Z06 wheels and tires question.

[Elliot]

I am currently looking for another set of wheels for my C5 Z06. I want them in stock sizes so I can stay in SS class. I'm either looking for a set of OEM wheels or aftermareket wheels that aren't too costly, but are still light weight. What would you recommend? Also, I will be looking to buy some sticky tires for the wheels. What sizes should I go with? I have a feeling that I should go bigger than stock. I would also like some recommendations on the type of tire as well. Thanks!

[Chuck]

Elliot,

I found some excellent information on recommendations for (Z06) tires and rim sizes on the SCCA Forum. If you look under the Stock Class forum I think you'll find the information you're looking for.

[jrod]

Your best bet for wheels are the original speedline Z06 wheels. They are light, but also relatively cheap. People are selling them used all the time on the corvetteforum. Anything else that compares will cost you thousands.

For tires you need to consider your purpose and application. If you are after a national level setup, hoosier A6 or Kumho V710 are the current choices in 295 R17 and 315 R18 sizes. You will need to find a way to transport them to the event to be able to mount them though and they will wear very quickly (especially the hoosier and especially at Dothan). You can drive them on the street, but pray it doesn't rain. Expect to replace them every 6 months. I ran these type of tires plenty in the past and offer silly speeds but it gets expensive quick.

Another option are a mid grade R tire. Nitto and Toyo make great road racing tires that make decent autocross tires. They are faster than street tires, but are not at the level of the Kumho and Hoosier tires. They are streetable and I have gotten 6k miles out of a set with many open track events and some autocrosses. This is what I am currently wearing on the Mustang. You will get at least a one second improvement over a good street tire. Put them on at home and drive to the event.

Listed below are the tires in order from streetable to less streetable (my opinion). They all share the same type of compound and should perform similar. Their tread designs differ, and some are better for water evacuation vs others.
Toyo RA1
Nitto 555R2
Toyo R888
Nitto NT01

[Elliot]

Thanks a lot Jose! This will be my second set of wheels and would only use them for autocross. Should I still go with the 295/315 set up with the mid grade R tires? And what sidewall profile should I be looking for? As close to stock sizes as I can get?

I am looking at the NT-01's now and they have a 275/40/17 and a 315/30/18. Those are the closest sizes to what you said on those. The rear tire will be about .2 of an inch shorter than the front is that a peoblem? And the 555R-II's have a 275/40/17 and a 305/35/18, which is proportional to the stock sizes. Both sets of Toyos come in the 275/305 sizes too. Should I go with those?

[jrod]

You may not find the exact same sizes for the mid grade R tire. You will have to pick sizes that are close to stock.

The 555r2 are very popular with the vette drivers. I really enjoyed this tire as well. The sizes you listed are what you need. My choice would be between this tire and the RA1 if you can find the same sizes. I've got NT01's and the tread is shallow and the tire eventually becomes a slick. While it will still have plenty of rubber, it will not be as streetable and I will need to consider rain. The two other tires offer considerably better tread designs for the street. Also at a minimum, you want both front and back tires to be the same diameter if the front tire is not smaller in diameter. You don't want to upset your ABS system. They will all perform about the same, so shop on price.

[Elliot]

Onlinetires.com has great prices! I can get a set of the 555R-II's for around $880 shipped and a set of V710's in 295/315 for around $1100 shipped. They don't have the RA1's in the correct size, I have a feeling they would be pricy though because the R888's cost more than the V710's even when they are in smaller sizes.

[jrod]

Be careful with onlinetires.com. I was impressed with those prices as well and did some research. A lot of those prices are almost too good to be true. I found this in my research:

www.google.com/search?q=onlinetires.com+review&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

I have had great luck with tirerack.com and discounttiredirect.com.

[Elliot]

Wow, I had no idea that many people didn't like them, haha. I'll go with Discount Tire.

[z06phile]

I had two sets of the RIIs and used them on the street and even with the extra power, 6-8K miles was doable. I think the treadwear is 100. Only autocrossed on them once at a Z06 Fest event and they worked pretty good.
Check out what's available used too. I bought a set of 315/30/18 A6s for $500 and they had plenty of life left in them. I've done 3 AXs (drove to 2) and 1 track day on them so far and they still have some more left.

[Elliot]

I think I'm going to go with the 555R-II's. I'm talking to a guy now with a set of Alcoa's with them already mounted on them.

[Elliot]

I got a set of wheels with tires on them for a good deal. Not race tires, but something to have fun on. They are 2004 Speedlines. I also just installed a harness bar and harnesses.