these are the wheels i want to put tires on.
tire size
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Another option:245-60-15's
http://www.corvettesoftv.com/images/woods78.jpg
Also run 255-60-15's and front end lowered 1" from stock..
http://www.corvettesoftv.com/images/woods78.jpg
Also run 255-60-15's and front end lowered 1" from stock..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 971
Likes: 0
From: Rockwood TN
When I purchased my 77 it had aluminum rims with 3.5bs and 225/70/15. the outside of the tire would rub th front of the fender on a tight turn. I purchased a set of factory ralleys with 4bs and installed 255/60/15 with no rubs.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 1
From: Edinburgh
Nice looking wheels Dave.
I a had a phone conversation with Scott over the weekend and went for the 215x70's on my stock Rallye's on the basis that they will give it almost stock appearance, but not before I had wound him up about putting 255's on, he almost lost his cool on that!! I will keep these wheels once I get the alloys in case I have a situation where I need stock appearance.
Paul the real difference is with the higher side wall giving more flex on bends allowing the tyre to break away a bit earlier, hence the reason for low profile, less flex so the tread stays in contact with the road loger. Probably an over simplification, but you get the idea.
I a had a phone conversation with Scott over the weekend and went for the 215x70's on my stock Rallye's on the basis that they will give it almost stock appearance, but not before I had wound him up about putting 255's on, he almost lost his cool on that!! I will keep these wheels once I get the alloys in case I have a situation where I need stock appearance.
Paul the real difference is with the higher side wall giving more flex on bends allowing the tyre to break away a bit earlier, hence the reason for low profile, less flex so the tread stays in contact with the road loger. Probably an over simplification, but you get the idea.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
215 tires? What are you driving, a Zastava? anything under 255 would not do it for me, I don't think anything smaller looks anywhere near to what a sports car should look like, don't you want some large meats, especially on the rear?
As for the higher side walls, actually they allow a little more slip angle because of the flex the whole tire will deflect to the max before adhesion is lost (just look at the F1 michelin tires, you'll see them wobble pretty bad on rough corners), the only reason for low profile tires, apart from looks, is the fact that they handle better because steering input almost directly translates to a reaction from the car, race cars using low profile tires also run as wide a tire as possible to get the maximum slip angle possible.
As for the higher side walls, actually they allow a little more slip angle because of the flex the whole tire will deflect to the max before adhesion is lost (just look at the F1 michelin tires, you'll see them wobble pretty bad on rough corners), the only reason for low profile tires, apart from looks, is the fact that they handle better because steering input almost directly translates to a reaction from the car, race cars using low profile tires also run as wide a tire as possible to get the maximum slip angle possible.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 1
From: Edinburgh
TT, the 215's will only be for occassions when I am looking for stock appearance. I am ordering 18x8 alloys for the front with 245x40 tyres and on the rear I am fitting 18x9.5 wheels with 295x40 tyres. Personally I think 255's would roll about too much on the stock rims, 225x60 would be my preference.
As I said about the higher side walls it was probably an over simplification, but its not only the steering imput that benefits from the low profile tyre. Racing cars use(d) ultra low profile tyres because it dialed out the sidewall flex and gave them more control through shocks, bump and rebound springs anti-roll bars etc on set up. You will see that current F1 cars do not run ultra low profile tyres since they now can control the sidewall flex, using that in addition to shocks etc to perfect their set up.
As I said about the higher side walls it was probably an over simplification, but its not only the steering imput that benefits from the low profile tyre. Racing cars use(d) ultra low profile tyres because it dialed out the sidewall flex and gave them more control through shocks, bump and rebound springs anti-roll bars etc on set up. You will see that current F1 cars do not run ultra low profile tyres since they now can control the sidewall flex, using that in addition to shocks etc to perfect their set up.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
that sounds more like it 
Yes, the smaller sidewalls make suspension tuning more straightforward becase the sidewall flex is no longer a large function in cornering and also on dampening, F1 tires don't run low profile tires because they aren't allowed to and to get more cornering speed michelin developed some very soft sidewalls, they flex like mad but somehow they made it so that it's not giving them control issues.
In your original reply you said "with the higher side wall giving more flex on bends allowing the tyre to break away a bit earlier"
where it is exactly the other way around, not talking about handing or whatever but from a surface adhesion standpoint the taller sidewall tire (given the width, compound, pressure, tire radius..and so on is all the same) will have a larger slip angle than the low profile one.
Yes, the smaller sidewalls make suspension tuning more straightforward becase the sidewall flex is no longer a large function in cornering and also on dampening, F1 tires don't run low profile tires because they aren't allowed to and to get more cornering speed michelin developed some very soft sidewalls, they flex like mad but somehow they made it so that it's not giving them control issues.
In your original reply you said "with the higher side wall giving more flex on bends allowing the tyre to break away a bit earlier"
where it is exactly the other way around, not talking about handing or whatever but from a surface adhesion standpoint the taller sidewall tire (given the width, compound, pressure, tire radius..and so on is all the same) will have a larger slip angle than the low profile one.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Norwich Norfolk
Hi Graeme, what sort of alloys are you getting? and which set are you going to have on when you are running it in over our way?
I am desperate for tt11s but there are other things to spend on before them.
I have to say that with the skinnies on I would think it would look like the E-types lovely lines till you see them from behind and those arches are screaming for some wide tyres, although it would be politically incorrect.(you just don't hotrod E-types.......do you? 
)
I am more into the straight line racing hopping off the lights with some tyre smoke and plenty of noise, up too and not beyond the speed limits of course
rather then speeding round corners, too much put in to it to end up in the hedge.
I am desperate for tt11s but there are other things to spend on before them.
I have to say that with the skinnies on I would think it would look like the E-types lovely lines till you see them from behind and those arches are screaming for some wide tyres, although it would be politically incorrect.(you just don't hotrod E-types.......do you?
)I am more into the straight line racing hopping off the lights with some tyre smoke and plenty of noise, up too and not beyond the speed limits of course
rather then speeding round corners, too much put in to it to end up in the hedge.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 33
From: Folsom Ca
Originally Posted by vetteguy75
I had 255 15r 60 on my '75 and they rubbed when I turned the wheel "lock to lock". Decided to go to 235 15r60 and it solved that problem real quick.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 1
From: Edinburgh
Dave,
I will have the skinnies on when we meet since I am only ordering the wheels now and they are custom made and take 6 weeks to get delivered in the US, so by the time Steve Borlands crowd get them over to me it will be another 3 to 4 weeks. They are alloy copies of the std Rallye wheel and I will get them in 18" diam, here they are:
http://www.newstalgiawheel.com/productdetails.asp?id=41
Graeme
I will have the skinnies on when we meet since I am only ordering the wheels now and they are custom made and take 6 weeks to get delivered in the US, so by the time Steve Borlands crowd get them over to me it will be another 3 to 4 weeks. They are alloy copies of the std Rallye wheel and I will get them in 18" diam, here they are:
http://www.newstalgiawheel.com/productdetails.asp?id=41
Graeme
