2000 c5 FRC

Nt01 in 275/40-17 and 305/35-18
or
nt05 in either 255/40-17 or 275/40-17 and 295/35-18

The car is currently stock hp but will do bolt ons and maybe super charger down the road but lets leave that out of this.

I had a c6 Z06 with bolt ons and it had about 480 to the wheels (previous owner said, I didn't dyno it) and it was a really fun car but its funner to drive a slow car fast then a fast car slow around corners.

I will not be driving the C5 every day. Only a few days to work here and there (5km round trip) and back here and there.. its a 3rd vehicle and maybe to dinner and stuff in town. This will not be a car I will count on in the rain...That being said if I go on a road trip and get caught in the rain, I understand I will have to slow down and that's okay with me.

I've been hearing lots of people getting around 6,000 miles (10,000 km) out of the nt01 with regular weekend driving.

From what I read the nt05's will give around 10,000 miles (16,000 km)

I expect to drive this car (on the high side) around 5,000 to 6,000 km each year.

The nt05 is a little better in the rain but both are pretty loud which is fine. Im okay with the idea of replacing the rear tires every year and fronts every other.

Ive priced out the nt01's at about $1300 CND but haven't priced the nt05's but assume around the same.

I guess with all this in mind, can you tell me why I SHOULD NOT go with the nt01's? Will they be serious over kill on a stock car and won't get anything else out of them over the nt05 performance wise. I prefer the nt01 pattern (looks wise) over the nt05

cornering > straight line performance.

 

I cannot say much about the NT-01's as I have never had them. I have NT-05's on my relatively stock C5 and have loved them - straight-line, corners, rain...no issues with any of it.

 

what size up front? 255 or 275? and would you do the same thing again ( size wise ) will be going with black c6 z06 wheels so the side wall difference will not be as apparent as the c5 grey z06 wheels

 

Are you located in Canada, brooksy? Nitto tires are not sold there, according to their website.

The tire sizes you listed are for oem C5Z wheels but then you mentioned using C6Z wheels, which are different. Are the latter wheels oem C6Z fitment or repros, in C5Z sizes?

 

Yes, I have a tire shop in a small city about an hour from Detroit in Canada. About a year ago Nitto came into Canada with a few select wholesalers....

They are repro's from DocZ 1st rate Corvette. He had the best offset selection and even price compared to Canadian wholesalers I deal with.

 

I have the 275/295 set up on OEM C5 Z-06 wheels...

 

I don’t find that the front looks big at all. Are you lowered at all? I’m thinking to lower mine on the stock bolts.

The NT05 are actually a bit cheaper then NT01. Leaning NT05 as of now... more I read about guys running the NT01 the more I think I shouldn’t pretend to be a race car driver when I’m not.

I had a set of Michelin pilot sport ps2 on a G35 and they were awesome. The NT05 is another step nto the race world and I feel like I could always purchase a set of rear NT01 later if I want to step it up.

 

I never understood the rap against the 275s being "too tall" but everybody has their own opinions.

My car is lowered on stock bolts.

 

The nitto nt05 275 runs a little short and 295 a little tall so as a combo it works out pretty well. I've seen a 275/295 continental setup and the fronts looked too tall/fat.

I ran the nt05 combo, it sounds like what you're looking for.

 

Probably because the sidewall height on the 275/40/17's look noticeably taller, than the 295/35/18's.

 

Not to me they don't, at least not with the Nitto Nt-05's I am running. But, like I said, everyone has their own opinions...

 

They're both WAY overkill, the nt01 is a road course competition tire. You will ruin them with heat cycles with your use more than mileage, theyre only meant to get hot a small number of times before the compound degrades. The nt05 is similar, but less aggressive. It's also geared a little more towards straight line performance. What​​​What you neglect about both is temperature operating ranges. These are tires for when it's 60F or higher, MAYBE 50F. Being in Canada, that likely limits their use.

