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Just purchased a 1999 and have some questions about the wheels. They are both 18's, the front appear to be 9.5 and the back 10.5 (just basic measurements).
Were these original equipment or possibly options? The current tires - fronts are 235/40 and the rears are 295/35 and both need replacing.
Any advice on replacement tires size for front and rear.
This car will only be summer driver, but want a quality tire.
And any suggestions for brands!
Thanks
Congrats on your purchase. Those look to be the high polished aluminum "thin spoke" wheels from a later model year C5. I believe they were not available in 1999. And even when they were available, they would have originally been 17" front and 18" rear.
As for tires, you'll get lots of opinions here. I've got the Continental Extreme Contact DWS, but I drive year round.
If those are your wheel measurements (9.5 F, 10.5 R) you’ve ad a minimum got replica rear wheels and maybe OEM, maybe replica front wheels. Being a 99, you’d have wagon wheels or the N73 Magnesium wheels.
The rear tire size is the Z06 size which is a shorter tire than the base car, but is wider. The front tires are narrower than stock and definitely narrower than I’d run on a 9.5” wheel, but I digress.
The Z06 tire sizes you have in the rear are getting harder to find, but you could easily go back to the stock 275/40-18 and gain a taller tire which will fill the wheel well up a little more.
The front tire is an interesting one. If you go to a stock size rear tire a 245/40-18 will be nearly the same height as a stock front tire and still give you the correct back to front tire size difference with the wider front tire more appropriate to the wheel.
If those are your wheel measurements (9.5 F, 10.5 R) you’ve ad a minimum got replica rear wheels and maybe OEM, maybe replica front wheels. Being a 99, you’d have wagon wheels or the N73 Magnesium wheels.
The rear tire size is the Z06 size which is a shorter tire than the base car, but is wider. The front tires are narrower than stock and definitely narrower than I’d run on a 9.5” wheel, but I digress.
The Z06 tire sizes you have in the rear are getting harder to find, but you could easily go back to the stock 275/40-18 and gain a taller tire which will fill the wheel well up a little more.
The front tire is an interesting one. If you go to a stock size rear tire a 245/40-18 will be nearly the same height as a stock front tire and still give you the correct back to front tire size difference with the wider front tire more appropriate to the wheel.
The fronts confused me a bit. Thinking 245/35-18 to look stock and rears as you suggest 275/40-18.
Any help with brands?
Thanks
The fronts confused me a bit. Thinking 245/35-18 to look stock and rears as you suggest 275/40-18.
Any help with brands?
Thanks
Bob@House of Wheels used to sell re-pop 18x10.5 thin spokes, of which I bought 2 from him. Don't know if he still sells them or not. Maybe that’s where yours came from. I bought them so I could run a set of 315/30/18 Michelin PSIIs, which cleared everything on my C5. If you indeed have 10.5 inch wheels, they are an excellent tire to go with. Expect to drop at least a Grand for the 2 tires, tax, mounting and balancing. At least, that’s what they cost me 15 years ago......
The fronts confused me a bit. Thinking 245/35-18 to look stock and rears as you suggest 275/40-18.
Any help with brands?
Thanks
Brands are a personal preference based upon budget. I’ve had good luck with Continental on other vehicles. I’m not planning on running all seasons so I cannot comment there.
245/45-17 (stock front) is a 25.68” tall tire. 245/25-18 (as you suggest) is a 24.75” tall tire. A 245/40-18 tire (my suggestion) is a 25.71” tall tire. The 35 series will result in more wheel gap and a worse ride. The 40 series tire is effectively OEM size in an 18” wheel.
265-35-18 for front 295-35-18 for the rear. That's what I had and no problems finding those sizes. Continental Sport, Firestone Indy 500, Michelin pilot super sport are three great choices at Tirerack.
Bob@House of Wheels used to sell re-pop 18x10.5 thin spokes, of which I bought 2 from him. Don't know if he still sells them or not. Maybe that’s where yours came from. I bought them so I could run a set of 315/30/18 Michelin PSIIs, which cleared everything on my C5. If you indeed have 10.5 inch wheels, they are an excellent tire to go with. Expect to drop at least a Grand for the 2 tires, tax, mounting and balancing. At least, that’s what they cost me 15 years ago......
315/35-18? Aren't those over an inch shorter than the base tire size and a half inch shorter than the Z06 tires? Wouldn't those look like rubber bands and ride really hard?
I know the Z06 tires are a half inch shorter than the base car, which I have to believe is to increase responsiveness with the lower profile sidewall relative to stock, but still, for a daily driver, I'd never run something that short. I'd rather fill up the wheel wells a little more and ride a little softer, especially if you live in an area with rough roads.
265-35-18 for front 295-35-18 for the rear. That's what I had and no problems finding those sizes. Continental Sport, Firestone Indy 500, Michelin pilot super sport are three great choices at Tirerack.
I have those Firestones and love em. Very good value IMO..
315/35-18? Aren't those over an inch shorter than the base tire size and a half inch shorter than the Z06 tires? Wouldn't those look like rubber bands and ride really hard?
I know the Z06 tires are a half inch shorter than the base car, which I have to believe is to increase responsiveness with the lower profile sidewall relative to stock, but still, for a daily driver, I'd never run something that short. I'd rather fill up the wheel wells a little more and ride a little softer, especially if you live in an area with rough roads.
No, they are 315/30/18. If my post said 35 series, I apologize for the typo. I personally think they look great. As for ride quality, I have the F45 adjustable magnetic ride. The tires measure 25.44 diameter. Even with the shorter sidewall, they ride much better than the original run flats. I'm sure there are other non runflat tires with more sidewall that ride better, like 305/35/18s, which I believe weren't available back in 2005 when I bought my PS2s. As you said, it's a personal choice. I have an LS7, which can use the extra foot print.
Last edited by grinder11; 11-13-2020 at 09:54 AM.
Reason: Spell and more info to add
315/35-18? Aren't those over an inch shorter than the base tire size and a half inch shorter than the Z06 tires? Wouldn't those look like rubber bands and ride really hard?
I know the Z06 tires are a half inch shorter than the base car, which I have to believe is to increase responsiveness with the lower profile sidewall relative to stock, but still, for a daily driver, I'd never run something that short. I'd rather fill up the wheel wells a little more and ride a little softer, especially if you live in an area with rough roads.
Sorry if this is off topic, but as a 16 year member, I STILL don't know how to post pics!! Would you be kind enough to PM me how to do it, and I'll post pics. Don't mean to hijack thread.....
Thanks all,
I would simply like to have the stock look and tire sizing- for speedometer considerations.
Dealer suggested 245/35-18 for the front and 275/40-18 for the rears. Continental'sExtremeContact Sport for just over $1000 installed.
If you have 9.5 inch wide front and 10.5 wide rear rims then those tires are narrow. As I told you 265 or even 275 front and 295 for the rear is perfect. And by the way 35 aspect ratio for front and rear. Don't go by what the stealership tells you. go by real world C5 owners info. JMHO
11-11-2020, 06:23 PM
New (to me) 1999- Need tire and wheel advice
