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The Chevrolet Corvette C5 is a fifth-generation model released between 1997-2004 is one of the most reliable models and a collector’s favorite still today.

The C5 Corvette is a vehicle that will always be remembered, especially when you consider the limited amount released over their short stint. To best preserve yours, consider one of these top tires: Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 Plus, BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 A/S Plus, or Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS.

The C5 Corvette spent seven years where three different model types were released. They also used staggered tires widening the ranges of tires that would fit on the vehicle. This guide contains the eight best tires for a C5 along with information about why high-performance and street tires are the best choices.

All tires included in this guide have been tested and analyzed by industry experts. They have also been sized properly to fit according to the right sizes for different C5 models to ensure they are truly one of the best options. If you are looking to upgrade the tires on your Corvette, keep reading below.

Table of Contents

8 Best Tires For C5 Corvettes

The C5 Corvette is a vehicle with a long and storied history and features some pretty impressive performance numbers to go along with it. This is why it is important to choose the right tire for your C5 to ensure you get the most from your vehicle without sacrificing quality or performance.

When it comes to tires for C5 Corvettes, there are some factors to consider before making the final choice on which tires to purchase. There are several features that have to be taken into account before you can decide which tires are best for your vehicle.

These factors include performance type, tire type, load capacity, fuel efficiency, and durability. It is also important to consider some of the safety features each tire offers along with tread design and road traction.

It’s also important to remember that the C5 Corvette used staggered wheel and tire sizes on the front and rear. Staggered wheels provide more performance driving features because they provide  

1.  Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 Plus

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The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 Plus is a tire with advanced driving technology that will help drivers increase performance and fuel efficiency on highway trips, while still providing a luxury on- or off-road driving experience. It ranks as our number one tire pick for C5 Corvettes.

This is an excellent tire for Corvette C5 drivers and can be used in various weather or road conditions. It has a tread design that provides traction, traction, and handling to make driving easy. There is also an enhanced braking capability with its four-channel pattern construction.

Michelin updated the tread on this tire by using a Helio + compound that uses extra silica to create more aggressive handling and traction features on the asymmetric pattern. The tread resembles that of the summer version of this tire model, but with all-season capabilities.

The tread pattern of this tire provides excellent grip on all types of surfaces such as wet or dry roads with minimal hydroplaning due to the circumferential groove design with additional lateral grooves across the center rib.

Although this collector vehicle is not typically used in the winter, you still have the option to drive it safely and securely through snow and ice when relying on this tire. There are variable thickness sipes that can target pavement at different angles to provide the grip you are looking for.

You can find this tire readily available in many sizes at both Tire Buyer and Tire Rack for prices ranging anywhere between $130-$350.  

Pros

  • Long-lasting tread life with a solid warranty
  • Reliable all-season traction, especially on wet or slippery roads
  • Sporty handling and cornering features
  • Excellent short distance braking capabilities

Cons

  • Ride comfort could use some improvements along with highway road noise

2. BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 A/S Plus

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The BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 A/S Plus tire is a great choice for a tire that offers a balance between performance and grip. It has a lot of features that make it a good all-around performer. This tire is the perfect choice when you want to go anywhere, whether you are racing on your favorite track or just cruising around town.

The g-Force Comp-2 A/S is a sporty tire that provides maximum braking and lateral control for drivers who like to go fast on their vehicles. It relies on an aggressive-looking design with aggressive performance in mind.

The tread is a new creation by BFGoodrich that contains an upgraded high silica compound perfectly built to adjust to the cold weather too. This ensures you get the best braking, handling, and traction all year round on your C5 Corvette.

The g-Force Comp-2 is designed for driving on varied terrain, which makes it an excellent choice for off-road driving. Its directional tread pattern provides increased performance in various driving conditions, while the V-shape angled lateral and longitudinal grooves provide better road contact and hydroplaning resistance.

The tire has some great features that make it a good choice for those who are interested in performance and speed. Another one of these features is the Performance Racing Core system to assist with handling and provide more sporty driving capabilities.

When shopping for this tire, the best place to look is Tire Rack where they offer many sizes at affordable prices starting at as low as $116.99.  

Pros

  • Maximum comfort driving with low noise levels
  • 45,000-mile limited warranty
  • Excellent balance on both dry and wet pavement
  • Cornering and sporty driving features

Cons

  • Tread life could be improved compared to competing options

3. Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS

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Bridgestone’s Potenza RE980AS tire is a popular factory tire that provides excellent handling, braking, and steering responsiveness. It is a good choice for anybody looking to upgrade the tires on their C5 Corvette.

