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[C2] Another thread about tires...

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Old Feb 22, 2017 | 01:12 PM
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Default Another thread about tires...

I have a C2 with stock size rims and no body mods.
I have read many forum posts but many of them are old and the suggested tires are no longer available.

I am looking for the best possible (and currently available) radial tire in the following sizes:
205/75R15
205/70R15
215/70R15
215/65R15

Street tire for 3 season driving.
I don't care about white/red/gold/etc... walls/lines.
I don't care about tire life (I won't be putting THAT many miles on the car anyway).
I don't care so much about the cost of the tire.

I do care about ride comfort, and stickiness on crappy and wet roads.

Apologies if an obvious answer has been in a recent post. If the question has already been answered elsewhere then please give a link

All suggestions appreciated!

Last edited by BroadT; Feb 22, 2017 at 01:13 PM.
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Old Feb 22, 2017 | 02:02 PM
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Originally Posted by BroadT
I have a C2 with stock size rims and no body mods.
I have read many forum posts but many of them are old and the suggested tires are no longer available.

I am looking for the best possible (and currently available) radial tire in the following sizes:
205/75R15
205/70R15
215/70R15
215/65R15

Street tire for 3 season driving.
I don't care about white/red/gold/etc... walls/lines.
I don't care about tire life (I won't be putting THAT many miles on the car anyway).
I don't care so much about the cost of the tire.

I do care about ride comfort, and stickiness on crappy and wet roads.

Apologies if an obvious answer has been in a recent post. If the question has already been answered elsewhere then please give a link

All suggestions appreciated!
It is difficult to find good (proper) tall height tires for 15" rims that fit under stock fenders.

Most of us search on TireRack with respect to size and rim width fitment (you probably have stock 15x6" rims):

Much of the available options are SUV and light truck tires.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireS...earDiameter=17

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireS...earDiameter=17


I tend to prioritize 130 mph+ "H" Speed Rating and Performance:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes


Many accept 118 mph "S" speed rating for classic looks:

https://www.cokertire.com/catalogsea...te&q=205-75R15

Similar to this (but dressed up):

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...L2V2&tab=Specs



I will be upgrading to 16x7" rims to achieve a better 168 mph "W" speed rating and near stock tire height (as there is simply not much available in tall tires). Note: fitting 7" rims takes careful attention to rim backspace detail and may require moving brake cable mounts, and even shifting of the body on the frame, to clear these tires under stock fenders.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes


The Porsche community has succeeded in keeping performance 15" tires to fit their classic models in production, but the leadership in the classic Corvette community has not (something current and future Corvette enthusiasts will regret).
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Old Feb 22, 2017 | 02:37 PM
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We were able to mount a set of '68 Corvette rally's (AG, 15X7, backspace-3 3/4") on this '65 Coupe with no real problems. Tires were Coker 775/15's.



Kelsey Tire offers a variety of original Goodyear tires that may work for you in bias ply and radials. Check Performance 2, 3 and 4 (in the header) for some that might work. The P215/65 – R15 Eagle GT looks good, but is about a half inch shorter (26") than what came on most C2's (26.5")
http://www.kelseytire.com/pages/preformancetires.html

The Kelsey's are not inexpensive, but seem well received by those that have purchased them.

Good luck... GUSTO

Last edited by GUSTO14; Feb 22, 2017 at 02:40 PM.
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Old Feb 22, 2017 | 03:15 PM
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Toyo 215/70R/15's. Good tires, good price and fitment.

Gary
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Old Feb 22, 2017 | 03:34 PM
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Originally Posted by
I tend to prioritize 130 mph+ "H" Speed Rating and Performance:


I will be upgrading to 16x7" rims to achieve a better 168 mph "W" speed rating and near stock tire height (as there is simply not much available in tall tires). Note: fitting 7" rims takes careful attention to rim backspace detail and may require moving brake cable mounts, and even shifting of the body on the frame, to clear these tires under stock fenders.


[COLOR="Red"
The Porsche community has succeeded in keeping performance 15" tires to fit their classic models in production, but the leadership in the classic Corvette community has not (something current and future Corvette enthusiasts will regret)[/COLOR].
WRONG! If you, like many C2 owners, drive it only a few miles per year. Why don't you look at Hoosier (RACE) tires. The Street TD "S" is what you want, and is available in many sizes which will fit your car. They are treaded tires, which can be run in the rain. There is also Hoosier radial rain tire the "H2O" available in 15" size, which is absolutely astounding in the wet. If you are only using these for a few thousand miles, and usually in the dry, these amazing tires would be just the right tire for many owners who are NOT NCRS trailer queens.
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