Anyone help on the biggest tires to fit on C5 wheels?

i just got a set of c5 rims 17/8.5 in front and 18/9.5 in rear.they are true c5 rims i think I'm right on the width. Does anyone know the widest tires i can put on them? I believe they make 305 / 45/18 i think woud they fit on the rear i mean and wear good or is 185 or 175 better and on the 17 which size is best? i am looking at nitows 555, what others do you recommend? any help woud be appreciated.

Thanks

Pat

I have 2001 vette wheels on my car. The rears are 275's and had slight rubbing issues. I had to hammer inside the wheel well a little bit, and it's ok. I wouldn't go with anything over 275's for that wheel. And the front, I have 245's. I wouldn't go wider on the front because then you would have the front oversized, but the back wouldn't be. I think it would look funny.

I have 2003 C5 Rims on my camaro and im running 275/40ZR18 on the rear and 225/45ZR17 on the front. got a new set of ZR rated Allseason tires for front and rear for $690 at my local tire store.

The objective is to come close to matching the outside diameter of your new tires to the stock tire diameter. Your stockers were either 235/55-16 at 26.1" (base V8 tires) or 245/50-16 at 25.7" (Z-rated RPO "QLC" option).

A 305/45-18 will not fit correctly on a 9.5" wide wheel - at least according to the tire manufacturers (M/T ET Street Drag Radial or Nitto 555R is OK). Even if it would fit on the rim, its a 28.8" diameter tire, and would not fit in your rear wheel wells without major surgery/body work. And then it would make your 3.73 gears feel like they are 3.32's (if there was such a size).

For the 17x8.5" wheel:

- 245/45-17 (25.7")
- 255/45-17 (26.1")

For the 18x9.5" wheel:
- 275/35-18 (25.6")
- 285/35-18 (25.9")

The 275/40-18 is a Corvette size, with a 26.7" diameter. The 225/45-18 is a 26.0" tire, and a bit narrow for an 8.5" wide wheel.

Finally.... we have a "Wheels and Tires" forum, so I'll move your post there.

thank you i did not see the tire section.. so 285/35/18 would fit in the wheel wells and need minor moding to lip on wheel well. Fred, I am looking at the nitows 555r a few others said go with the bf good kdw-2's how do they compare to the 555r? They are 50 -60 dollars more a piece. Do they make a m/t et street in the 175 or185/18 i didnt see them when I looked. I also only found the 555r in 40 not 35, now I get cost at work for tires and we were busy so couldnt do much searching.

thanl you i did not see the tire secon . so 285/35/18 wood fit in the weel wels and ned minor moding to lip.injuneer i am locking at the nitows 555r a fue others sead go with the bf good kdw-2's how do they compar to the 555r they are 50 to60 dolers more a pce .do they make a m/t et street in the 175 or185/18 i dident see them wen i locked. i also only found the 555r in 40 not 35 now i get cost at work for tirers and we wer bise so coudent do much serching

dude, if you're looking for help, learn to type....

sare i have deslexia

Hey guys, real sorry about the spelling on my last post, I have dyslexia, and when my girlfriend read it she gave me ______! Sometimes I forget how bad my spelling is.
Once again, sorry, and I will make sure she checks it before I send it.

well now, dont i feel like a dick. sorry but there's a lot of people here who are just too lazy to type properly. but when it's easier to understand and read things, it's also a lot easier to give meaningful and useful help.

I think this illustrates why its not a good idea to jump on people for spelling, sentence structure or punctuation. I was guilty of this myself from time to time, but I've spent a lot of time working with pat35 on some data logs and other items, and its opened my eyes. I was truly not aware of the magnitude of the problems that dyslexia can present. We've added a "Please excuse....." to his signature, so people can hopefully be more understanding.

As far as tire selections:

285/35-18 should not require any mods to the fender lip or the inner fenders. The 65mm offset of the C5 wheel will put it a bit "deep" in the wheel well, but there should still be 1/4" more clearance than we get with the 17x11 50mm wheels.

Appears you are looking for drag radials.

Mickey Thompson:
265/40-18 (26.5") fits 9.0-10.0" wheel
305/35-18 (26.4") fits 10.0-12.0" wheel - might fit on a 9.5, and bulge a little

Nitto:
305/35-18 (26.4") fits 10.0-12.0" wheel - Nittos are know for being on the "narrow" side, so might fit.

BF Goodrich:
275/35-18 (25.6") 9.0-11.0" wheel
295/35-18 (26.2") 10.0-12.0" wheel


I couldn't find any Goodyear DR's in 18"

i nead a set of drag radials that work good on the street for later.but right now i need street tires to fit these rims front and rear. i think iam going with the nitows 555r. i get a good prise threw our other shop.the 555r are the ons i ned right? i see they have other 555 listed on line. thank you very much injuneer.you bent over backwars to help and anser a lot of my stuped questens.