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It's been 20 years but I am now a Corvette owner again! I will be collecting my '99 Torch Red Coupe in a couple of weeks and the car is immaculate, however it does have the 'wagon wheels' which I am not too keen on. I am thinking of replacing them with an 18/19 set up and wanted to know of any issues, how is the ride quality, is it more harsh? Will the handling be improved or worsened? What about traction?
I may stick with the 17/18 size as the car has new non-r/f tyres on it but I do like the look of the larger wheels. I want to get it right as I am in the UK and shipping/import tax etc is very expensive.
This is my 99 FRC with 18 & 19 wheels. Bought them from the Tire Rack. Rears are 11" wide so I don't need spacers. Running 265 x 35 x 18 and 305 x 30 x 19. Check your sway bar end links originals are plastic. Newer C5 or anyC6 are steel and will fit.
Car has been lowered on stock bolts and have added the C6, Z06 shocks, and the C6, Z51 sway bars. Bought the suspension kit from Gene he is a vendor here
One of the best improvements I made to our 2002 C5 vert was 18/19's. Much improved handling and ride, especially with the Michelin PSS tires. Also added Hotchkis sways which eliminated the C5 rock & roll. Corners like a sports car should now.
Chromed FR C5 Z06 Wheels – 19x11 & 18x9.5
Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires – 305/3019ZR & 275/35 18ZR
I'm running 18's and 19's off of the base C6 on mine. No noticeable difference in ride quality or handling, but the one thing I am disappointed with is how tiny it makes my rear brakes look...
Same here, 19/18s look and corner way better than stock 18/17s, No problems with fitment but I did put spacers on them to give it the out to the edge look, and up-graded the rear brake rotors to Z06 size with the caliper adaptors so the rear brakes not only perform better but look a lot better too. Also my car has been lowered 1 inch on stock bolts and I think that with this set-up it gives it that perfect sleek look
Last edited by CorvetteBob52; 02-16-2015 at 06:50 PM.
Reason: spelling corrections
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Originally Posted by knewblewkorvette
Those Ronal wheels look great on your car.
Honestly, 18/19 wheels will ride very well as long as you keep a decent sidewall height to the tires. The less sidewall height the rougher the ride could be.
I spent WAY TOO MUCH time debating the difference it would make.
I was worried about possible negative effect.
None to report.
Mine are ace slick 18/19.
I have 18's all around and I am happy with the look
and the handling.
265/35/18 front
295/35/18 rear
Also Coling my 2 favorite vacations were both taken in London.
Love your beautiful country, second only to the USA.
I went 18/19's with "base" C6 rim and tire sizes. I would have said the ride quality was a bit better, but I am pretty certain that's down to dumping summer max perf tires for Michelin all seasons - I'd always run summers before. Still sticks to the road like the proverbial brown stuff to a blanket tho'. The bigger wheels just look better, IMO, but now I just need bigger brakes to complete the look!
Got my wheels complete with the tires and new sensors. Not a good option for you though. You need to find someone visiting the US and persuade them to bring them back for you. I used to do that the other way many years back when I was running a modded (US model) 1600 Fiesta as a commuter car. Ford here pretty much orphaned the Fiestas in terms of parts - you could get them, but they cost a fortune. I used to bring back lots of stuff when I went to back to visit family - best was a full set of XR2 suspension stuff - springs, struts, the works. Customs guy at Dulles airport just rolled his eyes and waved me through!
Last edited by jackthelad; 02-18-2015 at 03:59 PM.
Side by side shot of the early C5 end link brackets. The one on the right are what you have on your C5 plastic! The ones on the left are C6 Brackets, metal and a perfect fit. Make sure yours were replaced
Some great feedback on this thread, I appreciate it.
Originally Posted by cessna10
I have 18's all around and I am happy with the look
and the handling.
265/35/18 front
295/35/18 rear
Also Coling my 2 favorite vacations were both taken in London.
Love your beautiful country, second only to the USA.
Thank you, likewise I always enjoy my time "over the pond".
Originally Posted by jackthelad
I went 18/19's with "base" C6 rim and tire sizes. I would have said the ride quality was a bit better, but I am pretty certain that's down to dumping summer max perf tires for Michelin all seasons - I'd always run summers before. Still sticks to the road like the proverbial brown stuff to a blanket tho'. The bigger wheels just look better, IMO, but now I just need bigger brakes to complete the look!
Got my wheels complete with the tires and new sensors. Not a good option for you though. You need to find someone visiting the US and persuade them to bring them back for you. I used to do that the other way many years back when I was running a modded (US model) 1600 Fiesta as a commuter car. Ford here pretty much orphaned the Fiestas in terms of parts - you could get them, but they cost a fortune. I used to bring back lots of stuff when I went to back to visit family - best was a full set of XR2 suspension stuff - springs, struts, the works. Customs guy at Dulles airport just rolled his eyes and waved me through!
I am visiting Florida in the summer for a family holiday. I anticipate there WILL be a large shopping list and extra suitcase.
Originally Posted by Bimmervet
Side by side shot of the early C5 end link brackets. The one on the right are what you have on your C5 plastic! The ones on the left are C6 Brackets, metal and a perfect fit. Make sure yours were replaced
Thanks Bimmervet, a suspension upgrade is on the cards including sway bar and end link replacement along with some shocks.
The first job though will be to replace the rear bumper to get rid of the Euro-spec fog lights.
Same here, 19/18s look and corner way better than stock 18/17s, No problems with fitment but I did put spacers on them to give it the out to the edge look, and up-graded the rear brake rotors to Z06 size with the caliper adaptors so the rear brakes not only perform better but look a lot better too. Also my car has been lowered 1 inch on stock bolts and I think that with this set-up it gives it that perfect sleek look
All C5s, Z06 or otherwise, have the same size brake rotors
Your adapters allowed you to clear C6 rear brake rotors
02-16-2015, 02:04 PM
18/19 wheels - some questions
I will be collecting my '99 Torch Red Coupe in a couple of weeks and the car is immaculate, however it does have the 'wagon wheels' which I am not too keen on. I am thinking of replacing them with an 18/19 set up and wanted to know of any issues, how is the ride quality, is it more harsh? Will the handling be improved or worsened? What about traction?
