Need Tire Advice Quickly!

Azrael Dark · 12-28-2007, 02:44 PM

So I'm driving over a friends house yesterday and I notice my C5 Z06 seems to be handling a little bit funny. I get to her house and I get out of my car and my left rear tire is completely flat. Luckily I live really close by, but I am guessing I must have ran something over the night before on my way home. I would have gone to the dealership or something to have it plugged up, but when I found the hole I saw that it wasn't just punctured, but punctured and ripped/slashed in a way that I seriously doubt can be repaired.

So.....I need new tires. Not just one either, because to be honest I was planning on getting new tires within the next few months anyway. So I need some quick advice on which ones to get before I order them off of Tire Rack. I had two different tires in mind.

1. The BF Goodrich G-Force T/A KDW-2
Rear -- 295/35 ZR 18 -- $246 Each
Front -- 255/40 ZR 17 -- $159 Each

The only problem I can see with these is that the front tire is a slightly different size than the OE Tires which are 265/40 ZR 17. Would this slightly narrower tire be ok on the stock front wheels?

2. The Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval
Rear --295/35 ZR 18 -- $208 Each
Front -- 265/40 ZR 17 -- $158 Each

These tires are a tad bit cheaper for the rears and match the OE Tire size exactly. But it seems like they may not grip quite as well as the G-Force tires.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated so I can get my Z06 back on the road as soon as possible, thanks.

Darion · 12-28-2007, 04:10 PM

Are these tires just going to be used for street use? Is your car basically stock as far as engine power goes? I have not owned eith of the tires you list but have read good things about both on the forum. The KDW2's are very popular with a few using the Wide Ovals. Fron a size perspective the KDW2's will fit fine but you may get a bit of understeer due to a bit smaller contact patchup front. The thing is, that would be true for sure if all tires were the same width for the same size but they arn't. I would post this question in the tech or general section you may get more opinion that way. Also, look at the Goodyear GSD3's, thay have Z06 sizes and get great reviews from those running them.

Darion

Azrael Dark · 12-28-2007, 04:50 PM

I am mainly concerned about the fit of the front KDWs. The main reason I am looking at these two tires is because they seem to be a great tire for the money. Even outperforming some of the much more expensive tires of the same size from what I hear.

The car will be driven on the street. As far as the engine goes, yeah it's basically stock. I dunno how long that will last, but I think even if I had another 100hp my tire choices would still be the same.

Darion · 12-28-2007, 07:55 PM

Those fronts will fit fine, shouldn't be an issue. Even tire rack list them as being in the range of your wheel size.

Darion

Azrael Dark · 01-01-2008, 12:16 AM

Well I figured a few more people would chime in, but it looks like I am probably going to go with the KDW2s. I haven't ordered them yet, but I will soon. Thanks.