I'm looking to buy tires this spring for my 2004 vert, but I'd like to go wider, primarily for the looks. I don't race or drive extreme, just get on it once in a while. Any suggestions on size without doing any modifications or handling issues?
thanks
Ray Z

 

I believe you can fit 265/40/17 on the front and 295/35/18 on the rear using the OEM wheels. I have been researching this also for my '04.

 

You'd be pushing the limits on the wheels but I'm sure they'd fit. That's the easy part; it's getting harder to find the Z sizes, even the Bridgestone is supposedly getting tough to find.
OP; how much wider are you hoping to get?

 

Not a simple answer here. For example.. there are two camps on wider tires. One camp says the tire should stay inside the fender.
The other camp says it looks cool to have the tire stick out beyond the fender.
As an automotive designer,I'm in the first camp..

The next thing to consider is what tires are available at this time. Not all manufacturers keep a running stock of all tire sizes.

You have to consider overall diameter front and rear to accommodate the stager required for traction control and active handling. Any where from .075 in. To 1.25 inch.

If you are in the first camp,you might be able to get away with one size increase.eg going to 295 or 305.
But not all tire manufacturers have the same physical section width.

If you are in the second csmp, you can go bigger, but you have to use a spacer to push the wheel out so the tire does not rub. Depending on the spacer you use...you might have to replace your stock wheel lugs with longer ones so you have enough thread engagement for the lug nuts.

These are just a few considerations. As an automotive engineer very specific to the C5 design, I would not recommend the use of spacers...many here would argue that point..

You are not going to get more than 11 inches of tire section width, under the fender.

Good luck, and becareful who you listen to on this forum
Bill aka ET

 

I just want to go 1 size wider front and rear.

 

you can with absolutely no issues.

Signed - the alignment guy

 

To capitalize on the OP's question, what would be the suggestion if you used stock Z06 rims? TIA -- Leroy

 

Search for ZO6 tires, I hve this size on both C5 ZO6 Vettes

265/40/17 front and 295/35/18 on the rear, standard size....

 

You just cant select the next size up since section width can vary from one manufacturer to another for the same size,,,. you also have to be conscious of the diameter. so you can have the correct stagger from front to rear... with a deviation of 0.075 inch to 1.125 inch. Not every manufacture offers every size, so you have to zero in on a size then see if it is available then check to see that it is indeed wider and with the correct stagger.

 

Let me correct you here. All manufacturers will have the same SECTION width. They will, however, have different TREAD width. Each manufacturer decides the percentage of TREAD to SECTION width. It can range from 80% to 95+%.

To throw some education your way, section width is the measurement from sidewall to sidewall of a tire. The only way this can change is if you put it on a rim that is a different width than what the manufacturer used to determine the measurement.

 

How is the availability of tires in the one size up category? I noticed doing some playing around on the tire sites when going up a size, either in width, diameter, or both, the selection of tires that are available is either severely limited, or they don't exist at all...

 

Seems you answered your own question. You just have to spend time scouring the internet. The sizes I listed do exist. I found falkin tire for the rear. At the end of the day,will it be worth it? Sometimes you can find a different brand tire with more tread width than the one you have now, given the same section width. And that's what matters. On tire rack you can look at the specs of all the tires. Just spend time comparing them.

Signed - the alignment guy

 

A few years ago I went with
255/45-17 front
285/40-18 rea​​​​​​r
Those sizes fit either the base wheels or the Z06 wheels. However the 255's on the Z06 fronts is the limit on being too small for those wheels. Some tires appear wider than others even though the same size designation. My 255's were some of the larger appearing ones and I though looked OK. Another set of 255's appeared small (Firestone's).

Good luck on your tire choices.

 

The appearance has to do with the actual tread width.

 

Agreed. For example, the ToyoR888's run a bit wider. A Nitto 555R-II fit perfectly on my car in 305. However, the Toyo as a 305 is very clearly wider and fits/looks like a 315. Tread widths between manufacturers are not the same, even though they are indicated as such.

 

I agree with everything you say...I was trying to say it's not a simple matter as choosing the next sise up
I think I muddied that water a bit. Thank you..
What I was trying to say is the Op was looking for a wider tire. Wider tire could be one size up..eg 265 x 35 x 17 to 275. .
But if the tire is not square ( footprint) (contact pad ) tread width ) even though the section width is larger and if the footprint is not relative ...the larger sized tire could appear to be smaller depending on manufacturer.

The other point I was trying to make was getting a tire that handles the stagger, and still stays compliant with the available wheel well space

Then there is the issue of mixing tire brands to achieve a certain end. Some people do not want to mix tire brands.

 

You did a pretty good job of it. Nice to have you around.

 

I found this to be helpful:
http://www.toquez06.com/wheels.html

 

All I'm looking for are tires that look wider without using spacers or any other modifications. From what I understand here is, that, I can use Z06 tires on base rims (2004 vert) and NOT have any issues, fender rubbing or stagger problems for example.
Thanks
Ray Z

 

Your wheels are 8.5 and 9.5" wide respectively. From what I can find, maximum recommended tire widths are 255 and 285, but plenty of people will push that limit. The offsets on the base model are different also, but I'm guessing 255-45 & 285-40 would be OK.
One size up SB fine, rarely is ever a problem on any car.