C2 wheels and tires
#1
Cruising
Thread Starter
C2 wheels and tires
I have a 64. want to put a set of rally wheels on. Can I run 8" wheels and what is the biggest tire size I can get away with. Don't mind if they rub a bit at full turn.
#2
Race Director
Member Since: Jan 2002
Location: Close to DC
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C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
If you do a search you may find some good info. FWIW, You might want too be more concerned about the tire rubbing. Suspension condition which dictates ride height will be a significant factor on fitment. If you go up a driveway ramp and the suspension moves enough, that tire can easily rip the fender lip out, not just rub it. Think about a 7" ralley with 205/70/15 or 215/65/15. Dennis
#3
Cruising
Thread Starter
If you do a search you may find some good info. FWIW, You might want too be more concerned about the tire rubbing. Suspension condition which dictates ride height will be a significant factor on fitment. If you go up a driveway ramp and the suspension moves enough, that tire can easily rip the fender lip out, not just rub it. Think about a 7" ralley with 205/70/15 or 215/65/15. Dennis
#4
Melting Slicks
Don't forget to consider the wheels "off set" and, JMO but a 215 70 15 is pretty good fitting tire on these cars. About as wide as you can go (safely) and they fill the well nicely. That's what I'm running on my car although they're on 6" wheels.
Gary
Gary
Last edited by Gary's '66; 03-05-2015 at 01:07 PM.
#5
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Jan 2002
Location: Redondo Beach CA
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C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
It is possible to run an 8" wheel (I do), but you need to know what tires, what the shape of the tires is, move the emergency brake bracket from the side to the top of the trailing arm, and assume you will lose some turn radius from tires lightly rubbing the frame.
I ran 235/60-15 tires on repro knock offs and had frame rubbing but did not mind. When I got tired of the knock offs, I moved to 16x8 wheels with neutral offset (my trailing arms had been modified) and 245/45-16 tires that also rubbed the frame, but still cleared the body perfectly. Those tires are in short supply and expensive, so I went to 245/50-16 tires and the left rear ever so slightly touches the inside edge of the wheel arch.
Bottom line, be really careful if you try a combo that nobody else has tried, and remember that assembly variations mean you can be 1/4 inch off from what someone else has. Or even from side to side...
I ran 235/60-15 tires on repro knock offs and had frame rubbing but did not mind. When I got tired of the knock offs, I moved to 16x8 wheels with neutral offset (my trailing arms had been modified) and 245/45-16 tires that also rubbed the frame, but still cleared the body perfectly. Those tires are in short supply and expensive, so I went to 245/50-16 tires and the left rear ever so slightly touches the inside edge of the wheel arch.
Bottom line, be really careful if you try a combo that nobody else has tried, and remember that assembly variations mean you can be 1/4 inch off from what someone else has. Or even from side to side...
#6
Cruising
Thread Starter
I have a set of center line wheels with 26 X 10.5 X 15 street slicks, they fit fine and really looked like they would rub but the rear spring must be really stiff because I think I only heard them hit once in the last 6yrs. They don't go up into the wheel well. They sit about maybe an inch below the quarter and would hit for sure if the suspension moved. They must be offset further out because there is no contact with trailing arms or anything else on the inside of the wheel, There is a local corvette parts guy who recommends using 68 7" rallys, says they are hard to find but he has a used set. Said the offset was only on the 68 and some BB station wagon. I take it with those wheels I may be able to run a taller tire that goes up into the well. Should be safe but I would really like to stuff the biggest tire I can in there the first time. Don't mind running a smaller tire on the front.
#7
Melting Slicks
If your heart is set on running the absolutely widest rear tires you can then do it right and replace the trailing arms with a pair of off set arms.
Gary
Gary