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I know this is incredibly subjective, but hear me out.
I have the option of purchasing some OE C6 Z06 wheels for my C5. Currently I have some oewheels replica wheels on it that are 9.5" wide front and rear with a 285 tire on them.
The car is 95% stock (though I do plan on upgrading to a stroked ls2 in the future) and aside from the occasional track visit, will spend its life on the street.
So the main question is, all else being equal, would I see much benefit from the wider tire? I know the setup will be heavier (rear tires will add at least 5 lbs each over what I have now) but would the increase in grip offset that? Or would it basically just be an aesthetic upgrade, at the cost of mpg and my wallet?
From: Halfway back on the Highway to Hell...again!
From what I'm understanding, this is on your C5? either way, this is what it boils down to.
If it is then going to a wider wheel for what you're planning to use it for will be strictly for aesthetics. Wider wheels on the street is more of a downgrade for a cruiser / DD other than looks. You feel more resistance in turns and the tires will grab the crowns and valleys of the road more. It's something you'll get used to, but it's like driving a small boat down a rough river.
Granted, hard to beat that look of big, meaty tires, but it comes with a cost of comfort.
In addition to what @SAPPER already said, on the street wider wheels increase rolling resistance, making you slower. They are heavier and will increase ride harshness because of the increased unsprung weight. You can increase lateral grip with softer compound wheels for different racing application (drag, auto-x, or road racing) in the stock width, or increase it further with wider tires using that same type of racing specific soft compound. On the street though, wider tires are trading ride comfort and speed for looks.
Last edited by lees02WS6; May 8, 2023 at 10:00 AM.
Almost these are same for f-bodies oe replica. 18x10.5 c5 z06 and also have c7 z06 18x10.5 If you like the looks of it and dont race much. I went wider wheels cause the cam headers needed bigger tires.
Not for handling/braking as Sam Strano has proven. Showroom Stock is kind of limited but he's consistently shown better lap times on 16X8 OEM wheels than 17X9 OEM wheels, but that's road racing.
Sapper was right "Wider wheels on the street is more of a downgrade for a cruiser / DD other than looks." Sad but true. Drag racing is different but this thread is about DD.
The Law of Diminishing returns applies to wider wheels just like everything else. Mostly chasing ever more improvement is not cost effective. As I prove:
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Are wider wheels worth it? 
