tires
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 89
Likes: 1
From: channahon il
tires
Just bought my first corvette, a 66 small block coupe. It has 7.75/15 bias ply goldlines on it. I want white wall radials. What size can I go with and any recomendations on what brand would work the best. It has repro knock offs on it. Also, what gas and octane booster to use?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 0
From: Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: tires (oneputt)
Congratulations on your new acquisition. You'll love it [and hate it] more then you can imagine. I run 20575r15 [uniroyal tiger paws-white walls] on my 64 which also has ko's. I personally like the tires and they are a good fit for the kind of driving that i do. They are not performance rated. [not sure any whitewalls are but rest of forum members will have and input. As far as lead additives and octane boosters much archive forum space devoted to this. I run premium Sunoco 91 octane and have had no problems. No knocks etc. Use no lead additives [ real lead additives are illegal to sell I believe] and no octane boosters.
Hope this helps you a little. Again congratulations. You've got the best -and now belong to an elite group of owners. :seeya :steering:
[Modified by Jimbo64, 5:36 PM 3/20/2004]
Hope this helps you a little. Again congratulations. You've got the best -and now belong to an elite group of owners. :seeya :steering:
[Modified by Jimbo64, 5:36 PM 3/20/2004]
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 442
From: Southwest MI
Re: tires (Jimbo64)
i'd vote for 215/70 15 Michelin's....with the fine white stripe.
if your car is tuned well, you'll do just fine with premium no lead pump gas on the street. no additives needed, even with stock valves/seats. check the archives here on the topic, good info there
:seeya
PS: KO wheels are great, but require special maintinance/consideration, if this is your first set, i recommend you educate yourself......... you'll avoid much frustration
[Modified by 66427-450, 10:33 AM 3/20/2004]
if your car is tuned well, you'll do just fine with premium no lead pump gas on the street. no additives needed, even with stock valves/seats. check the archives here on the topic, good info there
:seeya
PS: KO wheels are great, but require special maintinance/consideration, if this is your first set, i recommend you educate yourself......... you'll avoid much frustration
[Modified by 66427-450, 10:33 AM 3/20/2004]
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield CT
Re: tires (oneputt)
I changed my tires last summer and went with the Michelin Symmetry radials(they have a 1/2" white line) from Tire Rack. Be careful though, they had to ship me 12 (yes a dozen) before I could find 4 that did not have a defect on the white line. Tire Rack didn't even want to recognize the problem initially until I called Michelin to explain the problem to them. Then Michelin called Tire Rack and let them know that it was ok to send me more tires.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,537
Likes: 280
From: Egg Harbor Township NJ
2015 C2 of Year
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10, '14-'15
Re: tires (66427-450)
i'd vote for 215/70 15 Michelin's....with the fine white stripe.
if your car is tuned well, you'll do just fine with premium no lead pump gas on the street. no additives needed, even with stock valves/seats. check the archives here on the topic, good info there
:seeya
PS: KO wheels are great, but require special maintinance/consideration, if this is your first set, i recommend you educate yourself......... you'll avoid much frustration
[Modified by 66427-450, 10:33 AM 3/20/2004]
if your car is tuned well, you'll do just fine with premium no lead pump gas on the street. no additives needed, even with stock valves/seats. check the archives here on the topic, good info there
:seeya
PS: KO wheels are great, but require special maintinance/consideration, if this is your first set, i recommend you educate yourself......... you'll avoid much frustration
[Modified by 66427-450, 10:33 AM 3/20/2004]
That's what I run on my 65 Cp..The Michlen "X-1" Radail.. Great tire..
Also look on the left side of the screen and enter "Search" Section.
You will find a Ton of discussion on this subject..plus coments from some of our forum experts like "SWC Duke" and "John Z" as well as many others.
This is always the best option before making a post on a subject.
Chances are it has already been covered and you will get more info faster.
:cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 0
From: Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: tires (oneputt)
Just a word of caution. You mentioned that you had repro ko's on the car. A lot of forum archive devoted to this to but the maint. is very important if you have the lead hammer true knockoff's. Need to check them often and put a mark [laundry marker] across the spinner onto the cone so you can tell if they are loosening at all. Each time I drive mine, I take a quick walk around and look at the marks. Also make sure the pins are in place before you put the snap on caps on. Losing one on these wheels is not a pretty thing. Been there done that and it's a club you don't want to join. Only had mine one week when it happened and I didn't know what the correct maint. was at that time. check. recheck. Also use never seize when putting the spinners on to prevent galling. :seeya :steering:
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Gaithersburg MD
Re: tires (oneputt)
I'm in the mist of the same decision re: new tires for my 63. I'm currently running a Michelin 205/70 15, .5 inch whitewall. Just bought after-market KOs and am looking to change my tire size...need a smoother ride and want a wider whitewall. I'm pretty set on a 215/70 15 but can't seem to find it in a .75 inch whitewall. Any advice on where to find this tire?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,246
Likes: 21
From: Going too fast over the hill. Iowa
Re: tires (oneputt)
I ran 2 sets of Goodyear 195x75 r15 replacements for the 7.75s until they stopped making WW tires. The speedo was dead accurate.
Kelly Springfield makes them in WW, but they are 10% smaller OD (the speedo tells me) and I will step up to 205x75 to allow me to remove the speedo underdrive gearset, and I hope they don't polish the frame due to excessive width - the way the Goodyear radials did.
Alternately, I am considering a set of 4 Dunlop Axiom 215-70-15s. They have a 3/4 white wall and are S rated (112mph) I am afraid they will rub the inside lip of the front fenders, as I enter steep driveways. I am waiting to hear if anyone posts that problem
:lurk:
Kelly Springfield makes them in WW, but they are 10% smaller OD (the speedo tells me) and I will step up to 205x75 to allow me to remove the speedo underdrive gearset, and I hope they don't polish the frame due to excessive width - the way the Goodyear radials did.
Alternately, I am considering a set of 4 Dunlop Axiom 215-70-15s. They have a 3/4 white wall and are S rated (112mph) I am afraid they will rub the inside lip of the front fenders, as I enter steep driveways. I am waiting to hear if anyone posts that problem
:lurk:
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Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Re: tires (magicv8)
These are Dunlop 215-70R/15 Axioms. I have never had any rubbing problems with them.
I will be going to a more aggressive look when the snow finally goes away.
[Modified by paul67, 9:12 AM 3/23/2004]
[Modified by paul67, 9:27 AM 3/23/2004]
I will be going to a more aggressive look when the snow finally goes away.
[Modified by paul67, 9:12 AM 3/23/2004]
[Modified by paul67, 9:27 AM 3/23/2004]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,808
Likes: 24
From: Westport CT
Re: tires (sheliam)
Just ordered Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 215/70R15 for my 65 with the KO's, once DiamondBack puts a Gold Line on them they will go on the car!
Diamondback can put the correct size white, red or gold line on any tire you want, by the way.
As for tire choice, might want to check the feedback on TireRack's site for the tires you are thinking of, while you have to weed out the crazies some patterns of problems tend to emerge.
Diamondback can put the correct size white, red or gold line on any tire you want, by the way.
As for tire choice, might want to check the feedback on TireRack's site for the tires you are thinking of, while you have to weed out the crazies some patterns of problems tend to emerge.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: west coast fl
Re: tires (oneputt)
I'm running bridgestone 205 70r15 insignia sl tires. They have a 3/4" whitewall that look great on a 65. What ever you get will be an improvment on the bias. Good luck.
[Modified by ro.co3, 9:38 AM 3/23/2004]
[Modified by ro.co3, 9:38 AM 3/23/2004]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,537
Likes: 280
From: Egg Harbor Township NJ
2015 C2 of Year
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10, '14-'15
Re: tires (sheliam)
I'm in the mist of the same decision re: new tires for my 63. I'm currently running a Michelin 205/70 15, .5 inch whitewall. Just bought after-market KOs and am looking to change my tire size...need a smoother ride and want a wider whitewall. I'm pretty set on a 215/70 15 but can't seem to find it in a .75 inch whitewall. Any advice on where to find this tire?
So I just bit the bullet and bought the X-1's 215/70R/15's :cheers:
[Modified by Viet Nam Vett, 12:46 PM 3/23/2004]
