New Rubber Rcommends

[XfireZ51]

All,

When I originally bought my 92, I replaced rubber w OEM C6Z06 wheels with 18/19 Nitto Invos. Overall I have really liked them but it's now been nearly 5 years and the rears are showing their wear. Went with Pete to get some gyros and so I had him drive the car to try out my latest tune and listen to the Z06 flapper valves with switch in Open/Close positions. Well naturally Pete got "on it"
and he was able to "beat" the ASR getting the car going sideways when he mashed the go pedal. It happened in first or second. Overall, the motor is running great w the latest tune but the tires are not holding. So I'm thinking of some new rubber even tho the fronts are still in very good shape.
I started looking at Michelins. Got a recommendation for the Super Sports.
Currently have 325s in back, but the Z06 guys are putting 345s on the rear. That could require a move from 275 > 285s in front in order to keep ABS happy.

What say you ZR-1 brethren?

[FU]

The Nitto Invo's hold pretty good. Better then the Mich's IMO. Invo's rubber is softer.
Remember the ground is getting cold & the Invo's are getting old.

[ZZZZZR1]

Dom

Check tire ratings by independent reviews...

http://www.tirestest.com/

#1 Summer tire, Michelin Pilot Super Sport.

I've had mine on for almost 3 years, 12k plus miles and a recent track event. I've got 70%+ tread left and tire performance is awesome!


I do agree that the Invo tire is great, but not sure if it is better
than the Michelin Pilot Super Sports.

:cheers:

David

[XfireZ51]

The Nitto Invo's hold pretty good. Better then the Mich's IMO. Invo's rubber is softer.
Remember the ground is getting cold & the Invo's are getting old.

Very true Frank. We were at the Crown Point Corvette Challenge a few weeks ago and watched a C6Z kiss both walls followed by a C7Z nearly do the same thing. That 1-2 shift is a bitch.
I think Al has Michelins. A few others do to.
I will say that the Invos held when I first got them. But I have made a number of mods since then going w Poly bushings all around. I'll be putting the DRM brackets on this winter. The Invos are a bit flabby for road course work. Dave J suggests the Michs' sharpen up the handling.

[FU]

You can go borrow a set of Mich's from my car and see how you like them.

[XfireZ51]

You can go borrow a set of Mich's from my car and see how you like them.

Frank,

Ur not using 18/19's correct? Won't fit over the Z06 brakes bu thank for the offer.

[tf95ZR1]

Hi Dom!
I also have C6 Z06 calipers with 18" rims.
I use Michelin 335/30-18's PS (2) I believe.
They fit, I like them but:
1) EXPENSIVE
2) Not easy to find, especially with recent DOT
tire manufacture dates.
3) Patch isn't as nice as D3's were on 17" rims.
4) Did I mention that they are $$?
Good luck,
Ted

[efnfast]

When I had the PS2's on my car, I couldn't break them loose. What a disappointment in my car. Then I mounted Eagle F1's. I can tear them off the car, even more disappointing.

[Jagdpanzer]

Dom,
I'm running Michelin Pilot SS 285/18 fronts and 345/19 rears. The Pilot SS 345/19s are on the plus side compared to other 345/19 tires. In my case I had to trim the inner wheel well liner in a couple of places and machine off the head of forward lower trailing link pivot bolt to gain necessary clearance to prevent rubbing when going around corners and such. Also had to machine up 50 tooth reluctor wheels for the rear spindles to keep the ABS and ASR systems from freaking out. No qestion about Pilot SS excellent performance and ride quality.

[Pete]

Hi Dom!
I also have C6 Z06 calipers with 18" rims.
I use Michelin 335/30-18's PS (2) I believe.
They fit, I like them but:
1) EXPENSIVE
2) Not easy to find, especially with recent DOT
tire manufacture dates.
3) Patch isn't as nice as D3's were on 17" rims.
4) Did I mention that they are $$?
Good luck,
Ted


LOL
1) EXPENSIVE
4) Did i mention that they are $$?
I said same thing.

That was second gear at about 40MPH and breaking them loose like she was on ice.
Car runs good n strong.
Pete

[XfireZ51]

Dom,
I'm running Michelin Pilot SS 285/18 fronts and 345/19 rears. The Pilot SS 345/19s are on the plus side compared to other 345/19 tires. In my case I had to trim the inner wheel well liner in a couple of places and machine off the head of forward lower trailing link pivot bolt to gain necessary clearance to prevent rubbing when going around corners and such. Also had to machine up 50 tooth reluctor wheels for the rear spindles to keep the ABS and ASR systems from freaking out. No qestion about Pilot SS excellent performance and ride quality.

