troyguitar

You're right, the ride height difference is nominally 4mm but in reality could be zero or 10mm. It probably won't be noticeable but if it is then it is easy to change.

racebum

you'll have to drive it and see what it does. may be fine and yes lowering the rear will promote more understeer which you might not need.

it's just going to look a bit odd more than anything

Mr.E.G.

Of course it will look odd now that you've said something. Haha. I wouldn't have noticed before, but I can already tell that this will haunt my dreams for months to come.

troyguitar

IMO it will look better with the smaller front tire. The stock sizes have a taller sidewall in the front than the rear which looks a little silly to me. Moving the front down or rear up one size evens it out.

TypeIsCheap

One of the things I've found challenging with the current crop of tires for the Z06 is the different diameters between the different tire sizes and manufacturers. With the 275/295 Rivals the rake on my car has been reduced significantly and ideally I'd adjust (probably raise the rear) to compensate but I'm planning to go to the RS-3s next year so I'll probably just live with it...

mkiv808

The Rival 295-18's have been discontinued.

Mig233

Actually it would be HALF the aspect ratio. The axle is only above have the sidewall, right? I'm no suspension geometery expert, but I wouldn't worry about the height difference because it is negligable.

Go look at post 80 and judge for yourself if it looks "odd."

dhowdy

What tire pressure do you guys recommend for R-S3's on stock c5 z06 rims (285/255)? Everything I'm finding through google suggests mid to high 30s, which seems a bit high.

Mr.E.G.

A quick update, I got the Nitto NT05s and so far I really like them. They hook up way better than the old factory tires that were on the car, they're reasonably quiet, the car feels like it has all the lateral grip in the world, and the work totally fine in the rain.


That last part is worth elaborating on. I read that they were a little scary in the rain, but I have driven the car twice now in the rain (both times by mistake, ugh), and it was completely drama free. Now, I wasn't hauling butt or anything, but I wasn't babying it either. I drove the car as judiciously as one would drive a 400 hp RWD car in the pouring rain, and I literally had no problems at all. Not a single close call. All of the people who said the tires were tricky in the rain had a completely difference experience than I did.


Also, the "smaller" front tire doesn't look even remotely out of place on the car.


Lastly, I had a hard time finding the tires in stock anywhere. I eventually found where they were for sale on Discount Tire Direct, yet they had none in stock. I eventually found some at Summit Racing (of all places), and they matched the price. The whole set of tires was about $800 shipped. Maybe a little less.

04silverZ06

What sizes of the NT05 did you get? Any pics?

Ray Smith

FWIW, upon the advice of Donnie Wilson, the Michelin tire engineer assigned to Corvette Racing, I switched to the Pilot Sport PS2 from the OEM Goodyear tires.

Wow. What a difference. Much quieter, and sticky as bubble gum on an asphalt road in Georgia in August. Vive le difference.

Ray

mkiv808

I got NT05's on. Fantastic grip for street. Couldn't ask for more, and would be putting myself in danger anyway pushing it more! More than enough grip for street. Will see how they do on track, but I really liked them on my Cayman.

Steering feel seems good, with sharp responses and turn in.

Was going to get Rivals but they killed the 295/18 size.

gunluvS14

wait a minute, TireRack still show BFG Rival 295/35R18 IN STOCK for $291 a piece.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....8GFR&tab=Sizes

I'm glad I found this thread. I've been using 255/295 BFG Rival for A-street this year.
I love it. I surprised me with the level of performance consider coming from Hooiser the year before.

Now there are more talk on RS3 Version 2. But they don't make 295 size rear.
I'm contemplating trying 255/285 next year on stock C5z wheels.

Anyone measured the tread width 285 V2 on factory C5z rear wheel versus 295 size Rival on the same wheel? I don't think I can trust the manfuacturer number.

TurboTnZ06

I went from NT01's to NT05's only because of the FL rain for street driving. Dry only, I'd stick with NT01's. For true street duty, the NT05's have server me well so far.

dhowdy

NT01 has 100 treadwear rating and would not be useful to those of us participating in autocross in street classes.

Wow, Tirerack told me the 295 was going to be discontinued. Interesting... I ended up ordering the R-S3s though.

Here they are mounted on stock C5 Z06 rims. They appear to fit well on the rim, not stretched or anything, tried to capture the width as best I could.

255/40R17 fronts
Attachment 48370728

285/35R18 rears
Attachment 48370729

wtb-z

I've had the Rival and RS3 v1 and the sizes seemed to be about as expected. The 285 RS3 was pulled a tiny bit and the 295 Rival was basically square. I would take any RS3 version over the Rival unless it was really cold out.

gunluvS14

sweet, thanks for the input