rims/tires

[SpeedingFirebird]

I am dangerously close to blowing a huge amount of money on rims/tires. Before I do that, I want to be 100% certain there are no fit/looks issues with my purchase.

I am looking at replica C6 Rims - 17x8.5" front, 18x9.5" back . The tires will likely be Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 in standard Corvette tire sizes - 245/45-17 (Front), 275/40-18 (Rear).

My car is dropped an inch with the prokit.

Will I have any fit issues? Will they stick out too far? From searching, I think all is cool, but I want to double check because this is a huge purchase that I do not want to mess up.

Any recommendations on replica wheel vendors?

Thanks!

[BallerMaro13]

Re: rims/tires

should fit just fine...i just put 17x9.5 c6 z06 replicas on mine yesterday and they fit perfect with my ~1.5" eibach drop and suspension. make sure you grab some jounce bumper spacers for the rears and you should be all set (they're only about 25 a pair).

i definitely understand your concerns tho, i easily researched my rims and tires setup for months and months before i took the dive, so you're taking the right steps. otherwise, fitment is great and the wheels really fill the wells perfectly with a lowered body (stock height tends to get that 4x4 look with bigger rims sometimes)

check out fasttoys.net and oewheelsllc.com...probly some of the best offers for replicas out there. good luck bro!

[SpeedingFirebird]

Re: rims/tires

should fit just fine...i just put 17x9.5 c6 z06 replicas on mine yesterday and they fit perfect with my ~1.5" eibach drop and suspension. make sure you grab some jounce bumper spacers for the rears and you should be all set (they're only about 25 a pair).

i definitely understand your concerns tho, i easily researched my rims and tires setup for months and months before i took the dive, so you're taking the right steps. otherwise, fitment is great and the wheels really fill the wells perfectly with a lowered body (stock height tends to get that 4x4 look with bigger rims sometimes)

check out fasttoys.net and oewheelsllc.com...probly some of the best offers for replicas out there. good luck bro!

thanks man. :tup: You went with 17x9.5 on all four corners?

Did you have the option to get "blank" center caps? I was thinking of getting blanks and ordering some red vinyls stickers of the firechicken.

[SpeedingFirebird]

Re: rims/tires

I am *think* I am slightly changing the tire size to 275/35-18 on the rear and 245/40-17 on the front and swapping my tire choice to Direzza DZ101. The smaller sidewall should gain me a little clearance.

I ordered the spacers.

[BallerMaro13]

Re: rims/tires

yep, i went 17x9.5 on all 4 corners and it turned out amazing :rock: i made sure to get the blank chrome center caps instead of the vette emblem ones, as well as the chrome lugs, stems, and locks kit to match. i went 275/40/17 btw and it's perfect.

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[SpeedingFirebird]

Re: rims/tires

You car looks great man.

I was talking to a hard core autoxer today, and he recommends staying with 17's on all four corners. Sure, I can increase the contact patch in the rears, but it could throw off the balance of the car (even more) and it adds almost 10lbs of rotational weight. Easy for a vette to overcome, not so much for a v6.

So now I am leaning towards exactly what you did, 275/40-17 on all four corners. The Direzzas in this size are on sale right now too...

fasttoys is recommending the 17's all the way around too.

[BallerMaro13]

Re: rims/tires

thanks bro! she's looking better by the day haha

your autox buddy is exactly right...even i was highly considering the staggered 17/18 combo with 9.5 up front and some fat 295's w/ 10.5's on the rear, but the more i researched it, the worse it was looking. rotational mass is increased like u said, overall wheel and tire weight is increased, u can't rotate tires, and alignment/calibration starts getting tricky with the stagger. dont get me wrong--i love the look, but the consequences outweigh the benefits for our cars especially if you drive it a lot like i do. i never thought i'd love the 17's all around but its probly the smartest choice i could've made and i love the results

oewheelsllc.com has a wheel/tire package for the z06 rims like mine already wrapped in 275/40/17z mounted and ready to bolt on for in the 900's range---that's a killer deal if you like the rims the best. I got mine from fasttoys and got my nitto's locally for a great price, they kick some serious a$$ on the twisties. keep me posted man!

[SpeedingFirebird]

Re: rims/tires

If I was sticking to just showing the car, I would def do 18's on the rear, but I am singing up for a driving school on a real track (not cones!). I want to make sure I have the right equipment.

My only complaint is I just had the ECM tuned for 18's. If I go with 17's, it will be off again. If I go with 45's instead of 40's on the aspect, it will only be a few MPH off. If I go w/ 40's, it will be ~5MPH off at 70. Not a big deal, but I JUST had it tuned. :rant:

Looking at the direzzas, they do not come in 275/45 - 17. :rant:

What offset are your 17x9.5s?

[BallerMaro13]

Re: rims/tires

i know it must be annoying, how big of a hassle would it be to get it re-tuned for 17's? definitely worth it imo, and if nothing else go get it dynotuned or use hptuners yourself and make things correct.

sticking with 275/40/17 will open up a world of options for your tires...45's are gonna be harder to come by i'd think. mine are +54mm i believe, and they come out just enough to give the car a wider stance without being way outside of the wheel wells---perfect fit

i don't know many ppl with the tires you were looking at, but here's the rims/tire package i was talking about that comes with nexen tires http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Shop/Cont...1763/SFV/32400---apparently they're a newer tire and perform quite well...it just depends on what you're looking for out of your tire use. i ended up keeping my old rims to use for winter tires and got some high performance nittos for the better weather (and man can they take some corners! i can be accelerating at 45 and make a sharp turn and they stick:tup:)

[SpeedingFirebird]

Re: rims/tires

Tuning my car requires pulling the ECM and shipping it to Oklahoma. They HP Tuners for the 3.4 is very had to come by. I'll have to live with the speedo being off (again) until my next mod that requires a tune. It is just annoying since I JUST fixed it.

I will double check the offset on the rims I was looking at.

I am looking at the best street/racing tire money can buy that will fit 275/40-17. From my readings, the Direzza is currently the best, but they don't come in 274/40-17. Rims will be chrome C6.

[fatcat]

Re: rims/tires

I have American Racing Torque thrust 2 17x9 in the front and 17x11 in the back with no problems.

[lil' jon]

Re: rims/tires

I know this is an old thread, but what is this driving school on a real track you speak of? I'm from MA too and would love to do something like that. BTW I have 17" up front and 18" in the back and wouldn't recommend it. My car feels kind of squirrely now. It has nasty bump steer, and if I push it hard through a corner the front tires squeal instead of the rear wanting to slide out. Oh yeah, my little 3.4L can't even spin the 275/40r18's unless I dump the clutch at 5,000rpm, but that's probably not too healthy haha.

[SpeedingFirebird]

Re: rims/tires

I know this is an old thread, but what is this driving school on a real track you speak of? I'm from MA too and would love to do something like that. BTW I have 17" up front and 18" in the back and wouldn't recommend it. My car feels kind of squirrely now. It has nasty bump steer, and if I push it hard through a corner the front tires squeal instead of the rear wanting to slide out. Oh yeah, my little 3.4L can't even spin the 275/40r18's unless I dump the clutch at 5,000rpm, but that's probably not too healthy haha.

PM sent

[heavychevy383]

Re: rims/tires

custom made budnick 17x11's w/ 285-40-17 nitto's & hotchis 1.5 drop springs with no fittment/clearance probs

[Fondle]

Re: rims/tires

17x9.5 zr1's 275/40/17 mt et streets, dropped 1.5 inches, no problems