I'd recommend a good all season tires, like a bfg Comp 2 as, whatever crazy name continental uses, the Michelin pilot as3 or as4... Something like that. It will give you all the grip you will actually need, and give you a temperature range that lets you use it in spring and fall instead of just summer

 

The NT-01 is a race tire. You can't let it get cold. I have a set on my wagon wheels. I mount them and drive them to the track and back (maybe 200miles r/t - only if its dry). I know that driving them there and back is a "sacrifice" but that's the deal I have going at the moment. They are a HUGE improvement over my Potenza RE-760's on the track. Currently they are covered up with a sheet in my parents basement - which doesn't get below 60 or so...

 

Honestly I don't think you get NT-01s hot enough in normal driving to even give them a heat cycle, I ran them spring to fall on my 911tt
But it saw quite of of track time, few times a month. Found them to always be good to the cords. That said especially when they start getting down in tread, rain is really scary on the freeway if you get caught out. Love the NT-01s but if your not tracking the car I would just run the 05s they'll last much longer

 

I installed a new set of 275 and 335 NT05's, on my last ZR-1. They worked great as long as it was 60deg or above. Any moisture or temps below 50deg, they were pretty slippery.
Would I run them again? Probably but only because Nitto is the only tire maker that offers a 335 in a 19.

I wouldn't mind trying out a set of Toyo r888r's, though.

 

I decided to order the NT05. I feel like with a near stock car the difference in the nt01 and the NT05 will be unnoticeable. Couldn’t justify being disappointed in the km’s id get with the nt01. Especially if I end up taking the trip or two with the car at 1000-2000 km (estimating) Which would be over 10% of the tires life right there.

put on the NT05 and upgrade in a couple years (if I feel they aren’t getting enough grip)

will have the rears tomorrow and the fronts in about 5 business days

 

 

Thats not what the OP is asking for. Hes looking for a performance tire not an all weather tire.

I too have the NT05s and can share four years of driving experience. These are warm weather performance tires. Below 45 degress the traction is marginal. At 50-60 you need to let them build up heat before they'll become predictable. I've accumulated 5000 miles of summer driving in a variety of conditions. These are not a wet/rain tire. Their ability to hydroplane at posted speed limits is assured. And unless your into smoky burnouts and brodies, you'll be surprised with both the mileage and grip. As for road noise, never noticed a difference.

Enjoy your 05s.

 

FWIW I just drove my C5Z w/ 440ish/whp in 27 degree weather from a body shop that has had it for 3.5 months. I have NT05's 275/40R17 in front w/ literally 30,000+ miles on em, & NT05 295/35R18 rears w/ about 9k miles (2nd set of rears) - the fronts are DEFINITELY worn out, not for use in any kinda rain at this point, BUT once heated up a bit they still grip OK in temps over 55F, the rears will lose traction but are very predictable, realistically w/ my driving style (lotta corner carving & hooning around town kicking *** end out, fast highway sweeper romps 1-2 HPDEs & approximately 5k a year I expect to get 10-15k miles outta them. People will say 15k is pushing it - I'm telling you after 2 sets its not as long as you excercise caution/throttle control in colder temps/rain (personally I avoid rain anyhow) - bottom line for stock C5Z type wheels in those sizes they're probably the best compromise & bang for the buck for a street tire that'll double as psuedo track tire - I have no doubt you could use NT05s for autocross. Also, while I imagine the NT01's could be "loud" to some people, the NT05's absolutely aren't. Promise ;-) If I had NT01's on my car now in place of the NT05s & they were in the same condition I'd seriously consider NOT driving it back today & waiting until Saturday when we're randomly getting 60F weather up here in MA.

NOW - all that being said, I just started a tire thread of my own & since I now have a 2nd little boy & less time to myself AND plan on adding an A&A blower - I opted for Toyo R888R's in 275/40R17 & 305/35R18- those are similar to an NT01 in that they're really not the kind of tire you wanna spend much time on the street in the wet or cold

Good luck w/ those NT05s I'm positive you'll love em & they're truly feel like a "performance mod" once you get the fresh rubber oilyness scrubbed off - its that much of difference compared to a standard summer/all season tire.