Taste great and less filling... 
Why larger wheels in back?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 30
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From: Buffalo NY
Why larger wheels in back?
I noticed the c6's now have 18's in front and 19's in back, and c5's have 17's in front and 18's in back. So why do vettes and many other sports cars have larger wheels in the back? Is is just for looks? Or is there a performance aspect? If so, whats the science behind it?
thanks
thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: All that glitters is Gold - Hockey Is CANADA'S game
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Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
As for the C5 it is to support the huge rear end. 
I think it is more for appearance giving the vehicle a meaner stance.
I think it is more for appearance giving the vehicle a meaner stance.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
simple answer...did you ever see a covered wagon????little wheels in the front big wheels in the rear.
the original C5 wheels were called wagon wheels...< insert the theme from the twilight zone>
the original C5 wheels were called wagon wheels...< insert the theme from the twilight zone>
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Team Owner
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From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by 1Patriot
I thought we had some real engineers on this board. 
The bigger wheels in the back is so the car is always rolling down hill. Simple huh.
The bigger wheels in the back is so the car is always rolling down hill. Simple huh.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 208
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From: Bowling Green KY
Originally Posted by sabre81
I noticed the c6's now have 18's in front and 19's in back, and c5's have 17's in front and 18's in back. So why do vettes and many other sports cars have larger wheels in the back? Is is just for looks? Or is there a performance aspect? If so, whats the science behind it?
thanks
thanks
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,847
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From: Iowa
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by batsallover
As Dave Hill, chief Corvette engineer has said, it is only for looks. I've got 20's in back and 18's in front.
Well, if this really is the case, what's with all this noise I heard awhile ago that the different sized wheels had something to do with the active handling.
That if the same sized wheels (and tires) were placed on all four corners, there will not be any "rake" to the car's stance and the computers that control the active handling will not have a "reference" point from which to determing if the vette is in a slide or not.
Was this just a bunch of nonsense, or what?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Gone
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St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by MagikDraggin
Well, if this really is the case, what's with all this noise I heard awhile ago that the different sized wheels had something to do with the active handling.
That if the same sized wheels (and tires) were placed on all four corners, there will not be any "rake" to the car's stance and the computers that control the active handling will not have a "reference" point from which to determing if the vette is in a slide or not.
Was this just a bunch of nonsense, or what?
That if the same sized wheels (and tires) were placed on all four corners, there will not be any "rake" to the car's stance and the computers that control the active handling will not have a "reference" point from which to determing if the vette is in a slide or not.
Was this just a bunch of nonsense, or what?
The tire diamater though is a different story. The TC and AH systems read the invidual wheel rpm's to detect loss of traction, and are calibrated to reflect the rear tires being approx 1" taller than the fronts. If you alter tire sizing to the point the 4 tires are the same dia, or worse, the fronts are taller, you have altered the wheel speeds enough that you'll likely experience these systems engaging during normal driving.
Paying attention to overall tire diameter is critical when altering wheel/tire sizes on a C5.