[Z06] Max tire size squared
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 117
Likes: 6
From: Monrovia CA
Max tire size squared
Good day. Newbie to the forum here. l have what l hope is a simple question. What is the largest tire size square l can run on my 01 Z06? l will be using the factory 10.5 18 Speedline Z06 wheels on all corners. l will be driving this car daily and tracking maybe once a month. l dont mind removing the brake ducts or a little rub here or there at full lock to achieve this. l have read through l believe just about all articles on this and couldnt find a definitive answer. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance
Last edited by R Jay MacReady; Mar 23, 2020 at 10:54 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,317
Likes: 3,355
From: Central TX
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Good day. Newbie to the forum here. l have what l hope is a simple question. What is the largest tire size square l can run on my 01 Z06? l will be using the factory 10.5 18 Speedline Z06 wheels on all corners. l will be driving this car daily and tracking maybe once a month. l dont mind removing the brake ducts or a little rub here or there at full lock to achieve this. l have read through l believe just about all articles on this and couldnt find a definitive answer. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 398
From: Raleigh Suburbs
295 is the max I would go on a 10.5, as per researching recommended wheel widths for tire on TireRack. You can technically go bigger, however will be *slightly* pinched in and have *more* roll, during high performance driving, *not* the ideal or recommended configuration.
Sorry I do not know about interference on your particular car.
Sorry I do not know about interference on your particular car.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,317
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From: Central TX
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
FWIW, most of the autocross guys running your wheel set-up are going with 315/30/18's, all around. For a budget set-up, they seem to work very well.
Last edited by USAZR1; Mar 23, 2020 at 04:26 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 117
Likes: 6
From: Monrovia CA
USA, l was considering this as there is actually a tire shop close to me that has those 305's and for a very decent price. l think l will indeed pull the trigger on this one.
Thank you again
Thank you again
Racer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 79
From: Metro Detroit
315/30-18 9 (25.5" diameter) will fit, that is what I run but the front tires stick out a bunch. I only use the square setup for the track. My daily driver tires are the C6 Z06 sizes, 325/30-19 in the rear and 275/35-18 in the front
If it were me, I'd leave the 17" stock speedlines on the front for your daily driver use.
If the funds are available, the 18"/19" C6 set up for daily use looks much better as it fills up far more of the fender well. Stock ride height and stock wheels on a C5 leave a lot of space empty in the fender well.
Good Luck.
Last edited by Bossdog; Mar 23, 2020 at 07:13 PM.
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2010 SC GS Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Plymouth, MA
St. Jude Donor '13,'17,'18,'19
I have 315/30/18 in the rear on 11.5 inches rims. The tire diameter is 25.5 inches. The minimum rim width for that tire size is 10.5 inches. In the front I have 275/35/18 on. 10 inches rims.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Monrovia CA
Wow, so the 19/x12 for the back isnt too large for the C5 rear? l do like the looks of that set up for sure. But as you say, if the funds permit. l just searched again on Offerup and there is a set now, that just went in but its squared. This is what he is selling..: Tire size 245/40/18 with 95% tread left on all 4 and wheel size 18x9.5 all around Offset +57. He has these listed for $900 or best offer. This is kinda an odd size for C6 Z06, right? Thank you for your help and input Bossdog
Race Director
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C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Wow, so the 19/x12 for the back isnt too large for the C5 rear? l do like the looks of that set up for sure. But as you say, if the funds permit. l just searched again on Offerup and there is a set now, that just went in but its squared. This is what he is selling..: Tire size 245/40/18 with 95% tread left on all 4 and wheel size 18x9.5 all around Offset +57. He has these listed for $900 or best offer. This is kinda an odd size for C6 Z06, right? Thank you for your help and input Bossdog
Oem C6 Z06/Grand Sport wheels will poke, on both ends.
18x9.5 fronts with +40 offset
19x12 rears with +59 offset
Racer
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 331
Likes: 74
From: Florida
As mentioned, increasing tire width doesn't always translate into efficiency of traction. The contact patch can actually be distorted somewhat.
Also, keeping that 1" height differential between the front and rear with the heights close to stock as possible will keep your ABS/Traction System happy.
The C5Z is pretty much maxed out on wheel widths without poking. A lot of people don't mention this, but the rear C5Z 18x10.5" tires put on the front poke quite a bit. More than you'd think. A lot of people don't mind, but I thought I'd mention it. With the C6Z the rear fenders got wider for the 12" wide rears, but the front fender widths remained the same and still used 9.5" front wheels like the C5Z.
Also, keeping that 1" height differential between the front and rear with the heights close to stock as possible will keep your ABS/Traction System happy.
The C5Z is pretty much maxed out on wheel widths without poking. A lot of people don't mention this, but the rear C5Z 18x10.5" tires put on the front poke quite a bit. More than you'd think. A lot of people don't mind, but I thought I'd mention it. With the C6Z the rear fenders got wider for the 12" wide rears, but the front fender widths remained the same and still used 9.5" front wheels like the C5Z.
Last edited by 02torchred; Mar 24, 2020 at 03:33 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Monrovia CA
Thank you for that bit of information 02 and l will keep that in mind also. l think l may go with the C6 Z06 18x9.5 all around Offset +57 with the 245/40/18 on all corners as this will keep the ride height the same front/rear. l prefer wider tires but the 245's these wheels come with already on them are Pirelli P zeros with 95% tread left so l'll keep them until l wear them out and then go with something like 275's all around.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
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From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Spec Corvette cars run a 315/30-18 and they are driven much harder than almost all of the cars here. You will have a little bit of poke in the front, but it isn't bad. Here are a few photos of some of the cars:
Racer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
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From: Metro Detroit
Wow, so the 19/x12 for the back isnt too large for the C5 rear? l do like the looks of that set up for sure. But as you say, if the funds permit. l just searched again on Offerup and there is a set now, that just went in but its squared. This is what he is selling..: Tire size 245/40/18 with 95% tread left on all 4 and wheel size 18x9.5 all around Offset +57. He has these listed for $900 or best offer. This is kinda an odd size for C6 Z06, right? Thank you for your help and input Bossdog
Racer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 79
From: Metro Detroit
Thank you for that bit of information 02 and l will keep that in mind also. l think l may go with the C6 Z06 18x9.5 all around Offset +57 with the 245/40/18 on all corners as this will keep the ride height the same front/rear. l prefer wider tires but the 245's these wheels come with already on them are Pirelli P zeros with 95% tread left so l'll keep them until l wear them out and then go with something like 275's all around.
1) you loose the forward rake because you loose the extra 1" in the back wheels. Not a big deal for street driving but on the track, having the rear down an the nose up at high speed gets a bit floaty. If you have adjustable coilovers, you can adjust.
2) as 02 mentioned, the stability control system is looking for a slight size offset from front to back. As documented on this forum, sometimes when you run the same diameter tire all round, the stability control freaks out and does not want to play nice. I have run a square set up for 3 seasons olny for track use and I have never had that issue.
3) in my opinion, a 245 square set up will be fine on the street, on the track it will be seriously limiting at best, a real challenge at worst. You will leave most of the performance under the hood and not on the track. Your rear will be stepping out every time you accelerate.
Just a few of my thoughts having gone through this not all that many years ago when I got my C5 Z06
Best of luck. Half the fun is learning, testing and adjusting!
Last edited by Bossdog; Mar 24, 2020 at 10:25 AM.
