Wheel / Tyre sizes... please help
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Wheel / Tyre sizes... please help
Hi all, UK based - soon to be - C5 owner here.
I am trying to establish the wheel / tyre config I need to up the sizes over the stock wheels.
As I understand it, the stock sizes are:
FRONT: 245 45 17
REAR: 275 40 18
*is this right?
So using this calculator: http://www.kouki.co.uk/utilities/vis...ize-calculator
* so to match the stock roling radius, I would need (for 19"s all around):
FRONT: 245 35 19
REAR: 275 35 19
*** is it advisable to keep the staggered setup - 18"s front / 19"s back for example - or can you have the same size all 4 corners but use the tyres to keep the rolling radius correct (and not mess with the Traction Control..)
Thank you for any help
I am trying to establish the wheel / tyre config I need to up the sizes over the stock wheels.
As I understand it, the stock sizes are:
FRONT: 245 45 17
REAR: 275 40 18
*is this right?
So using this calculator: http://www.kouki.co.uk/utilities/vis...ize-calculator
* so to match the stock roling radius, I would need (for 19"s all around):
FRONT: 245 35 19
REAR: 275 35 19
*** is it advisable to keep the staggered setup - 18"s front / 19"s back for example - or can you have the same size all 4 corners but use the tyres to keep the rolling radius correct (and not mess with the Traction Control..)
Thank you for any help
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 858
Likes: 75
From: Medford, Oregon
I agree with the statement in regards to keeping the stagger correct with either wheel diameter or tire sizing. My real input for you is to look first into the availability of tire brands or sizes you want to run first and fit the wheel size accordingly. Tire brand selection and sizes are marginal with the 17/18 stock stagger, where as the tire brand and sizing selection opens up vastly with a 18/19 combo. If you decide on running 18's or 19's all around, you will still need to keep the stagger with tire sizing. Have fun across the pond !!! 
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 332
Likes: 22
From: Georgia
After probably too much reading and research, I came to the conclusion that the best possible tire/wheel size combination is 305/30/19 in the rear, 265/35/18 in front. Lots of combinations are possible to get the correct ratio front/rear, but many end up with the right math but the wrong look. The above combination gets you the best of both, in my opinion. Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 858
Likes: 75
From: Medford, Oregon
After probably too much reading and research, I came to the conclusion that the best possible tire/wheel size combination is 305/30/19 in the rear, 265/35/18 in front. Lots of combinations are possible to get the correct ratio front/rear, but many end up with the right math but the wrong look. The above combination gets you the best of both, in my opinion. Good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 239
From: Redondo Beach CA
I am glad the results of through research and some thought about the real world application of the result were posted, since I am always looking for better answers with less work.
Given that I would have to learn about tire sizes and how to apply this seemingly complicated understanding, a best solution with a second agreement is a prize winner for me. Thanks, now I have a reasonable starting point should I someday change rims away from my stocker chrome wagon wheels.
Given that I would have to learn about tire sizes and how to apply this seemingly complicated understanding, a best solution with a second agreement is a prize winner for me. Thanks, now I have a reasonable starting point should I someday change rims away from my stocker chrome wagon wheels.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
I took the easy route - I decided the GM engineers probably knew what they were doing, so I adopted the standard C6 set up as to wheel sizes (18/19) and tires (245/40 - 18 front, 285/35 - 19 rear). This gave me the advantage of a wide range of tire options - both run flat and non run flat.
I chose Michelin A/S run flats - I do quite a lot of driving on busy highways (motorways) and I did not want to get wiped out by some idiot while I was trying to pump up a tire or plug a puncture on the hard shoulder. Also, I drive the car all year round, and where I live we get cold winters, and in my experience summer high performance tires are not good (= you can lose it fairly easily) when they get too cold (this a.m. for example, we were at 4F or -15/16C). With the All Seasons, I have even managed to get home successfully when there was a couple of inches of snow on the roads. And under more normal conditions, they have rather more grip than you can sensibly use on public roads.
I chose Michelin A/S run flats - I do quite a lot of driving on busy highways (motorways) and I did not want to get wiped out by some idiot while I was trying to pump up a tire or plug a puncture on the hard shoulder. Also, I drive the car all year round, and where I live we get cold winters, and in my experience summer high performance tires are not good (= you can lose it fairly easily) when they get too cold (this a.m. for example, we were at 4F or -15/16C). With the All Seasons, I have even managed to get home successfully when there was a couple of inches of snow on the roads. And under more normal conditions, they have rather more grip than you can sensibly use on public roads.
Last edited by jackthelad; Mar 7, 2015 at 02:39 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 332
Likes: 22
From: Georgia
I forgot to mention the wheel sizes that I chose for my C5 were 19x10.5 rear and 18x9 with proper offsets for the car. In my case, I went with TSW Nurburgring wheels that are widely available with proper offsets from many vendors. Lots of pictures around with them on various C5's.
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