C6 and Race Tires
 

I posted this in the "Wheels and Tires" forum a couple of days ago and have not had one response so I decided to post here to see if anyone can help.

Does anyone make an R-compound tire suitable for a C6? Hoosier says they "will" make one for the Z06/Ford GT later this summer but what I am looking for is one in stock size (P285/35ZR-19).

What really gets me is that I can't find one for my car yet they are gearing up to produce tires for an extremely limited production car that has yet to be "officially" released from Bowling Green. Unfortunately, I cannot use a tire of that size and stay in a stock class and it is too expensive to move to a faster class.

Check/call the tire rack. Unfortunately no body wants to make parts for something that is not in demand and it takes a while for after market parts to hit the street.

John,

I definitely understand (and support free market enterprise) but what I don't understand is Hoosier building a tire for cars that, at best, have very limited availability (i.e., Z06 which hs not been released yet and Ford GT which has been recalled by the manufacturer for safety (suspension) problems).

Since the C6 has been out sent last fall and is approaching 20,000 on the road it would seem reasonable that there would be more interest in obtaining some R compound tires than just me.

The stock F1SC EMTs cannot be considered race tires but I cannot find anyone (Kumho, Yokohama, Hoosier, Michelin, etc.) who admits to even considering making suitable tires for the beast. I'm beginnig to think I should have stayed with the C4, especially since it appears that the SCCA is going to reclassify (please tell it isn't so!) into SuperStock.

Check out the Pirelli P-Zero Corsa. I think you will find some suitable sizes in that tire.

Doesn't BFG make tires in the stock C6 sizes?? I know a few guys that run BFGs at DEs and have far better traction then the stock run craps yet it is street tire not a dot slick.

I have C5 Z06 rears on mine-they stick out about 1/4" but they work great-I had Hoosiers mounted on them for my last trip to VIR.

This is the route you will have to take, which means you will have to buy a set of wheels for the "R" rubber. It took forever to get much of a choice for the C5 and some of that occured because of racing applications as the C5 moved into the main stream of club racing.

Remember the T1 C5's are still running 17" wheels and turning faster times than most on this forum. :chevy

Matt please tell me again the make and size tire you had on the rears with the Z wheels.
Thanks

Bfg Kdws
 

There are some old posts about C6 R tire availability. The answer is basically we are S.O.L. I contacted both Kumho and Hoosier around March and both sent back responses that C6 19 inch tires are coming out later this year. But I read subsequent posts where CF members say otherwise. I run BFG KDWS in the stock sizes and find them stickier than I thought possible with a street compound. Running on a 50 second course on old worn out asphalt in the 90 degree Texas heat, these tires actually get hot to the touch and pick up small (really small) pebbles. My times are comparable to AS Corvettes on R tires. (no SS cars in Houston on R tires) I never ran on my F1 Supercars, so I cannot atest to whether the BFGs are better. If the Rs don't come out this year - I will go to the C5 Z06 sizes in the rear. BFGs are a good "tie me over tire", they look way cool too.

Hoosier Response
 

I received this from Hoosier Tire in response to my inquiry as to whether or not they were going to produce an R compound tire for a C6. Looks as if they have written us off and start looking at BFGs:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"GentleBen,

Thanks for writing. We do plan on offering a P315/40ZR-19 A3S05 / R3S04 by July 2005. This is a projected release date and is subject to change. I will post a product bulletin story on our front page website when it becomes available. I believe this tire size will fit the new Ford GT, Doge Vipers and the new Z06 Corvette.

I am sure this is good news. Keep watching our website or contact me in July 2005. Have a good weekend.

Hoosier Tire Website: www.hoosiertire.com

- Jeff Speer, Hoosier Racing Tire
******
----- Original Message -----
To: info@hoosiertire.com
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2005 2:22 PM
Subject: 19" Tires

Does Hoosier intend to make an AS304/RS304 in a 19" size suitable for "stock" use with a 2005 (and later) Corvette?

Same S*** Different Day
 

Looks like Hoosier is taking the same tact that was taken with the C5. No R tire size for the non-Z06.

I was told Toyo is going to build the RA1's in 19" for us. I don't know if it's true.
I hate that fact that GM put 19's on our car. For what reason? I want stock wheels in 18 front and rear with the correct offset. I also want to run 305/30/18 Hoosiers or Toyos at the track on another set of stock wheels with offset that will not tear up the fender.

On another note:
RBL,
What did you do about the tire pressure sensor problems you were having with race rubber? My car is a late build and I will have to face the same issues you did. Can you explain what exactly was happening and what you have done to get around it?

Thanks,
Jerry

I had to put the sensors in the wheels ... no fix for this car.

Both of the other cars did not have the problem and Matt's seemed to work with the sensors just sitting in the back of the car!!! I don't know how they could since they would be at 0 pressure but his car seems to see them and pressure somehow.