BigFloyd

I've been checking a number of previous posts about front tires for the Z06 and the available sizes/alternatives. I recently bought a 2001 yellow Z06 (my first ever Corvette) that's in need of new fronts (not worn out, but a few too many years old for my liking). Rears are 295/35/18 Bridgestone Potenza RE760. Usage mostly will be spirited driving on country roads, autocross (for fun, not competitive) a few times a year and perhaps an HPDE weekend or two a year.

Narrowed it down to three tires a pair of which I'm ready to order soon:

Potenza S007A which can be bought in the correct 265/40R17, but they don't make it in a 295/35/18 to match on the rears later..

Continental ExtremeContact Sport in 275/40/17 (it's also available in 295/35ZR18)

Nitto NT555 G2 in 275/40/17 (no 295/35/18 in this one though).

I'm hesitant to try 255/40/17s on the front since I have to angle the car to get it in and out of my driveway as it is due to the drainage dip where the street meets the driveway.

The Potenzas would have to be ordered and shipped. The others I can get at one of our local Discount Tire shops.

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Srt03

i just order the Continental Extreme sports. Won’t get them on till next week.

Verrückt ZR1

I ran Continental Extreme Contact DW's (the predecessor to the Sports) on my '04 Z06. Fronts were 255/40-R17's, and I didn't have any getting in and out of a STEEP Rio Rancho driveway. I was lowered on the stock bolts, as well. They had great traction in both dry and wet conditions, but the sidewalls were noticeably mushy. Hopefully they've improved that aspect of the tires. Loved 'em otherwise. Good luck.

Spaggs

I've tried both the Continentals and Potenza tires. The Continentals are very good in the rain, but have a softer sidewall. When I put them on I felt like my shocks went away. When I put the Potenza's on, my shocks were back and then some. I'll never put another set of Continentals on any of my vehicles.
Spaggs

BigFloyd

If the 255/40s will work in the front, that does open up some additional possibilities.

Do those that have gone smaller also drop to a 285/35/18 in the rear? Seems like there are more selections in that size vs the 295/35s.

Bushman66

I put on a set of the ExtremeContact Sports about 600 miles ago on my 04Z. Decided to run the 255 in the front (for now, will go square setup or 275 on 18" rear OEM Speedlines eventually). So far, love the tires. Turn in is crisp, straight line dry traction is excellent (the old 7 year old Potenzas would be annihilated in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd gear. Noise is greatly reduced over the Potenzas. So far, an excellent choice for about $800 less than a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 2's would have cost me. I am running the 295's in the rear.

Verrückt ZR1

I ran 295's. Worked like a charm, and looked great.

wscott62893

255 up front is only .25" smaller in overall diameter compared to 265. Also only 0.16" smaller sidewall. You will notice little overall height difference, but the contact patch will suffer a bit. If you run 255 up front and 295 out back, you'll have a 1.1" difference in diameter front to rear. Your active handling won't have any problems with that. Check out this link. It helped me a lot when it came time to buy tires.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc...5r18-255-40r17

f6john

I ran a set of Ventus 255 17’s up front and 295 18’s on the back for a couple of years with no issues. Took them off for a set of CCW 505’s in a 18” square setup.

ArtClassShank

Continental makes a great street tire. I'm run DW's on a couple cars and have experience with the new Extreme Contact Sports on an NB Miata. They're easily equivalent to the "old" Pilot Super Sports. Quiet, comfortable, and very good traction.

Bushman66

Agree 100% with this. Ran PS2's on my 2001 996 Turbo. The new Sports are every bit as good (as close as I can tell with 2 completely different platforms).

chasboy

I have the same size setup in Continental DWS 06. Its an all season but it works great. On my Z, to have a matched set I had to do a 275/295 Combo in Vredestien Ultrac Sessanta and loved them, but are discontinued. I did put BFG G-Force in standard coupe sizes on my current c5 and liked them as well. If I didn’t have problems with the chrome repros, I would probably still have them but I chose to go with TSW rims and this time went with Z06 sizes.