The tires are designed for sporty driving with the lowest rolling resistance possible. They are highly capable tires for performance-minded drivers who want to prioritize performance over all else.

This is an all-season tire featuring an aggressive tread pattern for excellent handling on dry surfaces, wet roads, and snow. It also has a deep center channel design that provides stable gripping even in slippery conditions like ice or on track.

The tread blocks are designed to be flexible and smooth which enables them to provide optimum high-speed cornering response on dry or wet surfaces. It also features innovative silica technology to provide excellent winter traction and braking performance.

The Potenza RE980AS is an excellent tire for great handling performance in dry conditions with plenty of hydroplaning resistance features too. It is a high-quality, reliable product that offers more than enough grip in most conditions to keep your car moving down the road at speed without any issues.

To purchase this tire, you can head over to Tire Rack and check out the amazing deals they offer with prices ranging between $140-$240. Each order comes with free shipping and handling too.

Pros

  • Above-average tire durability with a stronger sidewall construction
  • Sporty driving features with minimal road noise
  • Remains flexible in freezing temperatures
  • Cross and lateral groove design for hydroplaning resistance and wet pavement handling

Cons

  • Ride quality and overall comfort could be better

4. Hankook Ventus V12 Evo 2

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The Hankook Ventus V12 Evo 2 is made with a new generation of Ultra-High Performance (UHP) compound. It has increased performance, increased energy return, and reduced rolling resistance at the same time.

The Ventus V12 Evo 2 has precise handling because of its wider contact patch and reinforced sidewalls that have seen major improvements. This allows it to stand out from other competing tire choices in its class.

This is a high-quality tire that is made of eco-friendly materials. It has the latest technologies and features to give you the best performance on the road. The silica compound helps to increase traction and provide balanced driving.

The tread design also has a set of notched shoulders with styrene polymers for optimal handling ability on dry pavement. This summer street tire will provide one of the best driving experiences you will find for a C5, but it will struggle during the winter months and in cold temperatures.

There is also a five-pitch sequence that targets road vibrations and bumps to suppress the sound and eliminate cabin noise. This provides better driving comfort.

You can find this tire available at Tire Rack with prices starting as low as $108 per tire.  

Pros

  • Handles well in high-temperature weather
  • Dry pavement traction is best in class
  • Quiet driving with plenty of road comfort

Cons

  • Not intended for winter driving

5. Firestone Firehawk Indy 500

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The Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tire was developed to provide superior performance and handling for race cars. It is an entirely new generation of Firestone racing tires, designed for speed and excitement.

This tire comes with a wide range of features, including traction control technology that helps racers maintain control in wet or dry conditions, improved wet or dry braking performance, and improved handling in the turns.

The traction of the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tire has been improved by adding a center rib patch on both sides of their tread pattern. The increased surface area provides an improved grip when driving on wet or dry surfaces.

This tire is completely inspired by the past of racing and where it is headed in the future. The objective is to provide plenty of speed, performance, and cornering ability to vehicles capable of what this tire can offer.

The Long Link Carbon tread works best in racing situations by providing even more accurate dry pavement traction. The Pulse Groove technology is another important feature developed by Firestone too. It improves wet traction, durability, and cornering.

The best place to buy this tire is at Tire Rack where you get affordable pricing and free shipping. Prices start at $119.99 on this tire.

Pros

  • Cornering and speed stability is flawless
  • Dry pavement traction is above average
  • Solid tread life and comfort

Cons

  • Not intended for winter driving and cold temperatures

6. Falken Azenis FK510

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The Falken Azenis FK510 tire is a high-performance tire that offers the ultimate in traction and handling. This tire is designed for aggressive driving, while still maintaining comfort while driving on highways or open roads.

This tire has a strong puncture-resistant layer that increases its durability, while also providing superior grip when driven on wet surfaces. They are great for all weather conditions and offer good performance in the snow.

The tire’s center rib design strengthens contact with the road, while also providing stability in cornering and steering.

While one of the most prominent features of this tire is its low rolling resistance and high mileage per gallon, they also provide excellent traction and good performance when driven on dry surfaces.

Falken AzenisFK510 is a rally-inspired classic, offering a balance of traction, handling, and performance.

