That's exactly why I went with the base suspension. The only thing I'm going to do is add the Z51 sway bars to my base to reduce some of the body roll.

 

My Vette is 2005 Z-51 with run-flat, super-car tires:p245/40 ZR18
Today the Goodyear shop in Tuscaloosa, Alabma, replaced the 2 front tires. The rear tires seem to be good for 2,000 to 3,000 more miles.
My odometer reading today is: 22,356 miles.
The car was an official driver's car at the Daytona 500 in year 2005. It was assigned to John Andrette, as car 14. He reportedly got the car up to 181 mph on the 8th lap. I think they had it for about two weeks to play with. It was driven to Alabama by the local Chevrolet dealer, and it had 800 miles on when I acquired it. All of my driving has been moderate daily commuting. Not involved in racing, and only a moderate tendancy to show off.
Now, a question. Has anyone had their tires to wear on the side of the tires nearest the middle of the car. Also, I expected the rear tires to wear the quickest. It has turned out to be just the opposite. The rear tires are wearing faster on the inner side, same as the front tires. The tread at the center is worn second most quickly. The tread on the tires furtherest from the center of the car shows relatively little wear.
Goodyear did balancing and alignment. The mechanic told me the camber was almost to specification when I brought it in. Does anyone know why the faster wear on the inner side of the tires, both front and rear? Also, why are the front tires wearing about 20 % quicker than the rear tires?
The replacement tires are exactly the same as the original factory tires. The cost of the two tires, balancing, and alignment was: $1,037.03. Based on the cost I got on the internet Goodyear site, the dealer must have given me a discount of about $300.00. I'm not at all sure of this. Joe

 

Inner wear means the alignment is off a bit, camber adjustment I believe. Center wear is running wrong tire pressure, too high I believe. Fronts will wear faster due to cornering unless you make a habit of spinning the rears.

 

Thanks, Indy-hp. You probably have the answer to my tire-wear anomaly. About 20% of my driving is in Tuscaloosa, a University town of about 100,000 people. The other driving is in very rural area with very light traffic. In Tuscaloosa, I drive in 4th gear nearly all the time. When a turn is coming up, I shift down to 2nd gear. I call this my fun cornering gear! A piece or two of a "G force" just feels down right good, when the car seems so confident in those 90-degree corners. (I'm still Texan, by the way. Grew up in Abilene.)

 

my z51 tires were toast at 11,500 km...i have a heavy foot...but no track time on my car

 

BickyDhadwal, are your tires wearing evenly from side to side? Also, are the tires in the front and rear wearing at about the same rate? joeearl

 

No. A C6 automatic with the Z51 option does not have the same transmission as a C5 Z06. Note that the poster is asking about an automatic transmission car.

But if you want to talk about manual transmissions, it is worth noting that the C6 Z06 uses the same transmission as the standard C6, not the transmission used by a Z51 optioned C6. And it does that even though the LS7 has a higher redline than the LS2, meaning that it could take advantage of lower gear ratios than a LS2 powered C6.

It is also worth noting that the torque curve of the LS6 engine used in the C5 Z06 is different from the torque curve of the LS2 used in the Z51 optioned C6, so the fact that the C5 with a different engine used those gear ratios isn't exactly a ringing endorsement that they are optimal for a different car using a different engine with a different torque curve.

 

All automatic transmission C6s get a transmission cooler. But automatic C6s with the Z51 option don't get an engine oil cooler.

 

No. The manual transmission in the Z51 option package is a wider ratio transmission than the box that comes in the standard (or C6 Z06) cars. The Z51 tranny has a lower low, so the spread between 1st and 4th (the performance gears) is 2.92:1 while the standard transmission has a spread of 2.66:1. In other words, the standard transmission is the one with the closer ratios.

Racing cars typically use close ratio boxes so that the engine stays nearer the torque peak when changing gears. But with the very broad torque peak of the LS2, it is possible to use a wider ratio transmission. This can let you launch harder, if you can maintain traction. Unfortunately, that's a problem in the C6.

 

THAT DOES IT ! I'M ORDERING A Z51 DECAL (BADGE) AND PUT IT ON THE VETTE. THIS THREAD HAS GOT TO HAVE CONVINCED EVERY ONE THAT THERE IS THREE MODELS YOU CAN ORDER.
1.C6 COUP OR VERT
2.Z51 COUP OR VERT
3.Z06
NOW I WILL BE TAKING COVER

 

Such bravery wasted on an internet forum!!

From one that DID put a badge on MY car - I didn't do it to designate a model. Chevrolet over its long history has MANY MANY times put badges on cars to designate certain options on cars. They chose not to do that with the Z-51 option. I did. It's not thier car anymore. I bought it and it's mine now.

When I owned a Z-71 Chevy pickup many years ago, it wasn't a different model truck - it had a Z-71 option package on it and GM plastered Z-71 in great big letters on the bed and a badge on the side.

Sorry. I just fail to see why people think they have to "take cover" and this is such a heated subject. Whether you like the badge or not, its your choice to have it there, whether GM put it there or not. If they put it there and you like it, leave it. If you don't, take it off. If they didn't put one on there and you want one, put it on. Exactly what people are doing with the little GM square behind the door. Like it? Leave it on! Don't? Take it off! It's your car...

Personally, I can relate to either choice. I would never berate anyone for whatever opinion they take. The only issue here is that people make it an issue and try to insist that thier opinion is the one everyone else should adhere to.

To each his own. That's why GM builds cars with OPTIONS and color choices and there is such a HUGE aftermarket for these cars.

 

Very well said.

 

I wonder if Porsche and Ferrari owners biker over badges. I am serious, not trying to antagonize this thread.

 

Hey...watch your mouth...you are speaking to a fellow Tennessean...not to mention I know someone who lives in Tullahoma!!!

 

I have a 05 Z51. About 17,000 miles on the original tires - I don't track the car (not yet at least) but will need new ones soon so I figure about 20,000 miles which is fine with me.
I love the ride and honestly haven't driven in any other C6 to compare. I think it feels better than an C5 with standard suspension.
That doesn't mean that there aren't road and bumps in most roads that I hate. If you often drive on bad roads I probably wouldn't do a Z51 unless you also track.
Would I do it again- I'd try and drive an F55 first to see what it would feel like in sports mode but would probably end up with another Z51.

 

as you can tell by my name here, I have the Z51 option, I havent tracked yet,24,000 miles still the orig. tires. they are due to be replaced. I am somewhat of an aggresive driver I am so glad I got the Z51 option! Feel is great! do what you feel is right for you, no one else can make that decision. Good luck, enjoy however you deck it out!