Why does the Corvette has such poor wheel fitment inside the fender openings?
12-09-2007, 11:23 AM
#21
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
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This is actually a true story. The major (read "American") manufacturers actually do have a set of written "specs" that all vehicles they build are supposed to meet unless exceptions are approved by management. I read a few years ago that one of the requirements is that there has to be room for chains to be fitted.
I seriously doubt if this has been applied to the Corvette for some time, but you have to understand how big companies think!
By the way, with mine lowered on the stock bolts, and slightly oversized tires, I think mine looks pretty good now....
Last edited by MikeyTX; 12-09-2007 at 11:24 AM. Reason: Forgot to click instant notification
12-09-2007, 11:30 AM
#22
Le Mans Master
>>>I read a few years ago that one of the requirements is that there has to be room for chains to be fitted.
I seriously doubt if this has been applied to the Corvette for some time, but you have to understand how big companies think!<<<
Actually, the owners manual says to NOT use tire chains so the Corvette wheel well gaps could be reduced by GM, I would think.
I seriously doubt if this has been applied to the Corvette for some time, but you have to understand how big companies think!<<<
Actually, the owners manual says to NOT use tire chains so the Corvette wheel well gaps could be reduced by GM, I would think.
Last edited by 2K14C7; 12-09-2007 at 11:32 AM.
12-09-2007, 11:37 AM
#23
And the "form follows function" rule. I like the form because of the function with right foot application equals
12-09-2007, 12:37 PM
#26
I am talking about all of the extra space inside the wheel openings...not only vertically, but also horizontally??
Can't it be designed to give it a more flush look? There's just too much empty space. The German's can do this very well and it would make a huge difference in the overall look and stance of the car.
Can't it be designed to give it a more flush look? There's just too much empty space. The German's can do this very well and it would make a huge difference in the overall look and stance of the car.
What you actually seem to want has nothing to do with interior wheel well clearance. You want the fender to cover the outer wheel opening. GM had a solution to your concern which they introduced in 1953 and continued in production until the mid-1960s, they called them fender skirts. These removeable wheel well covers enclosed the wheel/tire combo leaving only the lower part of the tire visible from the sides. They had to be removeable so one could change the tire, of course. I'm sure some enterprising aftermarket vendor could come up with fender skirts for the C6 if there was sufficient demand for that look.
Fender skirts originally went away on automobiles because the esthetic changed to want exposed wheels. But the pendulum could certainly swing back the other way. Particularly with the current trend toward higher MPG, skirts would reduce turbulence around the wheels, improving drag numbers. The original esthetic for skirts was aircraft landing gear pants, which did indeed reduce drag.
12-09-2007, 12:42 PM
#27
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I'm tellin' ya, my priorities must be all screwed up.
There are numerous threads on how crappy looking visor stickers are, how verts look better with the visors completely removed with the visor mounts left dangling in the breeze, how 2 postage stamp sized GM chicklets ruin the looks of the C6, and now tire gap.
I don't even give that stuff a second thought.
What I do see is a car that is too high for it's width, a poorly designed front that forces owners in two plate states to come up with or purchase front plate mounts with one uglier than the next, a big flat featureless *** end and the crowning glory of the C6 design team: that big chunky dated rear window bubble which makes the car look even taller than it already is.
Now, if we can live with all those major design flaws and still love the car, little picky nonsense like tire gap isn't even worth mentioning.
There are numerous threads on how crappy looking visor stickers are, how verts look better with the visors completely removed with the visor mounts left dangling in the breeze, how 2 postage stamp sized GM chicklets ruin the looks of the C6, and now tire gap.
I don't even give that stuff a second thought.
What I do see is a car that is too high for it's width, a poorly designed front that forces owners in two plate states to come up with or purchase front plate mounts with one uglier than the next, a big flat featureless *** end and the crowning glory of the C6 design team: that big chunky dated rear window bubble which makes the car look even taller than it already is.
Now, if we can live with all those major design flaws and still love the car, little picky nonsense like tire gap isn't even worth mentioning.
, we do not have to live with all these "major design flaws" to love the C6....evidently you do.I don't perceive a problem with tire gap but I submit it may be preferable for one to nit-pick little details rather than to be so profoundly disappointed with the 'overall' design of the C6. Improvements, of whatever magnitude, can always be made. The Corvette is not and never will be perfection as truly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Your opinion has value and knowing it benefits us all. I just don't feel the majority of C6 owners are as significantly disappointed with the overall design of the C6 as you are. Your being able to love the C6 despite such criticisms is truly a testament to a (otherwise?) great automobile.
12-09-2007, 12:48 PM
#30
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There is virtually no extra space inside the wheel openings, there's just barely enough space to allow for full suspension travel without the tire rubbing on the bodywork. That's why the manual says you can't run chains.
What you actually seem to want has nothing to do with interior wheel well clearance. You want the fender to cover the outer wheel opening. GM had a solution to your concern which they introduced in 1953 and continued in production until the mid-1960s, they called them fender skirts. These removeable wheel well covers enclosed the wheel/tire combo leaving only the lower part of the tire visible from the sides. They had to be removeable so one could change the tire, of course. I'm sure some enterprising aftermarket vendor could come up with fender skirts for the C6 if there was sufficient demand for that look.
