Silverwolf_pup

Hello, 2002 fe3 z51 coupe, I have a question about tires, I have reproduction fake z06 rims with OEM tires 275/40/18 rear, I have a few suspension upgrades like, C6 z51 sway bars, Bilstein B6 HD shocks, someone mentioned that with the OEM 275 width I’m not getting full potential of the suspension upgrades, mods, is this false or correct? I do need two new rear tires, so should I fit some wider tires on, I seen 285 will work, but should I? it should give better grip being wider. Thanks

runner140*

Spend a few minutes on "tirerack.com". Worth your time.

USAZR1

Excellent suggestion. I use that site, almost every day.

OP, need more info from you. OEM Z06 rear wheels are 18x10.5's. Your "repro fake" Z06 rears may be 18x9.5 or 18x10.5 or ? Do you know what width they are because it makes a big difference in tire size recommendations. What size are your front wheels and tires?
If your rears are 9.5 width, I personally wouldn't run anything wider than a 285 tire. If they are 10.5 width, either a 295 or 305 will work fine. Yes, a 315/30/18 will fit a 10.5 width wheel but those tires are really short @ 25.5" tall. Why is that important? Because, to keep your front-rear tire diameter stagger in the range that keeps your active handle/traction control happy, you would need to also run an even shorter diameter front tire.

0Luke@tirerack

Me too !!!


excellent answer/post !!!

Evil-Twin

Unfortunately, as our C5's age, tire selection becomes an issue. You dont want to spend money on new wheels ( different sizes ) just so that you can get a specific tire that might be available in a specific size. 20 years after the fact, selecting tires is not a given.. what you have to do in 2019 is find all of the "available" tires, with actual stock in house that you can purchase. From this research you can select the best tire for your specific needs from those that are available. Price, compound etc. Dont compare one manufacturers tread ware number to another manufacturers.. This is not a Universal number. its only for internal comparison within that specific manufacturer.. A higher thread ware rating could be in reality, a lower performer then another manufacturers lower rating.

Silverwolf_pup

What will a 285 tire look like on rear, anyone have pics.

killian96ss

As USAZR1 asked, what are your rim sizes? Are your reproduction Z06 rims the same as factory Z06 rims, 17x9.5 front, 18.10.5 rear? You need to know the specs in order to select the right size tires.

Steve

Silverwolf_pup

Ok I need to measure my rim depth

Vetteman Jack

The wheel width should be stamped either on the inside of one of the wheel spikes or on the back side of the wheel on the lip edge. Just look carefully on the back side of the wheel.

Silverwolf_pup

Okay my rear wheels are 18x10.5

USAZR1

Well now, that opens up many more options. You can fit up to a 315 tire, on that 10.5" width wheel.

gimp

Yep. 10.5" wide will fit a 315, and should fit without rubbing assuming the offset is correct and the car is at stock ride height. Both front and rear. (Front will have a fair bit of poke running a square 10.5" setup using the C5Z rear wheel.)

You can fit basically anything from a 265 to a 315... I'd personally recommend at least a 285 on the rear. Fronts are a bit tricky because while you can fit a 315 up front and you can get a super sticky tire, the stock steering pump isn't really designed for super wide / super sticky / super high effort (eg, track, autocross). You can do some but not all of the above.

OP, what do you use the car for? Is this seeing road course? Autocross? Canyon carving? Daily driving?

Silverwolf_pup

Daily driver no, I might drive the car twice a week, but in winter she is in garage. I do a lot of street driving and leisure highway trips, I love the back roads mountainous curvy roads, I wanna get more spirited with just a hair wider tires, I think 285’s would do it. How far out will they stick?

USAZR1

Up to a 305 size rear tire, they shouldn't poke, at all.

gimp

At a stock power level and for street driving, if your tires are worn out and it's time to get new ones, get 285s. They'll give you a bit more of what you're looking for without costing significantly more.

Silverwolf_pup

It is 10mm more 275-285 where does the extra tread go? That will be nice tho.

Silverwolf_pup

Nice!! Cha ching

Silverwolf_pup

Anyone wanna chime in?

Silverwolf_pup

Bump?

USAZR1

Some of us already have. What part do you do not understand?