Good to know Phil. I have been running 275/325s and have not had an ABS issue. Spoke w Mark Horner, and he's running 255/345s with no issues. Not sure if there is a diff between the 92 and 94 cars. So I guess we'll see. Same goes for the clearance w the trailing arms. I may be asking you for the reluctor.
I'll be putting these on my stock Z06 wheels. Be interesting to see about clearance issues since I have spacers on wheels. I'll be doing this along w DRM BRACKETS for trailing arms and rear tie rods.

[XfireZ51]

Phil,

As an FYI, I went to check clearance on my 325s sidewall and the trailing arm bolt head. I can see the trailing arm bolt head from side. It's forward of the tire itself. I will be installing the DRM brackets also. It appears that they spread the trailing arm pivot point further apart from each other also. I can also fit my finger in between tire sidewall and bolt head w some room to spare.
Are u using poly bushings on dogbonz?

[Jagdpanzer]

Dom,
I meant the upper forward trailing arm pivot bolt head on both sides:

http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg333/pwasinger/IMG_1217_zpsuyhu0wq3.jpg

This photo shows where the inner wheel well liners are trimmed:

http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg333/pwasinger/IMG_1219_zpsvjbogjz8.jpg

Michelin 345/30-19 Pilot SS tires measure a full 13.5" from sidewall to sidewall when mouted on 12" rims:

http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg333/pwasinger/IMG_1220_zpsgisysotb.jpg

And fill out the available wheel well space very nicely:

http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg333/pwasinger/IMG_1222_zpsdwhx49lc.jpg

[cvette98pacecar]

Without a doubt, those are some hottest wheels I have ever seen. Phil, When you get ready to machine another set of those reluctor wheels I am going to need a set.

Frank, your car is back in Chicago?

Pete, Do I need to send you a set of the lifters? I am sure I will be there in December.

[XfireZ51]

Thanks Phil. Very illustrative. Are u using a spacer for the wheels, and if so, how thick? I have 18mm on mine. Invos are 12.8" wide

[Jagdpanzer]

No spacers needed with 39mm back space offset wheels

[XfireZ51]

No spacers needed with 39mm back space offset wheels

Perhaps that would explain some of the interference issue. Isn't the stock offset 36mm?

[Jagdpanzer]

36mm offset would have pushed the side wall of the Michelin 345 Pilot SS tires outside the the fender well which I did not want. The 325 size Pilot SS would probably avoid this with 36mm offset wheels.

[XfireZ51]

36mm offset would have pushed the side wall of the Michelin 345 Pilot SS tires outside the the fender well which I did not want. The 325 size Pilot SS would probably avoid this with 36mm offset wheels.

Phil,

I guess we are going to find out. The ZO6 rears are +59mm. I have 18mm spacers making the offset 41mm so perhaps so wiggle room there. Now the
325 Nittos I have are just about flush. I would not want the tires to protrude beyond the inner lip of the fender well also. Assuming tire width difference is ~ 1/2" or 12-13mm, that should add another 7 mm side to side or approx. 1/3".
I'm thinking it should work.

[rkreigh]

Toyo R888 much cheaper and it will grip like grim death

I use the RA1s and even as old as the rubber is, the turbo car hooks nearly as good as drag radials and handle really well too.

no doubt the Michelins are great, at that price, they better be

I'd go with the new pilot sport cups if you are wanting something nice and are feeling spendy

but just know you'll have about 4k miles of the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

those are the only tires I like better than the r888

you need to go to an 18 rim to get the good stuff and going bigger than that doesn't do much for the sidewall so they hook worse and handle no better.

I think the 17 or 18 wheel sizes work best from my tinkerin around.

[rkreigh]

Dom,
I meant the upper forward trailing arm pivot bolt head on both sides:

http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg333/pwasinger/IMG_1217_zpsuyhu0wq3.jpg

This photo shows where the inner wheel well liners are trimmed:

http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg333/pwasinger/IMG_1219_zpsvjbogjz8.jpg

Michelin 345/30-19 Pilot SS tires measure a full 13.5" from sidewall to sidewall when mouted on 12" rims:

http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg333/pwasinger/IMG_1220_zpsgisysotb.jpg

And fill out the available wheel well space very nicely:

http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg333/pwasinger/IMG_1222_zpsdwhx49lc.jpg

those fikse are just the bomb. and phil keeps them cleaner than most.

they look fantastic.