Fender skirts originally went away on automobiles because the esthetic changed to want exposed wheels. But the pendulum could certainly swing back the other way. Particularly with the current trend toward higher MPG, skirts would reduce turbulence around the wheels, improving drag numbers. The original esthetic for skirts was aircraft landing gear pants, which did indeed reduce drag.
What you actually seem to want has nothing to do with interior wheel well clearance. You want the fender to cover the outer wheel opening. GM had a solution to your concern which they introduced in 1953 and continued in production until the mid-1960s, they called them fender skirts. These removeable wheel well covers enclosed the wheel/tire combo leaving only the lower part of the tire visible from the sides. They had to be removeable so one could change the tire, of course. I'm sure some enterprising aftermarket vendor could come up with fender skirts for the C6 if there was sufficient demand for that look.
Fender skirts originally went away on automobiles because the esthetic changed to want exposed wheels. But the pendulum could certainly swing back the other way. Particularly with the current trend toward higher MPG, skirts would reduce turbulence around the wheels, improving drag numbers. The original esthetic for skirts was aircraft landing gear pants, which did indeed reduce drag.
I had one just like this
12-09-2007, 12:50 PM
#31
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I value and respect differing opinions but I feel your impression of the C6 as a dated, major design 'faux pas' is very much a minority viewpoint. Fortunately and as a self-appointed spokesman for the majority , we do not have to live with all these "major design flaws" to love the C6....evidently you do.
I don't perceive a problem with tire gap but I submit it may be preferable for one to nit-pick little details rather than to be so profoundly disappointed with the 'overall' design of the C6. Improvements, of whatever magnitude, can always be made. The Corvette is not and never will be perfection as truly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Your opinion has value and knowing it benefits us all. I just don't feel the majority of C6 owners are as significantly disappointed with the overall design of the C6 as you are. Your being able to love the C6 despite such criticisms is truly a testament to a (otherwise?) great automobile.
, we do not have to live with all these "major design flaws" to love the C6....evidently you do.I don't perceive a problem with tire gap but I submit it may be preferable for one to nit-pick little details rather than to be so profoundly disappointed with the 'overall' design of the C6. Improvements, of whatever magnitude, can always be made. The Corvette is not and never will be perfection as truly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Your opinion has value and knowing it benefits us all. I just don't feel the majority of C6 owners are as significantly disappointed with the overall design of the C6 as you are. Your being able to love the C6 despite such criticisms is truly a testament to a (otherwise?) great automobile.
The main design flaw of being too tall for its narrow width is more obvious with the coupe, which is why I think the C5 coupe is much more proportionate than the C6 coupe. The vert doesn't seem so wide with the absence of tall, narrow rear glass and with the top down the car is visually lowered and brought back into proportion. The rear end is just plain jane. The front... well, like many here, I leave off the plate in my home state and take my chances, and put on a QD mount when I drive to stricter neighboring states. (Still no excuse for GM thumbing their noses at such a large number of two plate state buyers, however.)
And it is a great car for the money... probably the best.
Last edited by ProfMoriarty; 12-09-2007 at 01:17 PM.
12-09-2007, 01:19 PM
#32
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A Big “HELLO” from Forest Hill, Maryland.
Put BMW fenders on your Vette to get the look you want.
12-09-2007, 01:25 PM
#33
Drifting
Takes about 10 minutes to lower the car maybe 20 if you also cut the bushings. It will look just fine and the filtment????? is very eye pleasing to most of us. If you will check out most car adds you will see that the copy guys always make the car appear lower
not higher
Never had a problem with full suspension travel or any of the other horror stories you will read about on the forum.......bottom line.....it's YOU CAR do what you want with it and let others do what they want
Praise The Lowered
not higher Never had a problem with full suspension travel or any of the other horror stories you will read about on the forum.......bottom line.....it's YOU CAR do what you want with it and let others do what they want
Praise The Lowered
12-09-2007, 02:03 PM
#36
The question was not neccessarily a put down, it was basically questioning why(as far as a design aspect) GM does this?
I would think they can functionally design the car to give it a more flushed(I'm not talking about slammed) look.
I would think they can functionally design the car to give it a more flushed(I'm not talking about slammed) look.
12-09-2007, 02:49 PM
#37
Race Director
I'm with ya brotha.. I think the same thing everytime I go into the garage.. it seems like they got it right with the C5 Z's though.. ??
Last edited by Donuts; 12-09-2007 at 02:53 PM.
12-09-2007, 02:56 PM
#39
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I think that the C6 is a LOT better then the C5 was.....when I look at mine I can almost live with the space between the wheels and the fenders.....not perfect, but a lot better....
12-09-2007, 02:57 PM
#40
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Oh well, fortunately good taste as Wayne O states is with the majority.
Last edited by siffert; 12-09-2007 at 03:01 PM.