Stock Z wheels and tires wont stick out. My 305's dont really stick out that much.
Wheels and tires again (Sorry)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Jefferson City Missouri
Wheels and tires again (Sorry)
I am sooo confused in trying to decide what to buy for my 2002 convertible. I want to upgrade to the z06 style wheels. I am looking and found some BUT they are all one inch wider than the original wheels. I DO NOT want to put on larger tires. So first will the original size tires fit them properly? Secondly I see that Firestone Firehawk run flats are nearly $1400 a set while I can buy michlein's pilot A/s Zp..run flats for less than $900 from tire rack.. Does this sound right???
Finally in ordering new wheels I DO NOT want them to stick out any more than the existing original wheels... Could someone tell me the backspace on the original equip. wheels? What other pitfalls should I watch out for in buying wheels to make sure they Fit like my old ones. I am looking at "OE Wheels". I was at a car show over the weekend and several guys had them.. they look good... cost less than $700 for a set. Sadly I did not find out about the fitting issue from them.
Finally in ordering new wheels I DO NOT want them to stick out any more than the existing original wheels... Could someone tell me the backspace on the original equip. wheels? What other pitfalls should I watch out for in buying wheels to make sure they Fit like my old ones. I am looking at "OE Wheels". I was at a car show over the weekend and several guys had them.. they look good... cost less than $700 for a set. Sadly I did not find out about the fitting issue from them.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 1
From: You know your drunk when you swerve to miss the tree then you realize its your air freshener! Covington Ga
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Jefferson City Missouri
wheels and tires
Because the company I mentioned in the post does not sell the wheels in the original 8.5 and 9.5 widths. That is why I asked the question!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,724
Likes: 23
From: Minnesota
I am sooo confused in trying to decide what to buy for my 2002 convertible. I want to upgrade to the z06 style wheels. I am looking and found some BUT they are all one inch wider than the original wheels. I DO NOT want to put on larger tires. So first will the original size tires fit them properly? Secondly I see that Firestone Firehawk run flats are nearly $1400 a set while I can buy michlein's pilot A/s Zp..run flats for less than $900 from tire rack.. Does this sound right???
Finally in ordering new wheels I DO NOT want them to stick out any more than the existing original wheels... Could someone tell me the backspace on the original equip. wheels? What other pitfalls should I watch out for in buying wheels to make sure they Fit like my old ones. I am looking at "OE Wheels". I was at a car show over the weekend and several guys had them.. they look good... cost less than $700 for a set. Sadly I did not find out about the fitting issue from them.
Finally in ordering new wheels I DO NOT want them to stick out any more than the existing original wheels... Could someone tell me the backspace on the original equip. wheels? What other pitfalls should I watch out for in buying wheels to make sure they Fit like my old ones. I am looking at "OE Wheels". I was at a car show over the weekend and several guys had them.. they look good... cost less than $700 for a set. Sadly I did not find out about the fitting issue from them.
You can probably get away with running the stock size (245 on front and 275 on rear) but why not take advantage of the extra rim width? The Z06 uses a 265 up front and a 295 in back. However, you can safely get away with a 305 on a 10.5" wheel.
In summary, forget about running 245/275. Rather go with the 265/295 or, better, 265/305. You'll be happy if you do.
BTW, I'm running a 345 out back. If they made a wider tire in the 18" size I'd be running it. Looks much better than those cookie cutter 275 (or 295) in my opinion.
Last edited by reactor2; Sep 27, 2010 at 12:55 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 1,818
As stated by the other responders, the Z06 wheel will not stick out. Look at your OEM wheels and you will see that they are "sunk in" the fenders. The Z06 rim width and offset move the wheel and tire out to nearly flush with the fenders. They look much better that way IMHO.
As far as using the non Z06 tire sizes on the Z06 rims, you might have a problem getting a tire installer to mount them on the wider Z06 rims. The manufacturer of the tires provides a recommended minimum and maximum rim width. Most installers will stick to those for liability reasons. The non Z06 tires can be "stretched onto the wider Z06 rims but they will not look right and as I said many installers simply may not mount them.
Best choice is to get the correct tire sizes for the rims you want.
