or so of searching I've found only Goodyear, Michelin, and Bridgestone. Kumho apparently doesn't make the size anymore. Am I missing something or are these pretty much my choices? I know the Michelin's are probably a very good all-around tire, but they are pricey, and I'm not making the income I once did. I've not been real pleased with the two sets of Eagle's I've had. They worn really fast realizing of course they are first and foremost performance tires. The car has only 29,xxx miles. 
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
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From: oregon
you missed nitto
the nt05 comes in 295/275, but, the 295 is tall and the 275 short making the height split nearly identical to OEM. the sharp square sidewall and the fact they don't run wide at all make them a pretty cosmetically decent fit too
not a good rain tire though
many of us, myself included go 19/18 so we can run the michelin pss
oh, mentioning of michelin the 295 35 18 ps2 is now only available in the N4 compound which is porsche specific. the 265 40 17 is the standard ps2 compound.
the nt05 comes in 295/275, but, the 295 is tall and the 275 short making the height split nearly identical to OEM. the sharp square sidewall and the fact they don't run wide at all make them a pretty cosmetically decent fit too
not a good rain tire though
many of us, myself included go 19/18 so we can run the michelin pss
oh, mentioning of michelin the 295 35 18 ps2 is now only available in the N4 compound which is porsche specific. the 265 40 17 is the standard ps2 compound.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 70
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From: Boulder CO
Thanks gentlemen 
Nice to know I at least have multiple options. And your right, I forgot Nitto. I'll have a look at the options from them. I'm going to "invest" a few bucks in the car this year, but bigger wheels are just not an option right now. It may be two gen's old at this point, but it's still a heck of a car, and much could still be done to it if the cash inflow goes up. It's 10 years old next month, and I wouldn't mind "molesting" it a bit at this point. 100 more hp could be gained with modest ones. It still get's plenty of thumbs up, nice car comments, and appreciative smiles most every time I take it out. Heck even the occasional cute college girl at a drive-thru comments on it. But I'm a bit old at this point to be offering them rides.
Nice to know I at least have multiple options. And your right, I forgot Nitto. I'll have a look at the options from them. I'm going to "invest" a few bucks in the car this year, but bigger wheels are just not an option right now. It may be two gen's old at this point, but it's still a heck of a car, and much could still be done to it if the cash inflow goes up. It's 10 years old next month, and I wouldn't mind "molesting" it a bit at this point. 100 more hp could be gained with modest ones. It still get's plenty of thumbs up, nice car comments, and appreciative smiles most every time I take it out. Heck even the occasional cute college girl at a drive-thru comments on it. But I'm a bit old at this point to be offering them rides.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 538
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From: Knoxville TN
St. Jude Donor '14
I will be buying tires for my Z06 wheels this week. I have been searching for the past 2 months and settled on the Continental ExtremeContact DW. I'm getting the 275/295 set up. From what I have researched on the Z06 forum the Continental will offer what I'm looking for. Has good dry and wet traction and yet still has the performance a tire should for the Vette.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
I will be buying tires for my Z06 wheels this week. I have been searching for the past 2 months and settled on the Continental ExtremeContact DW. I'm getting the 275/295 set up. From what I have researched on the Z06 forum the Continental will offer what I'm looking for. Has good dry and wet traction and yet still has the performance a tire should for the Vette.
puts you at a .4" split front to rear which is right on the line of active handling issues.
it is probably the best heavy wet/dry tire for the OEM wheels though and i really understand why you are going this way
front is just kind of baloony. 2 years ago they sold the 265 40 17, then, sadly, it was pulled from the DW line
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,534
Likes: 374
From: Philadelphia PA
I went with the Bridgestones. For the price, I think they are a great tire. Good grip in warm weather and road noise is tolerable...meaning it's the same, if not quieter than the OEM SC's.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
I ditched the GYs and went with Michelin PS2 A/S ZP
Maybe a little pricy but no comparison to the OEM GYs. With a vert I thought that the road noise was due to the rag top. When I put the PS2s on 5 or 6 years ago not only was the noise much lower but the handling was terrific. Terrific traction wet and dry and not bad in the snow. Tread looks very good after another 30000 miles. The GYs wore out at 36000 miles. You get what you pay for.
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Boulder CO
Again, thanks for the info. I'm sure it's been beat to death on these forum's but decreasing the height from 40-35, and 35-30 seems subtle, but in fact is well over 10% in both cases. That increases rotation at a given speed increasing acceleration, lowering MPG, and my shift points, and throwing off the speedo so that when it says 80 I'm doing closer to 70. The speedo can be easily adjusted I'm sure with a hand held tuner (though I don't have one), but the accel, mpg, and shift points are a given. It also seems to me increasing rotation will quicken tire wear. Funny isn't it that what seems such a subtle change can have such big effects. At the track that would seem to increase # of shifts though increasing pull out of low speed corners. It effectively narrows the gear band reducing top speed in any gear as well as overall top speed, but at 176 I'll never see it anyway. And it makes an over rev a bit more possible. Also affects the odo making 100 miles clock at more like 110. Not saying I don't like some of those changes, but other's require serious consideration.
Last edited by BoulderVette; Feb 17, 2014 at 11:54 AM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,735
Likes: 14
From: Visalia CA
A year ago, I ditched the runflats and went with BFG KDW2s from Tire Rack. Not the most popular tire around here, but I like the looks, and the ride and handling are quite good. The price was very reasonable also. Under $900 shipped to my installer.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 538
Likes: 6
From: Knoxville TN
St. Jude Donor '14
How have they been in the rain? I have looked at the BFG's too and have considered them as well.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,279
Likes: 18
From: Oklahoma
I just posted this a few minutes ago. Don't have a size for the fronts yet, but they do the rears! http://forums.corvetteforum.com/whee...val-tires.html