Pirateslife4me

Wondering why some people seem to dislike the 19/20" wheel set up for the C5? I think they fit the car pretty nice from what I've seen anyway. I'm still running stock z06 wheels but planning future upgrade. Is it figment issue? Aesthetics
?

Stealth02

I think if you have the right set up then they look sweet. I am fixing to throw a set of Sport Muscle GS 19x10's up front and 20x12's on the back with 3/4" spacers to complete my custom C6Z L5 rear quarters. My insperation for this set up is Vettefeva's red coupe pictured here. Awesome stance!

Cybermind

Maybe it's because of the added weight and bad ride characteristics?

If you're doing it just for aesthetic reasons, be forewarned; your brakes will look tiny. A lot of people end up swapping in bigger brakes to fill in the wheel.

jd_black_00

For me it's an issue of weight. The ideal wheel for me is one that is just large enough to clear whatever brake package you're running.

Down

I'm still on stock sized wheels but for me, it'll be my lack of driving ability. That extra sidewall and the tire choices that go along with it have me leaning towards an 18" all the way around setup if I can ever justify some SP500s.

f6john

The short sidewall you have to run would be my main concern. Local friend of mine bought a 98 with 19's and 20's tried a larger tire to gain some sidewall and the tire rubbed the inner fender liner in front of the tire on the 20's. Had to sell his new tires and go back with a lower profile.


All that said, the red coupe above looks wicked!

Black 02

I think 18/19 and 19/20 combos are both great choices. 17/18 is too small and 18/18 looks awkward out back.

Pirateslife4me

I'm totally digging that one too! I can't really see much of a weight or ride difference over a 18/19 set up though or Even that much over stock wheel set up. I can see the brakes looking wimpy without upgrade though. Cray makes a 20x12 size with I believe A 47 offset I wonder it would be possible to tuck those in to stock reade fenders

jd_black_00

The issue is that rotational weight is essentially worth 4X standard non-rotating weight. The wheels and tires are both larger, adding approximately 10lbs to each wheel. That adds up to about 120lbs of dead weight which to me doesn't justify the aesthetic advantage

Black 02

Maybe if you stretch a 285 tire it would work. The lip of the wheel itself would hang out a bit.

Black 02

You race your car every single day? While you are correct, many people have both street and track wheels for a reason.

Surfer G

No problem with 18 & 19s here

troyguitar

IMO the rubber band tires required on 19/20 for a C5 look terrible. 18/19 is already pushing it but at this point if you want good tire selection you almost have to move up to 18/19, at least with Z06 widths.

Cars are supposed to have tires, those little rubber band tires make it look like a bicycle or something.

Dave68

Added unsprung weight hurts acceleration, braking, and ride performance.

You can go overboard with just about anything and giant wheels certainly fall within that category.

donald4972

I have 19/20, and love them.

My car seems to have plenty power to turn these over quite easily, and doesn't mind the size or the weight difference. If you track often; get another set of wheels/tires just for racing.

Those who say they ride differently or worse somehow; haven't driven a C5 with 19 x 20 wheels. They drive and ride just fine, in fact as good or better than the stock sizes I took off and sold.

You can get 35 sidewall on front, and 30 sidewall on the rears, easily. I did. Maybe larger, other guys might more know about that.

Lots of size tires available for 19 x 20 wheels are readily available, from most tire makers.

Some are just traditionalists, and think anything 'new' is somehow sacrilege. I just disagree about that. I would guess there are as many guys running 'non stock' size wheels/tires, as there are stock; now days. All getting bigger. You just don't want the tires sticking out. That's why some go for wide-body fender, which accomodates wider massive tires, which looks great on C5!!! I may do that, someday, maybe when I next need tires.

Go for it. Make your car your own, by what pleases you, and only you.
Don

cessna10

Curious by what you mean awkward out back. I think
Mr bill runs 18"s all aroumd and his car is beautiful

Black 02

The car was designed for staggered sizes. From a direct side shot, an 18" just looks too small on the back to my eyes. Especially if the front also has an 18". Just looks off.

Sinister-one

18 / 19's here.... I just need to lower mine a little bit.

cessna10

Fair enough!

c5vetteguy

So, with a staggered wheel setup you think having a larger sidewall in front than in the rear looks good? Call me old school, but I prefer my 18s all around with a taller sidewall in the rear.