C5 Wheel and Tire Specs vs Performance

[Jack R Lawson]

I have talked to Lingenfelter sales, West Coast Corvette and Mid American Motors regarding wheels and tires and of course they assure me what I am asking about would be satisfactory on my 04 vette. But I would like to hear from people on the forum that have the wheel/tire configurations I think I would want. The two wheel manufactures I seem to like best are HRE and WCC which brings me to my first question, HRE is 30% more expensive than the WCC wheel which looks almost identical and is a three piece forged wheel exactly like HRE, so why does HRE cost so much more? Is it because HRE is the established class of the field? My next question has to do with impact on performance when oversized wheels and tires are installed. I really like the looks of large wheels and the low profile tires but there must be some negative impact to both performance and ride comfort. Both Lingenfelter and WCC has told me I can use with no problems 19X9.5" front wheels [275-30-19] tires, with 20X11.0" rear wheels and [305-25-20] tires. If this is a good configuration surely there must be many corvette owners on the forum with this exact set up or something very close. I would like to know how you like it and what are the negatives regarding performance and ride comfort. Your comments will be appreciated, thanks. Jack Lawson, Raleigh, NC

 

[always717]

I just started shopping for new aftermarket wheels and am finding the prices all over the place. They seem to look the same, although there has to be a difference. Also a few say the pressure sensors will need to be replaced, any info or referrals would be great.

 

[Jack R Lawson]

I just started shopping for new aftermarket wheels and am finding the prices all over the place. They seem to look the same, although there has to be a difference. Also a few say the pressure sensors will need to be replaced, any info or referrals would be great.

Yes, the pressure sensors and how and if the Vette computer is programed to address these wheel/tire size changes is another concern, I have heard they do but not from any reliable source. I do think that the fit specialist at HRE and WCC can answer this question, I just forgot to ask them when I spoke with them. Since after market wheels is a large expenditure for me I am inclined to lean towards HRE because engineers at Lingenfelter like and sell them. However, WCC has a three piece forged wheel that is of very good quality, looks almost exactly like the HRE 547 but is almost $1.5k less expensive. I have not seen any of these wheels except in pictures and I will not buy until I do. I was just about to buy a Corsa exhaust system when I decided to go to a corvette show so I could hear both Corsa and Borla, I discovered I liked both but perfered the Borla Stingers, maybe when you see the different wheels the decission will be clear. I want performance but I don't mind saying how they please my eye is most important to me. The quality of any of these $4k to $6k wheel sets will far exceed any performance requirements I have, hee hee at 72 years old unsprung weight is not a priority. Jack, Raleigh NC

 

[c5y2k]

First off I dont think you can go wrong with either one. Both companies are well known for selling quality products. IMHO HRE are to expensive, sure I would love to have some 547s but not at $1,400/wheel.

You might want to read this thread from a forum member who has a set of HREs running a 19/20 combo.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62040&highlight=wheel

 

[Jack R Lawson]

First off I dont think you can go wrong with either one. Both companies are well known for selling quality products. IMHO HRE are to expensive, sure I would love to have some 547s but not at $1,400/wheel.

You might want to read this thread from a forum member who has a set of HREs running a 19/20 combo.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62040&highlight=wheel

Very interesting thread, information you must have if considering such wheel/tire configurations. I appreciate your posting it, thanks.

 

[leadfoot4]

You may want to investigate a little more. IIRC, some of WCC's wheels are actually from CCW.

 

[Jack R Lawson]

You may want to investigate a little more. IIRC, some of WCC's wheels are actually from CCW.

"IIRC" that stumped me for a while but I figured it out, I'm not very good at this computer talk. Yes, I hear what you are saying and want to learn as much as I can prior to spending big bucks for wheels only to find out I didn't make the best choice. Or worse yet end up with something I really can't use. I have no need for 19" X 20" wheels that can only be driven in the day time to a car show for fear of hitting a smal bump in the road and bending the rim. I hope they are really not that fragile but I need to know for certain. Thanks for you input.

 

[leadfoot4]

Jack, give the guys at CCW a call. They're very friendly, VERY knowledgeable, and their customer service is "A#1". Plus, they're never too busy to give you any information that would help you out.


(If you're not careful, they might even sell you a set of wheels....and tires!)

 

[Hotwing]

Geeez .....$4grand for rims.....such is the life of the rich and famous !!!! Only in America

 

[Jack R Lawson]

Geeez .....$4grand for rims.....such is the life of the rich and famous !!!! Only in America

4 grand if you buy economy, HRE gets $6K for 19 X 20 inch 847R, really expensive and then to hear stories that every little bump you encounter bends the rim, don't make much sense to me. I can't wait to talk to some corvette owners that have these wheels and see if the damage factor is really as bad as some imply, could be.

 

[Bill Heygster]

4 grand if you buy economy, HRE gets $6K for 19 X 20 inch 847R, really expensive and then to hear stories that every little bump you encounter bends the rim, don't make much sense to me. I can't wait to talk to some corvette owners that have these wheels and see if the damage factor is really as bad as some imply, could be.

six grand !!!!!!!!!! - I just walked out to the garage and checked my stock polished wheels. They really look great. Then I sat behind the wheel and couldn't even see them

 

[Jack R Lawson]

six grand !!!!!!!!!! - I just walked out to the garage and checked my stock polished wheels. They really look great. Then I sat behind the wheel and couldn't even see them

I understand there is over 100 manufactures of forged sport wheels and the prices are all over the place, you can buy cheapies for as little as a $1K for a set of four or get into the top of the line for more than $6K plus and if you needed 22inch HRE wheels they would likely cost you as much as $8K. Who buys this product that supports so many vendors? I realize that some of these wheels are almost a work of art but I live in Raleigh NC and see many corvettes everyday, I don't think I have seen one with aftermarket wheels in the last year. But what concerns me more is the reports that oversized wheels with the super low profile tire will not sustain a normal pot hole with out major damage, if this is true they are just show items, this I cannot afford.

