F-Body Europe

Hi all,

just a short question. Anybody using Corvette C5 chrome rims 2x 9,5x18 inch and 2x 8,5x17 inch as used in all Corvettes since 2000 on a >1998 Camaro Z28 ?

Do I need spacers for the rims ?

Any German guys around telling me how tough it is to pass them through TUEV ?

I am planning to get some Hankook ICEBear W300 for this winter. Opinions ?

Best regards

Pedro

I know that some of them require spacers.

Look on the inside of the rim. It should tell you what the offset is. Then we can figure out if you need a spacer.

AFAIK the offset is always lower than the offset of the original rims (offset = 55 and 50)... so spacers shouldn't be required.
About TUEV: No idea. They're OEM GM rims, right? This should help.

Thanks guys !

I checked a couple of tire dealers and workshops because initially I wanted to do this on my own .. seems like offset is ok and no spacers are needed .. However because in many places they simply don't have the information on my car and because they are not really willing to get me tires which once put on my rims do not pass German TUEV and would have to be returned .. I basically ended up right next door. I have a US car service just two blocks away from me and they do know what they are doing and where to go to get my car through German TUEV with Corvette rims on it:

http://www.hackys-us-car-service.de/

Therefore I am leaving it up to them to do it.
I will report on the outcome

Best
Pedro

Yes, please report then, always good to know places that know our cars.

Hi Guys,

Finally, I got my rims and winter tires and OK from German TUEV for the new size. Took some time ... aerr... weeks ..
due to many little reasons...

First we had fall holidays in German schools and the TUEV people my back-yard US Car Service guy

http://www.hackys-us-car-service.de/

deals with were on holidays with the kids (btw he co-operates with a workshop in Mainz and people at the TUEV in Mainz).

Second I got the tires myself Hankook ICEBear W300 via Internet at:

http://www.d7-reifen.com/

Third, I had some business meetings throughout Europe and simply wasn't at home so much.

Conclusion:

Yes, you can put on the original C5 Corvette 2000 chrome rims front: 2x 8,5x17 - rear: 2x 9,5x18

Yes, you can use Hankook IceBear W300 winter tires front: 245/45 ZR17 - rear: 275/35 ZR18

Yes, you receive from Hankook a "Reifenfreigabe" over their webpage meaning a certification that the wheels are appropriate for your F-Body and this certificate you hand out to the TUEV.

No, you don't need any spacers for those rims, maybe for others but not for those I chose.

Yes, Hacky took the car to the TUEV in Mainz and I got my official OK on the new tire size.

Yes, it helps if your rims are GM originals.

I paid:
EUR 400 for used rims
EUR 664 for the tires (front around EUR 120, rear around EUR 200)
EUR 51 for TUEV
EUR 100 for Hacky's help on getting them off, putting them on, driving to Mainz and back and getting it through TUEV and refilling some differential oil due to traction control differential. Nice guy, 20 years experience with US cars, also mechanic for drag racing teams.
EUR 39 for new chrome nuts for all wheels

Total: EUR 1200 for the whole thing .. which is quite ok if we take into consideration that each of those original GM rims was worth around 1000 EUR back then ..

Experience with Hankook tires and Corvette C5 rims so far. Definitely above original package.
More stable on the road, at acceleration and curves. Not much noise. Feels good.

Tell me if you like the result .. I do .. ehehehe

Best

Pedro

Looks great. I also like how your exhaust is fitted. It flows really well. What kind is it?

Interesting to know. I live in Mainz but would never take the Camaro there to get TUeV/inspection or to get some approvals from them for whatever. Must be a special TUeV guy then...


Why would you need that? AFAIK those "Reifenfreigaben" are no longer necessary as well as there are no more any "Reifenbindungen" in the Fahrzeugschein/brief.
At least the "Reifenbindungen" are obsolete.

Or is it because of the different tire sizes?



Looks very nice, although I would have gone with two 17" or two 18" wheels and not the Corvette mix. OK you got them used so there was basically no choice.

Brian, exhaust is handmade of stainless steel by these guys:

http://www.individual-exhaust.de/

Roughly EUR 1200 .. not cheap, but veeery well made, no vibrations whatsoever and 12 years guarantee, customized sound and done in one single day on location, great service, very professional.

BenZ28 .. well .. most probably you do not need that "Reifenfreigabe" anymore, however in my "Fahrzeugschein" I only had the original size specified 245/50ZR16 .. so I thought it could help, since it does not cause too much effort to just request that from the Hankook website.

Concerning Mainz TUEV .. well .. to be honest .. I don't know, but most probably Hacky from my US car service around the corner knows his guys up there to make sure things work out.
I can tell you that I have a TUEV here in Muenster and they will stick to exactly what the computer tells them. Solutions which are not in the system are discarded right away .. *sigh* ..

The Corvette combination is 17in and 18in and to some it might look weird at first glance.
However like that both wheels remain with the same diameter and then again .. EUR 400 is not exactly expensive .. ehehehe ..
In addition your choice of winter tires for that size is not exactly broad, so I was happy to get those Hankook at an affordable price.

But .. wait for my choice of summer tires .. ehehe

Best
Pedro

Ah, now I know what you mean. It's just strange that the tire manufacturer is involved in that process... well if it worked it's all good.

So I guess this is your car then:
http://www.individual-exhaust.de/000000 ... index.html

actually .. i think it is not my car, because when i went there,they already had done that for a black 4th gen z28 camaro ..
i think some guy from pep cars frankfurt .. stephan .. stefan .. dont rememer the rest has had his car done there ..
in fact this is why i went there .. because i had seen that picture of a job done on a 4th gen camaro on their webpage ..
you can also try www.youtube.com for videos of their exhausts built into chrysler 300c and others .. just search for individual-exhaust in youtube ..
best
pedro

Hey, just out of curiosity....does the TUV have a maximum decibel level for exhaust volume?

It's in the car's paperwork (stationary and moving dB levels). But there is no limit for stationary dB and normally they don't check it at TUeV.

For some cars and bikes I wish they would ...

For some cars & bikes they do........American Military!

Hi guys, just to complete this thread.

Now that I had to switch differentials and we put the car on the lift, we noticed that when we release suspension, the inner part of the Corvette C5 rims will rest slightly on the edge of your axle carrier, so if you want to stay street legal you should probably add some spacers to the rear axle. In practical terms however, it does not make any difference, because the wheels are free to move in any situation you might put your ride in.

Best
Pedro

Thanks for the info.