This past weekend, I had the chance to test several different tire setups on the Corvette E-Ray to see how they performed on the track. Here’s what we tested:
Tire Setups:
- 245/295-20 A052 on 10/11" wheels
- 295/295-20 A052 on 10/11" wheels
- 295/20 front, 325/21 rear CRSv2 on 10/13" wheels
- 295/20 A052 front, 325/21 CRSv2 rear
- 295/345-19 VitourP1.com on 10/13" wheels
Results:
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A052 Setups: Both A052 configurations (245/295-20 and 295/295-20) were more or less within the margin of error in terms of performance. There was a noticeable change in bias between the two, but I would need more laps to confidently determine which is superior. I tested these first with my least consistent driving, so more data is needed.
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CRSv2 Setup: The CRSv2 tires were faster than either A052 setup. When running the A052 front and CRS rear, the car had big oversteer in the first few corners. After wrangling the oversteer, it became drivable, but my time was slower than with the CRS/CRS setup. The oversteer likely impacted my time.
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Vitour P1 Setup: The Vitour P1s (295/345-19) were 0.4 seconds faster than the CRS setup on a roughly 1:30-minute track. The P1s felt considerably stiffer and sharper, thanks to the short 25-sidewalls on the 19-inch sizes. Subjectively, the P1s felt the best, followed by the CRS/CRS setup. However, I had the most PTM (Performance Traction Management) intervention in Race 2 with the P1s, though that could have been due to the driver. The P1s also have a smaller diameter than the CRS tires.
Impressions:
Generally speaking, this was a new car on a new track, and I wasn’t familiar or consistent enough to make definitive conclusions. I’m sure I was well off the car’s potential, but the test was productive, and I gained valuable insights into each setup.
E-Ray on the Track:
- In Qualifier Mode (Charge Plus off), a full charge was good for about 1:30 before the e-boost became limited. This could be problematic on longer tracks where the sustained throttle and long straights drain the battery quicker.
- In Charge Plus Mode, I could run the entire session without boost limitations.
- Hands down, the Z06 is a better track car than the E-Ray. Even the ZL1 1LE outperforms the E-Ray on the track.
- However, the E-Ray shines in autocross or low-speed environments, where the e-boost and launch capabilities offer significant advantages.
Conclusion:
The weekend of testing was productive, and I’m excited to dive deeper into what the E-Ray can do, especially on Vitour P1s. For autocross and low-speed events, the E-Ray is an absolute beast, but for track use, the Z06 still holds the crown.