What is Best Performance Wheel Size?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
What is Best Performance Wheel Size?
I am trying to decide between:
1) stock Z06 size wheels (17x9.5)F - (18x10.5)R
Or
2. larger front (18x9.5)F - (18x10.5)R
Is it true that there is better handling with the 18's front and back? Do they mess up active handling or anything else? Do they look right?
1) stock Z06 size wheels (17x9.5)F - (18x10.5)R
Or
2. larger front (18x9.5)F - (18x10.5)R
Is it true that there is better handling with the 18's front and back? Do they mess up active handling or anything else? Do they look right?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,222
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
if the outer diameter of the tires are close to the same (something like 26.x") active handeling will be fine.
From a pure performance standpoint, 17" wheels would be better b/c the weight of the wheels is closer to the center, that is assuming that they will clear whatever brakes you've got on the car, which may require an 18" wheel.
for the size wheels you listed a 265/35R18 front and 295/35R18 rear would be perfect.
The main thing to worry about is the weight of the wheels. Some of the fancy chrome wheels weigh as much as 5-10lbs more and would be like adding a 100lb. weight to the car. However, unless you're serious about racing the car, it won't make much difference on the street
From a pure performance standpoint, 17" wheels would be better b/c the weight of the wheels is closer to the center, that is assuming that they will clear whatever brakes you've got on the car, which may require an 18" wheel.
for the size wheels you listed a 265/35R18 front and 295/35R18 rear would be perfect.
The main thing to worry about is the weight of the wheels. Some of the fancy chrome wheels weigh as much as 5-10lbs more and would be like adding a 100lb. weight to the car. However, unless you're serious about racing the car, it won't make much difference on the street
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,027
Likes: 6
From: Shiloh Ohio
I went with C5 chrome aftermarket thin spokes 18 x 9.5 front and 18 x 10.5 rear. They are a little heavier but I did not buy runflats which are heavy tires so I lost some on the tires and gained some on the wheels. net weight gain could not me more than 20 lbs total. For tire I bought Pirelli Pzero Corsa competition tires 285/30/18 front and 315/30/18 rear. These sizes were on sale at tirerack.com for 764.00 shipped for all four tires. The wheels from bobs house of wheels for 1000 shipped. The stock rear tire is .98 of an inch taller than the stock front, my tires work out to .71 of an inch difference back to front slope. So far no problem with active handling, no rubbing problems either. The footprint of the tires is almost perfectly flush with the outside of the fenders giving it a very square flush and wide footprint. Looks good. Here is a tire calculator link that you can use to check tire diameters and speedometer issues. I use a hypertech III to set my speedometer and it also adjusts the A4 shifting to match the new tire sizes. http://www.discounttire.com/dtc/broc...o/tireMath.jsp 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 959
Likes: 12
From: California CA
I have just bought a set of Iforged Senekas:
18" x 10" front
18" x 11" rear
I also just placed an order for the Pirelli Pzeros from Tirerack
285/30-R18 front
315/30-R18 rear
I did a lot of research and it seems that the size wheels front-rear offer the best overall handling when the suspension is set up the same. The main reasons though that I didnt get a 19" rear wheel was:
1. Limited tire choice (primarily width) and no R-compound tires
2. Wheel weight (inertia)
3. Better handling
Note that the C5-R runs 18" all round.
18" x 10" front
18" x 11" rear
I also just placed an order for the Pirelli Pzeros from Tirerack
285/30-R18 front
315/30-R18 rear
I did a lot of research and it seems that the size wheels front-rear offer the best overall handling when the suspension is set up the same. The main reasons though that I didnt get a 19" rear wheel was:
1. Limited tire choice (primarily width) and no R-compound tires
2. Wheel weight (inertia)
3. Better handling
Note that the C5-R runs 18" all round.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 232
From: SoCal
Thank you guys for the feedback.
Did not know the C5R has 18 all around...I guess that says something.
So I definately will go with the 18's
18x9.5 Front and 18x10.5 Rear
Now I'm just not sure of the correct tire size
Did not know the C5R has 18 all around...I guess that says something.
So I definately will go with the 18's
18x9.5 Front and 18x10.5 Rear
Now I'm just not sure of the correct tire size
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by Macinamouth
Thank you guys for the feedback.
Did not know the C5R has 18 all around...I guess that says something.
So I definately will go with the 18's
18x9.5 Front and 18x10.5 Rear
Now I'm just not sure of the correct tire size
Did not know the C5R has 18 all around...I guess that says something.
So I definately will go with the 18's
18x9.5 Front and 18x10.5 Rear
Now I'm just not sure of the correct tire size
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Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
fwiw 18x10 f and 18x 11.5 r with 275 or 285x35 fronts and 305 or 315-30 rear.
More tire, better grip and acceloration, and better braking.
I use 18-11 f with 285-30 or 315-30 front and 18x12 r with 335-30 on the track and street is 18x10 with 275-35 and 18x11.5 r with 335-30
More tire, better grip and acceloration, and better braking.
I use 18-11 f with 285-30 or 315-30 front and 18x12 r with 335-30 on the track and street is 18x10 with 275-35 and 18x11.5 r with 335-30
Last edited by AU N EGL; Oct 13, 2004 at 05:10 PM.
