rjwz28

Why is it that the majority of tires that people replace the Z06's tires with don't even meet OEM spec (91Y)? I am shopping for a Corvette Z06 right now that I plan to take to the Silver State Classic in September and the majority of the cars that have good rubber on them need a complete tire swap anyway because they have W-rated NT05s or RE760 Sports mounted, including the cars at "boutique Corvette dealer" Vette Culture. Why are these the popular choices for new tires, and if they are the best size alternatives, why can't the manufacturer offer them in the right spec?

Blue 92

1. Almost twice the cost
2. I doubt less than 5% of all Z06s ever see speeds that requires the higher rated tire.

rjwz28

Yeah, it sucks; the SSC requires a minimum of OEM spec, and since the Corvette has a top speed exceeding the W-rated 168mph, Ys were required from the OE to pass DOT standards (cars can't legally outrun their tire's speed rating). The silly part is that it will be my first time and the speed limit for my class will be 124mph anyway...

hamhead

This interested me enough to check on mine, apparently BFGoodrich KDW2s meet your rating. I've seen at least a few Z's running the same tire as me. They aren't too expensive either, but harder to find nowadays.

What I find interesting is the BFGoodrich Rival, the successor to the KDW, goes back down to W rating.

rjwz28

Yeah, the Toyo T1R, the Nitto INVO, the PS2, and the KDW2 meet spec, as well as the Hankook Ventus V12

Unfortunately the quite-popular NT05 and RE760 Sport do not

It's irritating because these tires are all presented as maximum-performance tires but don't even meet minimum OEM specs for the cars they are sized to fit

Stupid Rival, how dumb is that?

VetteBoy1979

If you're planning to do the SilverState Classic, I'm assuming you would want the comfort in knowing you are putting on brand new tires. Buy the car, spend $1,200 on the tires you want. Is it common to use street tires in that event anyway? I would think you would want a DOT legal race tire, no?

rjwz28

Nope. Road race tires are discouraged since they are typically not designed to deal with typical road debris (stuff you wouldn't normally find on a racetrack)

Also, I will be entering the 110 class, which has a 124mph speed limit. As long as the tires have a reasonable date code (within five years) and low wear, I would have absolutely no problem running them in the event.

Chris S

Not many of us have the opportunity to exceed 168, even on track. I doubt that rating is hurting Nitto's, Bridgestone's, or BFG's Corvette sales very much.

racebum

use the ps2 if you're running the classic

michelin and yokohama are arguably the best sport tire manufactures in the world, when you can, i would always pick something from them. the tech is 1st class and quality control is stellar


the ps2 is the only oem size tire i would even consider for that race. the 760 is an OK street crusier tire but i would never trust them in extended high speed runs. it's bridgestones mediocre tire.

the ps2 is predictable and can handle extended high speed runs

if you're speed limited the nt05 would be the other option, it just isn't "oem size" even though they work

would not use the 760, just has less grip than the rest and gets greasy when hot

Grimlock

Damn, good information here. I regularly hit 175 MPH on the way to work in my C5Z and I am running the NT-05s.

rjwz28

NT05s aren't allowed on Corvettes since they're W-rated

The car I just bought has brand-new 18/19 BFGoodrich G-Force KDWs front and rear, Y-rated, so I'm good to go on that now

LOL. Assuming that wasn't a joke (text sarcasm can be difficult to perceive) it wouldn't really matter as speed ratings are designed to consider a degree of time spent at that speed. For instance, a Y-rated tire is designed to spend time above 168mph, not just exceed it for a brief moment. Since Silver State has about 90 miles of opportunity to cruise at speed deep into the triple digits, the requirement for tires to be rated to the speed the vehicle is capable of is certainly understandable, it just sucks when that speed is well beyond the tech speed for the class that the vehicle is being entered in.

bobby777

Your the guy I passed in my 01Z-with my firestone firehawks

pewter99

I get KDWs at Sams all the time

pewter99

they don't make the T1R PROXES any more..they have been replaced