ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

I will be going with the Z06 motorsports so at least that's been decided, but would like your all's opinions about what size to go with. I like the look of 18's but don't like the fact that the GS-D3's only come in 295's for the rear I would consider going with 17's to get a 315 on the rear but I am just confused as to which I want more, the larger wheel or the fatter tire. I will be 500+ rwhp so I'll need as much tire as possible but I don't go to the track much, if at all, so it would be mainly for street handling and hooking if i wanna row through some gears. Yo soy Help me out guys.

NBMgreg

iTrader: (7)

first of all, a 315 (nitto 555r exempt) will look rediculous and will be dangerous on a 17x9.5 wheel. so you'll be using a 275/40/17 tire, if thats too small... theres your deciding factor.

and a 295 is perfect for a 18x10.5, so i dont see why that bothers you

also, because of the rivets on the motorsport wheels, the wheels themselves appear smaller than they really are, therefore a 17 might seem like a 16, because of the rivets and multiple spokes.

Hobb3s

iTrader: (23)

The on thig that is keeping me from buying 18's is the price of tires. I liek to waste my tires and I've found that 17's are about half as much as the 18's.

ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

Well, the 17's would be at least 10.5's (I'm assuming the z06's come in this size or possibly 11's) so I would only be putting a 315 on a 10.5"+ wheel. I've seen a lot of people fit a 315 on a 10.5 safely and I want the fattest tire possible out back so that seems to be my current plan of action. However, if the 17" z06 motorsports from tomzwheels don't come in at least 10.5" then this point is kind of moot. Like I said, I was making an assumption, so I could be totally wrong on it - which would make my decision a bit easier. If they only come in 10.5" in an 18" wheel, then my only problem would be deciding between a 315 in a DR (which could cause problems as I often drive in the rain) or a 295 in the GS-D3's or the BFG KDW2's both of which I really like.

will69camaro

iTrader: (19)

i say stick with 17's, look really nice (some 18s look too big, however some look insanely good!). And as mentioned above tires are MUCH cheaper for 17s and can be found all the time

William

NBMgreg

iTrader: (7)

there is no such thing as a 17x10.5 z06 wheel, the widest anybody makes is a 17x9.5, if they DID make anything wider than 9.5 i would be all over them lol

usually the only wheels that come in 17x11 are zr1's, and custom wheels like AR/boyd/fikse/etc.

ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

Yea, not sure what I was thinking on that one. Looks like I will be going with 18's since they come in 10.5, still wonder about what tires I should go with. I just don't think 295's are gonna be meaty enough.

NBMgreg

iTrader: (7)

295's will be just fine... and if you go with GS-D3's they run ALOT wider than most other brands in the same size... ive even heard that a 295 GS-D3 is as wide, if not wider than a nitto 315/35/17... so that gives you an idea.

also, traction isnt about the widest tire, its about the compound the tire is made of, for instance, you can get better traction from a 275/40/17 BFG drag radial than a 315/35/17 sumitomo tire, even though the DR is smaller in size, its made from a softer compound.

as for which 18" tire hooks the best, im not sure, im staying away from 18's due to the price of tires, but i hear nothing but good things about the GS tires in 17's, some even say they hook just as good if not better than a nitto DR, and im sure the same goes for the 18" GS-D3

qwikz28

iTrader: (12)

well i think this is my cue to post. i just recently swapped out my 19x9.5s for 17x9.5s/17x11s on my 02 Z28. my reason for doing this was cause the low profile tires dont have ANY straight line traction on the street. i went from good quality tires on the 19s to suckytomos on the 17s, and the 17s still blow the low pro tires out of the water. take it from me, if you do alot of street driving like i do, then dont go above 17 inch. i know your car makes good power and you WILL regret the 18s all day. not only do they not grip but they bend easier, are heavier, and tires are more expensive.

as for width: on the street, width is for look and handling. straight line traction is almost completely unaffected. feel free to PM me if you have anymore questions but this is a subject i feel very strongly on.

ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

Well, the thing is, as stated a bit earlier, is that the motorsports don't come in anything wider than a 9.5" for a 17" wheel. I'm pretty set on those wheels, so my only option left is to work with the 18's as best I can.

NBMgreg

iTrader: (7)

i dont see anything wrong with a 9.5 wheel, and you'll probly get better traction with that 17x9.5 with a good DR versus a 18x10.5 wheel. and if you think about it, its only an INCH of difference, not much when you put it on your car

qwikz28

iTrader: (12)

ditto... 17x9.5 all around and be happy

ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

I can't run DR's because I drive in the rain. The last thing I need is 500+ rwhp in the rain with DR's.

NBMgreg

iTrader: (7)

ok then that could be a problem...

so your running a street tire for sure... now you run into the sidewall issue like qwik mentioned, you'll have a smaller sidewall with 18's, reducing sidewall flex which is important for good traction.

18's are usually used for autox because they dont have alot of tire roll when turning hard.

ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

Well, traction isn't absolutely crucial because, like I said, it's just a street that I drive around a couple days a week. I'm not looking to cut 1.4 60's on these, just want as wide of a tire as possible for best possible traction on the street in dry and wet conditions, and also looks. Bottom line is nothing beats the look of a 315 out back.

qwikz28

iTrader: (12)

steamrollers FTW!

i understand that your not gonna be racing with these tires but at the same time do you wanna be spinning accidently from each and every traffic light? its up to you which is more important (form vs function). but i think the 17x9.5 will grip better out of the whole then the 18x10.5s. wider isnt always better

ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

I dunno... still . More input appreciated please.

~RedLineLs1~

iTrader: (1)

I got 17x9.5'' z06s all around because tires are much much cheaper. I still want to run a 315 so when I burn up my exisiting 275s I'm going to send 2 wheels to weldcraft and have them widened to 10.5''. Not sure if funds will allow you to do that, but its always an option.

ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

That is an option, but I'd prefer not to have to do that.

Cobra2WS6

iTrader: (22)

I run the 17's front and 18's in the rear... I have a 295 out back