[XfireZ51]

These things are MASSIVE!

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x198/Z51Xfire/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpshmrlrmjw.jpeg (http://s187.photobucket.com/user/Z51Xfire/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpshmrlrmjw.jpeg.html)

[XfireZ51]

Had discussion w Pete on possibly massaging the cylinder heads some more, but our concensus was that motor feels pretty strong right now. Bang for the buck not as strong as maybe looking in other areas. With updating my Invos to
Mich SS, I started looking into the whole rotational mass thing. Seems that this is an area that would yield better results in terms of ROI. The Michelins will add a total of 10lbs over current tires. Also, the Z06 brakes are large w front rotors weighing in at 28lbs. ea./rears 20lbs. ea.
Been researching the alternative rotors and have found two that look up to the task. The preferred rotors by the Z06 crowd is the Coleman 2pc. rotors built by Performance AFX. These rotors weigh 17F/15R. They basically reduce rotating mass by 30lbs overall w 20lbs coming off the front end. Rule of thumb is 1lb ~1hp. On the dyno that should mean about an 8-10hp pickup since the front wheels aren't going anywhere.
However, the mitigating factor is that the new rear tires will be ADDING a total of 6lbs. The rear weight loss will net out at 4lbs. The net weight loss on the front after new tires will be 16lbs for an overall net weight reduction of 20lbs.
Pickup of 20hp to the wheels would be huge. Other benefits are quicker steering and shorter braking distances.

Front Rotors(pic) and the rears are made to accomodate the Z06 eBrake.

http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/attachments/autocrossing-and-roadracing-classifieds/47892704d1434328314-set-of-front-c6z-and-gs-performance-afx-2-piece-heavy-duty-rotors-img_3034.jpg

[XfireZ51]

OK Phil. You were right. :notworthy:notworthy Just mounted the 345s and the top trailing arm bolt does, in fact, interfere with the tire sidewall.
So I'll need to pull them back off and trim the bolt head as illustrated in your pic. I'm hoping that will be enough. Do you have an idea of the celarance you have once the bolt head is shaved. What would be great is to find a Torx head bolt w a rounded head similar in shape to the cam cover bolts.
I don't see any other areas of interference. We'll see once I am able to get underway if there are issues w the inner wheel well. Probably because I can see where the 325s grooved the wheel well a bit.


http://i540.photobucket.com/albums/gg333/pwasinger/IMG_1217_zpsuyhu0wq3.jpg

Any idea how much lip you left on the bolt head? BTW, the tires REALLY fill out the wheel well. Side wall however is quite flush with fender line but not past it.

[XfireZ51]

Phil,

Rounded the bolt head. Looks like I can fit the tip end of a screwdriver between sidewall and bolt head between 4-7mm.

[Jagdpanzer]

Dom,
Sounds like you got it. Make sure the rubber snubers are in good condition. take a Sharpy marker to the bolt heads you shaved then give it a good road test to make sure everything clears. You damn sure don't want to scar up the inner side wall of such fine tires.

[XfireZ51]

Dom,
Sounds like you got it. Make sure the rubber snubers are in good condition. take a Sharpy marker to the bolt heads you shaved then give it a good road test to make sure everything clears. You damn sure don't want to scar up the inner side wall of such fine tires.

My bolt head doesn't look as wonderfully machined as yours. And yes the last thing I want is a sidewall coming apart at any speed. Damn those tires are HUGE, HUGE! Somebody have a driveway they need paved? :dancing

[XfireZ51]

Got the wheels back on after having modded the bolt head for clearance.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x198/Z51Xfire/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsf8tcvrcm.jpeg (http://s187.photobucket.com/user/Z51Xfire/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsf8tcvrcm.jpeg.html)

They are W I D E. 345s are about the limit.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x198/Z51Xfire/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsnukdsg2r.jpeg (http://s187.photobucket.com/user/Z51Xfire/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsnukdsg2r.jpeg.html)

They fill the wheel well

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x198/Z51Xfire/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsk1oradm5.jpeg (http://s187.photobucket.com/user/Z51Xfire/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsk1oradm5.jpeg.html)