racebum

the star spec is or was available in 265 40 17

problem is what you would match it with in the rear

Mig233

Correct…

If I could wait a few months (maybe March), there should be new summer tires coming out. The PSS and S-04s have been around since 2011.

bud miller

just bought my 04 with the original F1's, 10 yrs old and 15k miles on um./..absolutley scarey driving it home...sideways in 2nd at 3/4 throttle...
bought new bridgestones re 760's , stock sizes ..very happy so far..and price under $1k out the door at discount...


good luck on your choice, for street these tires so far...have been great...quiet, smooth, and hook great...the car is stock and its my 6th vette................

getkong

I had 275/40-17 with the NT05 up front because i wanted matched tires front and rear. When I went to a square setup to fit my c6z06 brakes, i put the nt05 with like 4k miles up front, and put the rivals out back. They were pretty good at the track day at Sonoma, but with a mix of nt05 and rival, I don't think I can really say it was all tire or going to a more neutral square setup, alignment, or just getting more comfortable with the car on track.

I recall the nt05 also comes with 7/32 tread, just like the rivals?

As for wear, I've only have the Rivals for a thousand miles or so, so no real data there yet.

hxrly

Nice to see the S-04s as another choice, since I run 285s Michelin PSS in stock 18"s all around. I've had the NT05 and DWs, both good in their own way.

Next I might order the Rivals in 295 if I decide I will be doing a couple of track days and a few autocross events in between.

jake07Z06

Toyo r888. Done.

Mig233

Yea, it's strange that, from what I can tell, Corvette guys don't really run these tires too often. It sucks that I will have to size down to 255/285 but the price/performance/longevity seem to be exactly what I'm looking for. I just missed the $70 rebate that expired in December! I will probably run the S-04s in the next couple of months, then spend time trying to find a set of 18x10.5 speedlines. I LOVE the idea of running 285/35/18s all around.

Are they even street legal?

ThumperNC24

Yes, but they say "recommended for competition events only" on the side just like the Toyo RA1s. After they aren't brand new i would be scared to drive them in heavy rain.

rjwz28

The PSS is OEM on the C7 and will be OEM on the C7Z06 as well. The only reason you don't see them on the C5s is that C5s run a wheel setup that modern performance cars do not. OEMs support tire development more than used car customers do.

If you switch to a squared 18 or any combination of 18/19/20 setup, you can run the PSS on the C5 just fine

Mig233

So I bought tires yesterday! I bought Potenza S-04 Pole Positions in 255/40/17 and 285/35/18. I decided on these tires a couple months ago and have been waiting for tire rack to offer a rebate...which never came.

I bought these at Costco. They were offering a $70 rebate. The bill came to $895 installed and includes lifetime balancing (and rotation if it was possible) and a road hazard warranty. I couldn't find anyone that could touch that price and I have been looking high and low. I have always tried to buy tires at one of the wholesale clubs...always seems to work out the best when they actually carry what I'm looking for. I had to order these, so they probably won't be mounted before the weekend. I will write a full up review on the tire after I put some mileage on them.

LS1 Goat 91

I just purchased these about 3 weeks ago from tire rack except in 18/19 combo. So far I am pleased with them. My guess is you will be happy

WannaC5Z

Skipping to the end. Buy the Rivals dude. I have them on my rear and they are awesome. Haven't got to the track on them yet, but hopefully soon. There are some great reviews of them on track if you Google "Rival review". They outperformed and outlasted everything, including the Toyo R888.

Mig233

I did consider them. In fact, I posted on your thread about them haha! I asked you to comment on the treadwear. But that was exactly why I didn't go with them. They come with something like 7.5/32 thread depth. I mostly drive on the street. I do want to do an autocross or trackday, but it will be 90+% street miles.

Basically, I was looking for the PSS (responsiveness/dry & wet grip/treadlife) to fit my stock wheels. I think the S-04 will fit the bill in that regard.

mikebq

Did you put those toyo R888's on yet? I wanted your opinion. I getting new rubber this month and wanted to hear your experience.

WannaC5Z

The treadwear was incredible even on track. Check this out:
http://tires.about.com/od/Tire_Revie...orce-Rival.htm
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-new...-ar145492.html

Shane1974

Nitto 335-30-18 DR
Fit fine. Probably will get 8,000 miles out of them.

Mig233

OK so here's the breaking news. I got the tires installed yesterday...they look great:



So the grip is great, way better than the old stock supercars were...I can hookup most of 1st gear, and definitely 2nd. Yesterday was 60 degrees, and the top of 1st held decently, and it would break them lose shifting into 2nd and then hook. I never knew how fast this car actually got down the road!

Here's the thing. The old supercars were 10 years old, hard, and had little tread left...especially on the front where the insides were corded. But the steering response was outstanding, almost violent. At 100 mph, I could absolutely cut the wheel and the car would just point and shoot. The question was whether it would stick or not. I did the same on these new tires and was all over the place! I could feel the tire flexing beneath the car and it was totally disconcerting. Felt like total ****! These tires have 10/32" tread depth, where the supercars have 8/32" new and probably had like 3-4/32" when I took them off. I believe what I'm experiencing here is tread squirm. Tire Rack says that it should break in and feel right in about 500 miles...http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...e.jsp?techid=5. These tires are supposed to have stiffer sidewalls than the PSS, and has a similiar tread pattern, so I could only imagine was the PSS feels like new. I'm just got sure if it's the construction of the tires, the tread depth, or the break-in period causing this.

The car grips well, it just isn't NEARLY as responsive as it was, and that was my favorite part about the Z. So I have two options: Keep these and hope they break in. Or return them (30 day try and buy or something) and just get some BFG Rivals. But biggest reason against the Rivals was the tread depth, but in retrospect they are at that tread depth for a reason.

Has anyone had any experience with this?

TypeIsCheap

It will take some miles (or a couple of good autocross runs!) for the mold release to scrub off especially on the front. Also you may want to play with tire pressures, different brands have different sweet spots depending on construction.

racebum

check your alignment, toe is the #1 cause of responsiveness, however, bridgestone hasn't been known to make razor sharp steering tires

try zero toe in front, 1/16th in out back and maybe neg 1deg up front and .8 out back.

also check the tire pressure, start with 30psi cold and see what you get

should check the alignment everytime you change the tires. they have a pretty substantial impact on it

Quickshift_C5

This is a load of BS.

I would guarantee they outlasted the Toyo R888, but not outperformed them. The Toyos are a competition tire in a 100 treadwear R compound. They stick amazingly and wear fast. They are only 6/32's new and aren't designed to last forever. However, they are a road race tire and designed for exactly that.

The Rivals are great, no doubt. The RS3, Rival, and RE-11's are all fantastic tires. But they aren't among the Toyo R888's, Nitto 555R-II's, or Nitto NT01's.