The Panther

I’m buying a set of OEM 18/19 wheels for my base C7 and looking to run NT01s on them. Any opinions on or experience with the different widths available? I’m wondering if it’s worth it to go wider on the front, the rear, or both

Front
245/40/18
265/40/18

Rear
285/35/19
305/30/19

96GS#007

Nominally, wider in the front is better since these cars understeer. Having said that, there are so many variables that your situation could be different.

Years of experience?
Alignment?
Brakes?
Years in *this* car?
Other mods such as sway bars (particularly on a base car that as I recall doesn't have a rear bar)
Shocks
etc

If you're new, my recommendation is to stick with stock or near stock tire sizes, prep the car (fluids....especially brake fluid), get decent brake pads, and add a modest street/track alignment. Go have fun and based on how the car feels begin tweaking the next time. New folks are nowhere near the capability of the car.

If you just have to have wider tires, I'd go 265 front / 285 rear. For sake of comparison I use 305 front / 325 rear on my GS on 19: wheels. Goodyear Supercar 3R tires

The Panther

Thanks for the info. I only have a couple days on this car but probably 20 weekends in other Vettes. The AS3+ street tires that came on it only last me a few laps before getting greasy and are now chunking which is expected. I use to run NT01s square on a C5.

I definitely had understeer, so put on Z06 sway bars front and rear which helped. I can go to a rear Z51 bar depending on balance with different tire size. I also have Z51 shocks I’ll be putting on and then doing a more track oriented alignment.

Do you think 265/285 is my best bet for now?

96GS#007

If the car currently is neutral, I'd continue with stock size tires. If it's still pushing, I'd go larger in front with the 265.

Like many things.....change too many parts at once and you end up chasing your tail.

The Panther

Good advice thanks

Jfryjfry

Get the widest tire you can fit.

Rob Willis

This was the setup I ran, worked well.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...e-fitment.html

CraigStu

I have been autocrossing my base Stingray for 3 years now. 2 yrs on the stock runflats which, not as fast as good 200 tires, but a good feel. Last summer I went to Mich 4S in stock sizes. Wish I had upgraded the fronts to 265s because these seem to have a narrow tread compared to others in same size. Along the way I did Z51 shocks and bars. Car started soft but balanced and got a bit firmer but picked up understeer that the 4Ss made worse. I learned about swaybar mount bushings. They come in 2-4 different rubber hardnesses so can be a tuning tool for sure. I changed to the hardest one in the front bar but didn't want to back off the less roll ot provided so played w/ the rear bushings. But the final cure last Sept. was more front camber. I drive 2 hours to most autocrosses so I had been keeping camber mild -2.5F and -1.5R or so. But -3.2F got rid of the mid corner understeer. Going from the old 'dang I went in too hard and now waiting for front bite', to 'WOW, dang this thing turns', makes driving SO much more fun. So my point is twofold. 1- this is what I experienced and how I fixed it, and 2- between bushings and camber there are things you can do to change balance if, by chance, your tire choice turns out to be less than perfect.