Tires for users of C6 18/19? wheels

[XfireZ51]

Going to need new tires next year. Ones I have are getting towards end of life.
I have the ZR using C6Z wheels, 18F 19R. Currently using 285s up front.
Wondering if I should drop down to a 275 instead.
Thoughts?

[Ccmano]

Going to need new tires next year. Ones I have are getting towards end of life.
I have the ZR using C6Z wheels, 18F 19R. Currently using 285s up front.
Wondering if I should drop down to a 275 instead.
Thoughts?

For my C6 GS (same size as Z06) wheels I bought a set of Bridgestone Potenza RE050a Pole Position RFT's this spring. Killer deal from TireRack at the time. I'm really impressed with them. Very comfortable ride, excellent handling. 275 fronts, the standard C6 GS front size. Really minimized the tramlining I was getting due to the lowering. That said, I don't think these tires are produced in these sizes anymore.

In an ideal world, money being no object, my choice would have been Michelin Pilot Super Sports. The question ultimately becomes do you wear the tire out first or does it time out. The later I would think, for most of us. So it becomes a matter of priorities.
H
:cheers:

[XfireZ51]

Hans,

I am using the Michelin SS which replaced the Nitto Invos. The Nittos were 275/325s. I believe Phil went w 285s on his along w 345s. The 285s protrude a tad past the fender and rub the inner wheel well ever so slightly. In fact so slightly that they remove the silver coating on the duct tape I put on the inner fender just to see how much interference there was. Otherwise they?re great. Love the Michelins for smoothness and their dry/wet performance, so I plan on sticking w them. I?d actually take a ?run flat? version since the stagger doesn?t lend itself to having a spare tire. Especially w Z06 brakes.
You are right tho, these tires have timed out long before the tread depth requires replacement.

[Ccmano]

My original Michelin Pilots Sports in 275 that came with the original wheels stuck out and rubbed on the inside of the fenders as well. Those tires timed out too. I ultimately removed the OEM front wheels and put on aftermarket GS fronts in the correct offset. No rubbing now.
H
:cheers:

[Hib Halverson]

If Michelin is what you want and they're available in the sizes on your car, the new Pilot Sport 4S is, for the most part, a better tire from a handling perspective than the Pilot Super Sport. A number of tire tests I've seen give the PS4S an edge over the PSS.

I had Super Sports on my ATS-V. When they wore out I put PS4Ses on. Recalling when the PSSes were in the early stages of wear, I think the PS4S sticks incrementally better.

The PS4S is definitely less noisy. The ride is improved as well. At the limit, in, some situations, the PS4Ses may give up just a little bit of steering feedback in the intrest of reduced NVH, but most drivers are not going to notice that unless they are hardcore track rats but then, those folks aren't going to use a regular summer tire like the Super Sport or the 4S, anyway. They're going to use the Cup 2 or other track-oriented tire.

Obviously, I haven't had the PS4S on my car long enough to have any tread life information, but what I've read elsewhere says that the PS4S is also an improvement over the PSS in that area.

So what do I have on my Corvettes? On the 2019 and the 2012, most of the time, they're on PS Cup 2s. I have a set of Super Sports I bought a year or so ago mounted on a third set of wheels which fit both cars. If I'm going to a long road trip, I put them on. Our 2004 has Goodyears on it as the Goodyear F1 Supercar is about the only thing around that fits C4 ZO6es.

[Jagdpanzer]

Second Hib on the Michelin PS4S. Replaced a set Michelin PSS with them 3 months ago. No question the best performance street tire around.


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[XfireZ51]

Second Hib on the Michelin PS4S. Replaced a set Michelin PSS with them 3 months ago. No question the best performance street tire around.


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Phil,

At least looking at TireRack, I don?t see 345s available for the PS4S. I have read in the C8 forum that drivers like the PS4S.

[Jagdpanzer]

I went with the 325s this time. Less prone to rub the inner wheel well liner than the 345 PSSs I had on before.


