). Not a good look on a 70's Dodge, horrible on a sleek sportscar. Again... IMO
Tire sizes
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2017
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Tire sizes
Good day Tadge, I'm a new corvette owner--1998c5. My current rear tire size is P275/40R/18 I would like to go wider so they stick out beyond the fender, what size do you recommend? or do you recommend spacers? any information is appreciated, Tony
Le Mans Master
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From: Kelowna BC
You'd have to go way too wide to fit on stock rims. Thinking:
1. Get wheels with offset required
2. Get spacers bigger than is safe
3. Please don't do any of the above
1. Get wheels with offset required
2. Get spacers bigger than is safe
3. Please don't do any of the above
Last edited by grantv; Nov 27, 2017 at 02:06 PM.
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
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Why would you want the tires to stick out from the wheel well lip? That could cause contact between the tire and the lip and might result in damage to the lip. 
Not to mention that it will look like all sorts of Honda ricer-mobiles 
An easy upgrade would be to use C5 Z06 wheels that are 18x10.5 and 295/35-18 tires out back. These tires will be much wider that the original size and will not interfere with the wheel well lip. Just mount the tires on those wheels and bolt them on.
The front Z06 wheels are 17x9.5 and even with 275/40-17 tires up front, there will be no clearance issues even with the car lowered on the stock bolts.
Not to mention that it will look like all sorts of Honda ricer-mobiles An easy upgrade would be to use C5 Z06 wheels that are 18x10.5 and 295/35-18 tires out back. These tires will be much wider that the original size and will not interfere with the wheel well lip. Just mount the tires on those wheels and bolt them on.
The front Z06 wheels are 17x9.5 and even with 275/40-17 tires up front, there will be no clearance issues even with the car lowered on the stock bolts.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
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Thank you all for the quick replies, Reason behind the wider tire, I grew up in the 70's and find it astatically pleasing to have the rear tire sticking out just a tad, Love my vette (childhood dream) have many unanswered questions, but I must keep the shop running at the moment,
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Why would you want the tires to stick out from the wheel well lip? That could cause contact between the tire and the lip and might result in damage to the lip. Not to mention that it will look like all sorts of Honda ricer-mobiles
An easy upgrade would be to use C5 Z06 wheels that are 18x10.5 and 295/35-18 tires out back. These tires will be much wider that the original size and will not interfere with the wheel well lip. Just mount the tires on those wheels and bolt them on.
The front Z06 wheels are 17x9.5 and even with 275/40-17 tires up front, there will be no clearance issues even with the car lowered on the stock bolts.
Not to mention that it will look like all sorts of Honda ricer-mobiles An easy upgrade would be to use C5 Z06 wheels that are 18x10.5 and 295/35-18 tires out back. These tires will be much wider that the original size and will not interfere with the wheel well lip. Just mount the tires on those wheels and bolt them on.
The front Z06 wheels are 17x9.5 and even with 275/40-17 tires up front, there will be no clearance issues even with the car lowered on the stock bolts.
It’s your car, but tires that stick out past the fender just do not look good on a Vette, IMO.
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I have C6 Z06 rims, tires and brakes. They only stick out a little. I wasn't too sure if I like the look at first but everyone that sees them in person seems to like them. The tread doesn't stick out but the side wall does a little. I may wide body it later.
I wouldn't have gotten them just to have tires that stick out but if that is what you want...
Even in the 70's guys would tub the rear and use fender flares if they had the money to do it right.
I wouldn't have gotten them just to have tires that stick out but if that is what you want...
Even in the 70's guys would tub the rear and use fender flares if they had the money to do it right.
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Thank you all for the quick replies, Reason behind the wider tire, I grew up in the 70's and find it astatically pleasing to have the rear tire sticking out just a tad, Love my vette (childhood dream) have many unanswered questions, but I must keep the shop running at the moment,
Sounds like Rob 02 may have the formula with the C6 Z06 wheels and tires (plus he added the brakes), but this will be somewhat expensive, and even with that, he only had part of the sidewall and none of the tread extend past the wheel well.
If that is the look you are wanting for aesthetics, Rob's upgrade will at least get you started.
Hope it works for you. Please post some pictures if you get this worked out.
Le Mans Master
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From: Kelowna BC
Here is what I drove in the early 70's
Attachment 48229723
Attachment 48229723
Not mine, don't have a pic. Mine was black tho; 262 V8 auto. Did some mods, had a lot of fun in my first car.
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Le Mans Master
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Yep. Had 2 of them eventually. 2nd one I replaced the stock 305 with a 350LT1 4 bolt motor, cam... 4 speed (back then that meant manual
).Edit; pic now included of 2nd V8 Monza.
Last edited by grantv; Nov 28, 2017 at 09:59 AM. Reason: Added photo of car
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2017
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Thank you all for the Help, after much consideration and seeing some pics online of vettes with tires sticking out ive decided to abandon that idea and go with the Z06 wheel and tire combo, still undecided on Black and Chrome or all chrome, I have OE Wheels pulled up on another screen just hard to pull the trigger on $1200.00
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Thank you all for the Help, after much consideration and seeing some pics online of vettes with tires sticking out ive decided to abandon that idea and go with the Z06 wheel and tire combo, still undecided on Black and Chrome or all chrome, I have OE Wheels pulled up on another screen just hard to pull the trigger on $1200.00
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From: Atlantic Beach FL.
Le Mans Master
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If you take your time and shop around you will find those wheels for much less than $1200, unless you are also including the tires. Just avoid the stock Goodyears that came on them. They are horrible tires. There are much better tires available for reasonable prices.
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You need tires. I got the Firestone Indy 500's. They are the least expensive option for just under $1,000. They are an excellent summer tire. Sticky and have good tread wear.
You might find rims in the $500-$600 range. Make sure they are true.
You might find rims in the $500-$600 range. Make sure they are true.