With its stiff sidewall construction and high-quality rubber compound, the tire offers an excellent ride for a variety of types of driving. The tire combines a hard compound with a softer sidewall to provide good protection from the elements while also maintaining performance.

Tire Rack provides a wide selection of sizes available with free shipping and affordable pricing for anybody looking to make a seamless purchase of the Falken Azenis FK510 tire.

Pros

  • Excellent wet surface traction
  • Plenty of responsiveness with steering, braking, and acceleration
  • Quiet tire for such high performance

Cons

  • Summer tire that isn’t meant to drive on ice or snow

7. Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season

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A new type of tire has been developed by Goodyear Eagle Sport, which is designed to provide traction, handling, and performance.

Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season tires come with a tread pattern that is not only different from its predecessors but also offers a much smoother ride. The tires are recommended for drivers who want a more comfortable and smoother ride as well as a safe one.

This Goodyear tire is designed to be the best in their class. They are built to provide an all-around, no matter what you’re driving. The low rolling resistance tires are also designed to provide consistent traction and handling for drivers of all skill levels.

The Eagle Sport All-Season tire is Goodyear’s first step into the performance tire market with its newest technology features to improve your driving experience no matter what you’re driving.

Most notably, the internal construction of this tire increases durability and ensures you will have maximum stability whenever testing the speed limits on your vehicle. It uses a Race Wrap Construction Technology that creates top-tier strength on the road.

You can find this tire at Tire Rack available in many sizes as well as a variety of speed rating options too. The price starts as low as $105 per tire.

Pros

  • Accelerates with precision
  • Cornering and handling for sporty driving
  • Excellent winter capabilities
  • Above-average tread life

Cons

  • The tire can get noisy on rougher terrain

8. Toyo Proxes R1R

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The Toyo Proxes R1R tire is good for maximum performance on all sorts of surfaces. It’s designed to give drivers more traction, handling, and performance on dry to wet surfaces.

In terms of pure speed and racing feel, this tire would rank at the top because it is graded as a maximum performance summer street tire. It provides all of the features required to get the most out of your vehicle.

The tread compound used in this tire is optimized for dry to wet conditions which gives it a better grip than other tires tested against it.

This tire handles well in many different driving situations and performs well compared to other tires tested in this same category for traditional street driving. Toyo Proxes R1R provides drivers with the confidence to drive their car freely without worrying about skidding on wet surfaces.

Prices start at $141 per tire at Tire Rack for interested drivers looking to make the upgrade

Pros

  • Racing technology for maximum performance
  • A wide range of sizes is available
  • Advanced internal construction for added stability
  • High tech grooves for plenty of wet traction

Cons

  • Tires will wear down too quickly in cold temperatures

Best Type Of Tire For A C5 Corvette

When driving a Corvette C5, it is important to make sure you have the best tire for your situation. We believe there are three types of tires you should consider for your vehicle. These include high-performance tires, summer street tires, and all-season tires.

High-Performance Tires

High-performance tires have the right combination of physical and mechanical properties that can provide significantly lower powertrain friction, which results in faster acceleration and better handling. As a result, high-performance tires for C5 Corvette can be found on various cars from different brands.

High-performance tires are lightweight and come with reduced rolling resistance. They also improve the fuel economy of their cars by minimizing the tire speed variation.

The main purpose of high-performance tires is to minimize powertrain friction, which means improving acceleration, braking, and handling as well as reducing fuel consumption.

Summer Street Tires

The Summer Street tires are a set of tires for a C5 Corvette that offers performance and style. They also have a good grip and handling, which makes them an excellent option for any driver.

These types of tires offer performance and style to any driver looking for the best combination. They also make more direct contact with pavement to ensure accuracy when making tight corners or driving at faster speeds, which makes them an excellent option for any driver.

All-Season Tires

All-Season tires are designed to provide optimum performance year-round. They have a moderate tread that provides great traction on snow and ice, which makes them ideal for winter while maintaining performance in warmer weather too.

All-season tires are typically made using different combinations of rubber compounds, steel belts, nylon cords, and other materials that vary depending on the tire's intended use.

However, they tend to be lower-priced options and perform at lower levels compared to the higher-performing tires mentioned already. However, if you strictly need a reliable tire that provides a balanced range of features then this is the right choice for you.

Best Tires For C5 Corvettes

About The Author

Charles Redding

Charles Redding

I've spent many years selling cars, working with auto detailers, mechanics, dealership service teams, quoting and researching car insurance, modding my own cars, and much more.

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