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[lfalzarano]

Remember these are Summer Only Tires - PS4S tires exposed to temperatures of 20 degrees F (-7 degrees C) or lower must be permitted to gradually return to temperatures of at least 40 degrees F (5 degrees C) for at least 24 hours before they are flexed in any manner, such as by adjusting inflation pressures, mounting them on wheels or using them to support, roll or drive a vehicle.

[XfireZ51]

Remember these are Summer Only Tires - PS4S tires exposed to temperatures of 20 degrees F (-7 degrees C) or lower must be permitted to gradually return to temperatures of at least 40 degrees F (5 degrees C) for at least 24 hours before they are flexed in any manner, such as by adjusting inflation pressures, mounting them on wheels or using them to support, roll or drive a vehicle.

I have read several reviews that cautioned about using the 4S cold. Apparently don?t really like cold weather, not that many summer performance tires are that much better. I do take the car out in cold weather sometimes just to warm up the oil etc. No holeshots, 🤣

Phil,

Still 285s up front?
Also, I found that installing the DRM rear camber brackets and trailing arm brackets really helped in minimizing inner fender well rub.

[lfalzarano]

If you live in a really cold climate for most of the year and want to drive your 18 and 19 C6 wheels, Michelin makes a Pilot Sport All Season 4 tires. The downside is they only go up to 285's front and rear.

[Jagdpanzer]

Yes, 285s up front


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[sleazy rider]

My original Michelin Pilots Sports in 275 that came with the original wheels stuck out and rubbed on the inside of the fenders as well. Those tires timed out too. I ultimately removed the OEM front wheels and put on aftermarket GS fronts in the correct offset. No rubbing now.
H
:cheers:

i'm going thru the same problems myself after putting the brakes, wheels and tires off my 2007 z06 onto my 1991 zr-1. the 17" zr-1 wheel has an offset of 57 and the 18" 2007 z06 offset is 40 so i'm looking for a correct offset wheel that clears the z06 brakes. so far i have found the brand and style of wheel that i would like to put on the car and have contacted 4 venders to get a set made and they treat me like a red headed stepchild. no follow-up. i talked to the wheel manufacturer and they told me they can manufacture the wheel. venders tell me i have to go thru them to get the wheels made. who did you use to get your wheels?

[XfireZ51]

I don?t believe Hans has the 6 piston Z06 brakes up front. I do and am using the OEM Z06 wheels. With 285s up front, the Michelin PSS does stick out slightly. They have rubbed the inner wheel well just under the fender opening, however, the rubbing is so slight as to rub only the silver off the duct tape I put there to see how much rubbing was actually going on. I?m also using coilovers which are easy to adjust for clearance.
I?m considering the 275 Michelin PS4s up front to reduce the amount of shoulder that protrudes beyond the fender opening, however I can get 285s now as opposed to February. Having said that, its obviously nothing urgent this time of year. And the PS4s only go up to 325s for the rears, but I have read and heard good things about this successor to the PSS.

Just as a note, one of the things that helps in reducing the amount of tire protrusion is using two piece rotors rather than the stock rotor. Mine are Coleman IIRC, and the thickness of the hat is less than the Z06 rotor which allows the tire to tuck in further in the wheel well. And the two piece weighs 12# less per side than the stock rotors.

[Ccmano]

i'm going thru the same problems myself after putting the brakes, wheels and tires off my 2007 z06 onto my 1991 zr-1. the 17" zr-1 wheel has an offset of 57 and the 18" 2007 z06 offset is 40 so i'm looking for a correct offset wheel that clears the z06 brakes. so far i have found the brand and style of wheel that i would like to put on the car and have contacted 4 venders to get a set made and they treat me like a red headed stepchild. no follow-up. i talked to the wheel manufacturer and they told me they can manufacture the wheel. venders tell me i have to go thru them to get the wheels made. who did you use to get your wheels?

