Fan_4_74

I'm looking at four Firestone tire will they fit on a stock 1974 convertible.
I would really like to use 255/60/15 on all four corners.

Through a search it seems this size works on the 80's cars but I can't find any definitive info for my year.

My other option is 235/60/15 on the front and 255/60/15 on the rear

or play it safe with 235/60/15 all the way around.

nomocrap

I have a 1979 and I put Firestone Indy 500 255 60 15 with no problem. they improved the ride JAY

trw

I am running 245/60's on the front and 255/60's on the rear. No problems.
The 255's are the same diameter as originals.
Terry

mvette76

i have 255/60/15's on my 75 with no issues!

Fan_4_74

Thanks I think the 255 60 r 15 is the way to go!

Can't wait!

colin75

i have 255 60 15 on all four corners. lowered and still no problems on my 75

ragtag74

I run 255/60/15 front and rear no problems.I have used 275/60/15 on the rear,still no issue.I like the handling better with 255's all around.

7T1vette

Turn your wheels lock-to-lock and measure inside/outside and front/back tire clearances with your present tires. Find out what the max. tire width difference is between your tires and the 255/60/15's. That should tell you whether they will fit without rubbing [or not].

cosmicvette

This is the safest bet, clearances seem to vary even with cars of the same year it seems.

Fan_4_74

Sounds like a plan
BTW colin75 -- LOOKS GOOD!

ruby76

255/60/15's on all corners of my '76 - a slight rub on the frame on drivers side when wheels are against the lock on left turn. Just rubs the frame nice and clean and only lock the wheels hard left trying to position in the garage (ie low speeds)

mandingo214

So did the 255's work? I am thinking about swapping up a size from my 245/60 15s on my '74.

yellow-fever

I had some slight rubbing of the rear part of the fender on the tire on the right front corner of my 74 when the wheel was turned all the way to the left when I put 255/60's on the car. A little trimming of the fender well by my body shop took care of it. I understand they did this at the factory on some cars in the late 70's.

dp9

all 4 corners of my 78. no probs.

Bigwheel74

I had Firestone 255's / 60 on my stock 74 front and rear. They rubbed on the front wheel well when going over bumps, even with brand new Bilstein Sports for shocks. I had to swap the fronts for 235's. No problems since.

WhiteC3

Been told if that size is used it can rub. The cars from factory had body trimmed some and a few minor changes for clearance. My 81 has 255 60 15 and are dry rotted and will be replaced with normal sized tires 225 70 15s

mydejavooo

The new car that I got yesterday (1976) , has 295/50 r15's on the back! I was like !! I didn't think you could fit them under there without serious rubbing issues...but you learn something new every day.

Buddy1980

I had the 255-60-15 on my 73 convertible and they fit fine, might have a little slight rubbing on front with wheels turned fully left or right, but no problem. Drove it for years and now owned by my friend, he still drives it with same size tire. By the way, just installed 275-40-17 on my stock bodied 80. Wheel size 17" by 9", with a 5" backspace, fits fine but I have offset trailing arms on rear and custom rear sway bar. These wheels and tire combo also fit fine on front only because I have VBP bump steer kit on tie rods, if not the outside tie rods hit the wheel. On the rear this setup would hit the stock rear sway bar and possibly the stock trailing arm. With a 1/4" to 3/8" spacer, I think these would fit a stock 80-82, and the spacer would put the tire in a more desirable location in regards to the fenderwell lip. I guess what I am saying is if I could have ordered these wheels with any backspace, I would go with 4.75" or 4.5" backspace. The way they are now on the car, the outside edge of the tire and the wheel is in the stock location, but in the front the tire and wheel looks like it would look better if it were about 1/2" out more. The rear looks fine. On all the C-3s I have looked at, the rear tires always stick out of the fenderwell more than the front. It always looks like the fronts are tucked in to far.

WhiteC3

The wider tires look good on a Vette, but make it Very snakey to drive on wet roads....

jb78L-82

I had 255/60/15 BFG Radial T/A's for years on my 78 and the cars handling was stable as long as the suspension components are in perfect or near perfect condition. I found out that much of the car's previous handling quirks were mostly due to inferior tire choices available in the OEM size. The key to making any C3 extremely stable to drive is to eliminate as much slop out of the suspension and steering as possible with either new rubber or in my case polyurethane just about everywhere in the suspension. One of the biggest improvements I made to my car after all the suspension work over 25 years was to replace the 255/60/15 tires with 245/45/17 ZR's in front and 255/50/ZR (speed rated to 168 MPH-very soft rubber, very stiff sidewall (they ride great BTW)) in the rear. I personally would never use an S-Rated/T Rated 255/60/15 anything after experiencing ultra high performance tires on my C3. There are no ultra high performance (Z/V rated) tires available in the 255/60/15 inch size-None-which was the only reason I took off the OEM Aluminum rims! The improvement in steering response, handling, and ride compared to the former 255/60/15 tires was really unbelieveable-transforms the car into close to a modern sports car!