 

[Bill Heygster]

Jack - One thing to consider is the diameter of the newtires compared to stock. the C5 computer is set to work with what comes on the car. If you make a radical change in final diameter it can throw everything off and have an affect on performance. C4C5 was very clear about this at Carlisle last year. Doesn't mean you can't change things just that there may be more to it than fit and looks. Good luck

 

[Jack R Lawson]

Hey Bill, thanks for the input, I thought I had read on another thread that the corvette engineers had built into the programing a certain amount of software to accomodate changes up to ? it didn't say how much but maybe they were talking C6, I don't know. However, you can bet your butt if I lay $6K for cosmetic wheels those HRE fitting guys will have answered many questions multiple times. I would love to go to Carlisle this summer but just hate to think of messing with all that crowd, Would imagine you could get all your questions answered at Carlisle. I will likely settle for Myrtle Beach corvette show to talk to owners of the work of art wheels.

 

[c5y2k]

There are many many people running 19/20" wheels on there vetts. Depending on where they live, local road conditions and how they drive they may never have an issue with bumps bending the rims. I just wanted to make you aware that could happen.

With that said GM did go up a size on the C6 to 18/19" wheels. I don't think they would have done that with out some intense research.

I look at it like this. I have a front spoiler that makes the front end very low. If you don't know how to park the car with that its gets beat up scraped and cracked (ask me how I know). So when driving around town I have to consider my approach angles and exits and where/how I park. Its a little extra work but it doesn't compare to the compliments and looks I get.

Oh and for wheel/tire diameter changes that can be updated in the PCM if needed.

 

[tstar]

six grand !!!!!!!!!! - I just walked out to the garage and checked my stock polished wheels. They really look great. Then I sat behind the wheel and couldn't even see them

otfl otfl otfl

 

[tstar]

Jack - One thing to consider is the diameter of the newtires compared to stock. the C5 computer is set to work with what comes on the car. If you make a radical change in final diameter it can throw everything off and have an affect on performance. C4C5 was very clear about this at Carlisle last year. Doesn't mean you can't change things just that there may be more to it than fit and looks. Good luck

Right, the height difference between the front and rear tires (rake) is important for the ABS to function properly.

There are many many people running 19/20" wheels on there vetts. Depending on where they live, local road conditions and how they drive they may never have an issue with bumps bending the rims. I just wanted to make you aware that could happen.

With that said GM did go up a size on the C6 to 18/19" wheels. I don't think they would have done that with out some intense research.

I look at it like this. I have a front spoiler that makes the front end very low. If you don't know how to park the car with that its gets beat up scraped and cracked (ask me how I know). So when driving around town I have to consider my approach angles and exits and where/how I park. Its a little extra work but it doesn't compare to the compliments and looks I get.

Oh and for wheel/tire diameter changes that can be updated in the PCM if needed.

Yep, that'll make your Speedo accurate again, the issue with modifying the rake is that the ABS systems can't be re-programmed to accomidate the changes in rake or geometry for that matter.

I'm only sure about the ABS, I'm not too sure if other systems that automatically apply the brakes would be adversly a ffected as well... ie Traction control and Active Handeling...

I mean you can tub it and throw Fred Flintstone tires under it but I would keep the same overall rake as the factory did... or damn close to it.

 

[Jack R Lawson]

Right, the height difference between the front and rear tires (rake) is important for the ABS to function properly.




Yep, that'll make your Speedo accurate again, the issue with modifying the rake is that the ABS systems can't be re-programmed to accomidate the changes in rake or geometry for that matter.

I'm only sure about the ABS, I'm not too sure if other systems that automatically apply the brakes would be adversly a ffected as well... ie Traction control and Active Handeling...

I mean you can tub it and throw Fred Flintstone tires under it but I would keep the same overall rake as the factory did... or damn close to it.

Tim, excuse a dumb question but, is rake and camper the same thing on a car suspension? I know rake on a motorcycle but on a car I guess I never thought about it and I don't know what it is unless it is another name for camper. Jack

 

[tstar]

No dumb questions exsist! The only thing dumb around here is that I can't post about customizable gauge faceplates! ad

Camber, at least on a car deals with the position of a single tire. Camber is the angle of the wheel relative to vertical, as viewed from the front or the rear of the car. If the wheel leans in towards the chassis, it has negative camber; if it leans away from the car, it has positive camber. The cornering force that a tire can develop is highly dependent on its angle relative to the road surface, and so wheel camber has a major effect on the road holding of a car.

The rake is the height difference between the front and rear tires…Here are the stock specs;

C5
Rake .9”

Front – 245/45/17, diameter 25.7”
Rear - 275/40/18, diameter 26.6”

Z06
Rake .7”

265/40/17 Front, diameter 25.4”
295/35/18 Rear, diameter 26.1”

And again, I highly recommend that you try and keep the rake fairly close… so in a C5 the rear tires should be almost an inch higher then the fronts…

Hope that explains it better…

 

[Jack R Lawson]

Tim, thanks, yes that explains rake very well and it makes sense, 72 years and I had just never heard rake referenced to cars, thanks again.
Jack