As far as using the non Z06 tire sizes on the Z06 rims, you might have a problem getting a tire installer to mount them on the wider Z06 rims. The manufacturer of the tires provides a recommended minimum and maximum rim width. Most installers will stick to those for liability reasons. The non Z06 tires can be "stretched onto the wider Z06 rims but they will not look right and as I said many installers simply may not mount them.
Best choice is to get the correct tire sizes for the rims you want.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,724
Likes: 23
From: Minnesota
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...cs-inside.html
When you park it next to a vette running 275s you can see a big difference.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 4
From: Freeport, FL
I am sooo confused in trying to decide what to buy for my 2002 convertible. I want to upgrade to the z06 style wheels. I am looking and found some BUT they are all one inch wider than the original wheels. I DO NOT want to put on larger tires. So first will the original size tires fit them properly? Secondly I see that Firestone Firehawk run flats are nearly $1400 a set while I can buy michlein's pilot A/s Zp..run flats for less than $900 from tire rack.. Does this sound right???
Finally in ordering new wheels I DO NOT want them to stick out any more than the existing original wheels... Could someone tell me the backspace on the original equip. wheels? What other pitfalls should I watch out for in buying wheels to make sure they Fit like my old ones. I am looking at "OE Wheels". I was at a car show over the weekend and several guys had them.. they look good... cost less than $700 for a set. Sadly I did not find out about the fitting issue from them.
Finally in ordering new wheels I DO NOT want them to stick out any more than the existing original wheels... Could someone tell me the backspace on the original equip. wheels? What other pitfalls should I watch out for in buying wheels to make sure they Fit like my old ones. I am looking at "OE Wheels". I was at a car show over the weekend and several guys had them.. they look good... cost less than $700 for a set. Sadly I did not find out about the fitting issue from them.
Have you considered non-runflats? You can probably get a good set off Tirerack at a reasonable price. I just upgraded my 01 vert to Z06 size wheels and went with Continental ExtremContact DWS tires ( I plan on a lil snow action). The setup looks great and sits even with the fenders (very natural look). Anyways, good luck, I know I looked and studied forever before making a decision.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Jefferson City Missouri
Manley,
Where did you purchase your wheels? What size did you go with AND do you happen to know the backspace numbers? I am seeing a trend of people sizing up when they replace wheels, which I likely will do also. I am doing like you have done by researching this all I can before putting out the bucks. I would sure hate to order a set of wheels and then find that they look unnaturally wide. I have seem some that in my opinion really ruined the looks of the car.
Where did you purchase your wheels? What size did you go with AND do you happen to know the backspace numbers? I am seeing a trend of people sizing up when they replace wheels, which I likely will do also. I am doing like you have done by researching this all I can before putting out the bucks. I would sure hate to order a set of wheels and then find that they look unnaturally wide. I have seem some that in my opinion really ruined the looks of the car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 4
From: Freeport, FL
Manley,
Where did you purchase your wheels? What size did you go with AND do you happen to know the backspace numbers? I am seeing a trend of people sizing up when they replace wheels, which I likely will do also. I am doing like you have done by researching this all I can before putting out the bucks. I would sure hate to order a set of wheels and then find that they look unnaturally wide. I have seem some that in my opinion really ruined the looks of the car.
Where did you purchase your wheels? What size did you go with AND do you happen to know the backspace numbers? I am seeing a trend of people sizing up when they replace wheels, which I likely will do also. I am doing like you have done by researching this all I can before putting out the bucks. I would sure hate to order a set of wheels and then find that they look unnaturally wide. I have seem some that in my opinion really ruined the looks of the car.
The are from a company in Florida, I think called OE Wheels (I'm at work and cant verify). They are Z06 size, 17x9.5 & 18x10.5". Back spacing seems to be the same for "corvette" specific aftermarket wheels (for the most part at least).
The wheels I chose where a variation of the stock 5 spoke. They took the same design and made them deep-dish, they are gloss black with polished lip and look great, very nice paint. Sorry, don't know how to post pics but will email or text if you pm me your info.
I am going for a Grand Sport theme is why I chose them.
The tires set me back about $740, but I need all season tires.
All in all, the look stock and fill in the wheel well perfectly.
