215/70/15 tires on stock 8" Corvette rally wheels
06-30-2014, 12:04 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
215/70/15 tires on stock 8" Corvette rally wheels
I've been reading online that tire dealers will not sell/mount 215/70/15 tires on wheels exceeding 7 inches in width. I am considering the purchase of a very nice newly new set of Radial T/A's in this size from a friend and having a tire dealer mount them on the stock 8" rally wheels on my '71. I do know that this particular size is the closest size available to the F70-15 size that were originally installed on my car when it rolled off the production line in January 1971.
I have two questions for the other forum members that have had this tire size on their 8" rally wheels:
1) Has this tire size given you any trouble on your stock 8" rally wheels?
2) Did your tire dealer object to your request to mount this tire size on your 8" wide rally wheels?
Thanks,
Rick
I have two questions for the other forum members that have had this tire size on their 8" rally wheels:
1) Has this tire size given you any trouble on your stock 8" rally wheels?
2) Did your tire dealer object to your request to mount this tire size on your 8" wide rally wheels?
Thanks,
Rick
06-30-2014, 12:09 PM
#2
1. Tirerack lists the 225 as an optional size, 215 is the standard size on their listing.
2. Have never heard of a tire dealer refusing to mount a tire one size larger.
3. Just had a dealer mount 245/60/15 on 7" Pontiac wheel.
2. Have never heard of a tire dealer refusing to mount a tire one size larger.
3. Just had a dealer mount 245/60/15 on 7" Pontiac wheel.
06-30-2014, 04:49 PM
#3
Team Owner
So, I'm guessing that your 'tire guy' was going to help you out by selling you some 7"rims or some larger width tires [that you don't need] ??? 
06-30-2014, 05:34 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Where are you located? I just upgraded to 18" wheels for autocrossing and I took off my 215x70x15's that were on the front. As near as I can tell, the rallye wheels are about 6".
06-30-2014, 07:40 PM
#5
Safety Car
You can always tell the difference by the trim ring thickness.
As far as tire mounting goes. Buy the tires and take your wheels off and go to your local garage with a (GOOD) balancing machine. They just write on the receipt the wheels were brought in.
Last edited by hugie82; 06-30-2014 at 07:42 PM.
06-30-2014, 08:43 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
07-01-2014, 08:17 PM
#7
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Who is concerned about mounting 215/70 tires on an 8" rim? That's the P-metric size that's closest to the original F70-15 tires, so what's the problem?
I recently purchased a set of 215/70-15 Goodyear Integrity tires as the "driver" tires for my restored 1970 Corvette. They're mounted on the original 8" rally wheels. I chose these because:
- This is the closed P-metric size to the F70-15 original tires
- It's the size NCRS accepts as the P-metric substitute
- Well constructed modern radial tire design providing long lasting tread with a comfortable, quiet ride
- Affordable- less than $300 out the door for the set, including mounting, balancing, tax.
A funny side story: I brought my rally wheels to NTB in the trunk of my daily driver to have them mount and balance the new radials. I didn't tell them what type of car these were for, so the counter guy asked me if I owned an old minivan.
What?? It turns out this is the same size tire used by many 10-15 year old minivans, and it's a volume seller for them. Hence the low price.
I recently purchased a set of 215/70-15 Goodyear Integrity tires as the "driver" tires for my restored 1970 Corvette. They're mounted on the original 8" rally wheels. I chose these because:
- This is the closed P-metric size to the F70-15 original tires
- It's the size NCRS accepts as the P-metric substitute
- Well constructed modern radial tire design providing long lasting tread with a comfortable, quiet ride
- Affordable- less than $300 out the door for the set, including mounting, balancing, tax.
A funny side story: I brought my rally wheels to NTB in the trunk of my daily driver to have them mount and balance the new radials. I didn't tell them what type of car these were for, so the counter guy asked me if I owned an old minivan.
What?? It turns out this is the same size tire used by many 10-15 year old minivans, and it's a volume seller for them. Hence the low price.
Last edited by MarkEdmondson; 07-01-2014 at 08:22 PM.
07-01-2014, 08:43 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
Who is concerned about mounting 215/70 tires on an 8" rim? That's the P-metric size that's closest to the original F70-15 tires, so what's the problem?
I recently purchased a set of 215/70-15 Goodyear Integrity tires as the "driver" tires for my restored 1970 Corvette. They're mounted on the original 8" rally wheels. I chose these because:
- This is the closed P-metric size to the F70-15 original tires
- It's the size NCRS accepts as the P-metric substitute
- Well constructed modern radial tire design providing long lasting tread with a comfortable, quiet ride
- Affordable- less than $300 out the door for the set, including mounting, balancing, tax.
A funny side story: I brought my rally wheels to NTB in the trunk of my daily driver to have them mount and balance the new radials. I didn't tell them what type of car these were for, so the counter guy asked me if I owned an old minivan.
What?? It turns out this is the same size tire used by many 10-15 year old minivans, and it's a volume seller for them. Hence the low price.
I recently purchased a set of 215/70-15 Goodyear Integrity tires as the "driver" tires for my restored 1970 Corvette. They're mounted on the original 8" rally wheels. I chose these because:
- This is the closed P-metric size to the F70-15 original tires
- It's the size NCRS accepts as the P-metric substitute
- Well constructed modern radial tire design providing long lasting tread with a comfortable, quiet ride
- Affordable- less than $300 out the door for the set, including mounting, balancing, tax.
A funny side story: I brought my rally wheels to NTB in the trunk of my daily driver to have them mount and balance the new radials. I didn't tell them what type of car these were for, so the counter guy asked me if I owned an old minivan.
What?? It turns out this is the same size tire used by many 10-15 year old minivans, and it's a volume seller for them. Hence the low price.
07-01-2014, 09:52 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
FWIW, I have a set of 215/70 R15 BFG RADIAL TA's on my '72 convertible. My answers to your questions as follows:
1. No. No problems with the 215's on stock 8" wide rally wheels. I think they look closer to the original bias ply F70's than any other size.
2. No. I bought my tires a couple years ago at Discount Tire. Had to order them because PCI the "odd" size. When they arrived, I took the loose rims (no car) to the store and they match mounted and balanced them without any trouble. No problems. The only problem I've had with mounting tires was a funny one. I had the same store (Discount Tire) remove my original spare rim so I could restore the rim. When I took the tire and restored rim back to have it re-mounted, a different clerk was on duty. This guy told me they couldn't mount the tire because it was too old. I convinced him that it was not a tire that would NEVER see the road, and that it was HIS store that had disassembled it just a week or two earlier. Didn't take much talking. He agreed and mounted the tire as needed.
Hope this helps.
1. No. No problems with the 215's on stock 8" wide rally wheels. I think they look closer to the original bias ply F70's than any other size.
2. No. I bought my tires a couple years ago at Discount Tire. Had to order them because PCI the "odd" size. When they arrived, I took the loose rims (no car) to the store and they match mounted and balanced them without any trouble. No problems. The only problem I've had with mounting tires was a funny one. I had the same store (Discount Tire) remove my original spare rim so I could restore the rim. When I took the tire and restored rim back to have it re-mounted, a different clerk was on duty. This guy told me they couldn't mount the tire because it was too old. I convinced him that it was not a tire that would NEVER see the road, and that it was HIS store that had disassembled it just a week or two earlier. Didn't take much talking. He agreed and mounted the tire as needed.
Hope this helps.