Phoenix64

iTrader: (3)

Trying to better my previous best lap of 8:56.24. Set on 245/50-16 A/S tires.

Stock 16's with 245/45? 24.4in 800$

Or 18's with brembo brakes and 285/30? 24.8in 2200$

Can't say the stock brakes were letting me down.... But.
The brembo's provide 15-16% more brake torque, and 30% more thermal capacity.

But the combo is larger diameter, and the extra 64lbs of rotating mass is almost all located farther out than the 16's.

This has been running around in my mind for the last 8 months, deployments coming to an end almost time to decide.

The more I look at tire tests the more it looks like super low profile tires(30) are worse lap time wise, but offer better steering "feel".

DuronClocker

iTrader: (25)

Wheels/brakes. Anything you lose in acceleration you'll be more than able to make up for with being able to carry that speed considerably further into every turn. Plus the 285's should help allow you to keep the speed up higher through the turns.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

Is there no lighter 18 wheel available?

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

Have you considered some H & R 1" Hubspacers on all 4 corners with the stock 16" wheels?
The only down side is that it'll cost you $300 .

Phoenix64

iTrader: (3)

Its more where the weight is located, than how much they weigh.

What do the 1'' hub spacers get me, wider track? I don't think that lets me run the 14in brakes.

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

Yeah just a 2" wider track, but you really need that if you running the stock 16s which tuck in quite a bit. IMO, a 2" wider track width should offer some improvement in handling.

z28bryan

iTrader: (7)

I'd be a little scared to use spacers, let alone 1 inch ones on a track like the nuburgring. I've heard some of the road race drivers would only go with a proper offset wheel and avoid the need of a spacer. For lower speed events, you can get away with it

The best advice you are going to get on something like this is frrax. I'd take a lot of the advice you will get here with a grain of salt unless its someone who's been in road racing before.

That being said, I think those sized wheels and tires are holding you back. You can go with a 17x11 inch wheel with 315 35 17 tires all around. 17x11 wheels in the cheaper range like the corvette wheel replicas don't really come in an ideal size without using a spacer of some sort at least for the front. I've heard of people getting some other brands of wheels that go somewhere between the 36 and 50 mm offsets.

BenZ28

I've done hundreds of laps with the Camaro on the Ring and if I drove only there, I wouldn't have upgraded to Stoptech brakes. Hawk HT10 pads in the front with proper cooling (my previous brake setup) are enough for 2 or 3 consecutive laps even in hot summer!
BTW I also didn't like spacers but had to use them with the Stoptech brakes and ZR1/SS wheels (13mm front from a company called SCC which makes quality spacers).

Carlos01SS

iTrader: (4)

My understanding is the original C5 Z06 wheels in the 18X10.5" factory +58mm offset will fit on 4th gen fronts with no spacers, will be able to fit the new brakes and be able to fit 295-35-18" tires with no modifications.

And depending on the wheel manufacturer, the wheels are forged aluminum (Alcoa) weighing 22lbs each, or the Speedline wheels which are cast but weigh 20.5lbs each, both relatively light and inexpensive, you can find a set of used ones for about $800-$900 bucks.(all four)

Or Speedline is currently selling brand new C5 Z06 wheels 18X10.5" for $250 each, they made another run of them.
Fit the 295-35-18" tires, they will fit the Brembo front brakes, and freaky-deaky!!!

EDIT:

For the rear end though, you're gonna have to do the BFH mod in order for them to fit with little to no rubbing.