These...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/333820631531
H
:cheers:

[wfot]

I don?t believe Hans has the 6 piston Z06 brakes up front. I do and am using the OEM Z06 wheels. With 285s up front, the Michelin PSS does stick out slightly. They have rubbed the inner wheel well just under the fender opening, however, the rubbing is so slight as to rub only the silver off the duct tape I put there to see how much rubbing was actually going on. I?m also using coilovers which are easy to adjust for clearance.
I?m considering the 275 Michelin PS4s up front to reduce the amount of shoulder that protrudes beyond the fender opening, however I can get 285s now as opposed to February. Having said that, its obviously nothing urgent this time of year. And the PS4s only go up to 325s for the rears, but I have read and heard good things about this successor to the PSS.

Just as a note, one of the things that helps in reducing the amount of tire protrusion is using two piece rotors rather than the stock rotor. Mine are Coleman IIRC, and the thickness of the hat is less than the Z06 rotor which allows the tire to tuck in further in the wheel well. And the two piece weighs 12# less per side than the stock rotors.


I have a very similar set up to yours, but no coil overs yet. I have been debating on the c6 z06 rims/tires for months now. can you or anyone post pictures of the end result of the install?

I have not heard that any of you posting here have used any type of wheel spacers, correct?

I was thinking of a set of gunmetal rims to offset the polo green.....

[XfireZ51]

The rears use an 18mm spacer w GM racing studs for extra length and strength.

[wfot]

looks good. any concerns about the rears flying off? lol

and I am fed up with the tires offered in 17 inch. what driving differences di you feel after the wheel/tire change?

better breaking? better ride? better cornering?

John

[XfireZ51]

Jon,

I loved the Z06 wheels when Locobob posted pics of his ZR test fitting the wheels. I thought the C4 was made for those wheels IMO. Then when upgrading, the brakes looked pretty puny in comparison. So the fronts went on first, then rears after saving pennies for the Street Shop adapters. Finally, like you I wanted a wider choice of better rubber for the car. The Michelin PSS are so much better than the Nittos I had. Quieter, much better rain traction, much better balance.
No question the rear end is better planted. However, 4.10s and Pete?s work on porting/cams still allows me to break the 345s loose.
The C6Z brakes are amazing. Love them. Really confidence inspiring to know you can pretty much stop faster than just about anything else on the road.

[wfot]

Jon,

I loved the Z06 wheels when Locobob posted pics of his ZR test fitting the wheels. I thought the C4 was made for those wheels IMO. Then when upgrading, the brakes looked pretty puny in comparison. So the fronts went on first, then rears after saving pennies for the Street Shop adapters. Finally, like you I wanted a wider choice of better rubber for the car. The Michelin PSS are so much better than the Nittos I had. Quieter, much better rain traction, much better balance.
No question the rear end is better planted. However, 4.10s and Pete?s work on porting/cams still allows me to break the 345s loose.
The C6Z brakes are amazing. Love them. Really confidence inspiring to know you can pretty much stop faster than just about anything else on the road.


thank you for the insight. I realized a few months ago I found the factory 17 inch wheel/tire grip limit in braking was about 1g. I got a very nice yesteryear LPE/BEAR brake front setup, 13.5 inch with breadbox size calipers. then could not get any factory size rotor to keep up and went with 12.88 wilwoods with the big calipers in the rear & a bias valve. It is outstanding and I was wondering why I could not get passed 1G and then I realized it is time for more grip. the 18/19 set up is what I will end up with I think and will allow a much better selection of tires.

[Z51JEFF]

I'm running a 265/40-18 on the front. I had a 275/35 at first but I felt it was too short. The 265/40 is about 1/10 narrower than the 275 but a touch taller and like to look much better. http://https://i.postimg.cc/8Jxh3btp/FF25-D344-0-CA4-4-BD2-A765-6-EA79-A23-B97-A.jpg (https://postimg.cc/8Jxh3btp)

[Z51JEFF]

https://i.postimg.cc/vTZ34qnV/FF25-D344-0-CA4-4-BD2-A765-6-EA79-A23-B97-A.jpg (https://postimg.cc/8Jxh3btp)

[Z51JEFF]

https://i.postimg.cc/Y0D8Y6Ny/C5-E01-C43-0-BF4-44-B4-8617-B670-AE81-B6-FE.jpg (https://postimg.cc/4HtzThSz)

[dredgeguy]

Yup that looks outstanding!