drag wheel/tire setup
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
drag wheel/tire setup
What is the smallest rim size/type i can fit on a base c6 05 vette. Any 15" rims thatll fit with sliught modification or even a 16"? I want to get more sidewall in a m/t drag radial. What do you think? How much does a skinny tire up front really help? Big difference in weight transfer? Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
I doubt you can get 15" on the front, I just got an 05 A4 .. its Bone Stock, I got M/T Drag Radials 265/40x18 for the rear...
I went to Englishtown last night BEFORE I got the DR's mounted.. on my street tires, I ran 12.59 @ 111 mph... I think with a few bolt on's I'll get into the 11s in good air!
I went to Englishtown last night BEFORE I got the DR's mounted.. on my street tires, I ran 12.59 @ 111 mph... I think with a few bolt on's I'll get into the 11s in good air!
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,246
Likes: 129
From: Short Hills, NJ
What is the smallest rim size/type i can fit on a base c6 05 vette. Any 15" rims thatll fit with sliught modification or even a 16"? I want to get more sidewall in a m/t drag radial. What do you think? How much does a skinny tire up front really help? Big difference in weight transfer? Thanks
Even 16s are next to impossible to get on there without sticking out of the wheel wells too much though the 16" CCW skinnies can fit on the front with some minor grinding. And yes skinnies really do work.
17s (front and rear) seem to be the smallest diameter that can be made to fit properly.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
even without a z51 package in the rear you dont think a 16" rim would fit? I want to get deep into the 1.4x 60' with an a4 and 3800/4000 converter. Do most of you remove the front swaybay to cut better 60' times. Are there any other tricks to making the IRS hookup(came from solid rear mustangs) Thanks for the hlp guys
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,246
Likes: 129
From: Short Hills, NJ
Other 16" rims, depending on their offset and how they're stepped can be made to fit (grinding, spacers etc.) but it might look a little silly sticking out of the wheel well. I prefer 16s as well but there is just no easy way to get them on there.
Low 1.4s is possible even on 18" drag radials (and definitely possible on 17s) if you're good, it's going to take gears and some real power along with that higher stall to get it done though.
Most Corvette owners do not remove their front sway bar but yes it can help.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 18
From: Missouri City Texas
I can confirm that the 16" fbody wheels will not fit on base brakes in the rear.
I was excited that I'd get to use my old wheels...then very let down
You could make them fit with a little grinding on the caliper though I would think. The wheel only SLIGHTLY touched.
Another question; will 17" wheels fit on the front over the Z51 brakes?
I was excited that I'd get to use my old wheels...then very let down
You could make them fit with a little grinding on the caliper though I would think. The wheel only SLIGHTLY touched.
Another question; will 17" wheels fit on the front over the Z51 brakes?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,246
Likes: 129
From: Short Hills, NJ
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
I can confirm that the 16" fbody wheels will not fit on base brakes in the rear.
I was excited that I'd get to use my old wheels...then very let down
You could make them fit with a little grinding on the caliper though I would think. The wheel only SLIGHTLY touched.
Another question; will 17" wheels fit on the front over the Z51 brakes?
I was excited that I'd get to use my old wheels...then very let down
You could make them fit with a little grinding on the caliper though I would think. The wheel only SLIGHTLY touched.
Another question; will 17" wheels fit on the front over the Z51 brakes?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 18
From: Missouri City Texas
Do we know if the 17" C5 wheels are lighter than the 18" C6 wheels? And which C5 design are you talking about? Wagon wheels, Y2Ks, Z06...?
LS1LT1 seems to disagree
If I could run 17's on all 4 corners and have them LIGHTER that would be great. A little narrower up front would just be icing on the cake.
If I could run 17's on all 4 corners and have them LIGHTER that would be great. A little narrower up front would just be icing on the cake.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,246
Likes: 129
From: Short Hills, NJ
Yes I do LOL...I have actually seen more than one Z51 C6 with 17" wagon wheels on them without any modifications performed to make them fit.
Unless he was actually answering the question about 16s?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
17" wheels DO NOT fit on the FRONT of a c6 Z51 (or any model with the bigger brake rotors) unless you put the smaller C6 or C5 brake abutments and rotors on. I run 17" C5 wagon wheels on the front of my car for road course events.
I hope that's clear....and it's based on my own real world experience. No BS.
Last edited by Joe_G; Sep 21, 2008 at 04:49 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,246
Likes: 129
From: Short Hills, NJ
17" wheels fit on BACK of a C6 Z51 fine...I've got a set on my car right now.
17" wheels DO NOT fit on the FRONT of a c6 Z51 (or any model with the bigger brake rotors) unless you put the smaller C6 or C5 brake abutments and rotors on. I run 17" C5 wagon wheels on the front of my car for road course events.
I hope that's clear....and it's based on my own real world experience. No BS.
17" wheels DO NOT fit on the FRONT of a c6 Z51 (or any model with the bigger brake rotors) unless you put the smaller C6 or C5 brake abutments and rotors on. I run 17" C5 wagon wheels on the front of my car for road course events.
I hope that's clear....and it's based on my own real world experience. No BS.
I knew you had 17s on the back at some point and that's why I found it so puzzling LOL. Thanks for clearing that up.
But as far as you know the C5 17s definitely should fit on the front of a base suspension C6 without any alterations correct?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Ahh ok, I didn't realize he was originally asking about the Z51 fronts, that I couldn't comment at all and I of course wholeheartedly trust your knowledge on these things Joe. I knew you had 17s on the back at some point and that's why I found it so puzzling LOL.
Thanks for clearing that up.
But as far as you know the C5 17s definitely should fit on the front of a base suspension C6 without any alterations correct?
I knew you had 17s on the back at some point and that's why I found it so puzzling LOL. Thanks for clearing that up.
But as far as you know the C5 17s definitely should fit on the front of a base suspension C6 without any alterations correct?
I had a feeling you were referring to 17's on rear vs. front as was asked. Well, at some point the drilled bigger rotors were made available without the Z51 package.....maybe 06? If the car has drilled rotors, no go on 17's up front (without changing to base or c5 rotors and abutments). If it has solid rotors, you will be ok.
A lot of the road course guys change to the c5 rotors and abutments as c5 rotors are about $30 apiece and you go through them after a road course event or two. Much cheaper than the drilled rotors and drilled rotors are no good for track use (they crack much easier).
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,246
Likes: 129
From: Short Hills, NJ
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Meantime if you post up in the C6z section you'll get your answer for sure.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Some of the guys I know use 17" GTO spares for the skinny rims and some M/H tires (Waverdr on the C5 forums is one guy who has that setup).
Some guys have tried (with no luck) to run the GTO spare tires down the track...but a sharp tech guy with decent eyes will put the kibosh on that as the tires clearly say "55 mph limit"!
