76mike

So this morning on my way to school, I hydroplaned 90 degrees to the left, then it swung around so that I was 90 degrees to the right, then I managed to straighten it out. I can no longer ignore my low tread on the rear tires

So how big can I go on the rear tires with the stock alloy wheels? Is it hard to modify the parking brake to allow for a bigger tire? How large could I go if I did? Recommendation on brand?

Thanks!

MotorHead

295/50/15's if you relocate the parking brake bracket

76mike

how hard is it to relocate the parking brake braket? what does that involve?

MotorHead

Not hard if you can weld, real hard if you can't

76mike

lol i can weld... but what exactly do i have to do? is there some kind of website that explains how to do it?

1969Vette383

The good news is, you've got options. The bad news is, I'm not sure what size tires will fit on the stock wheels. Stock in 1969 were 205/75-15 (or so says Tire Rack). I'm not sure about newer years. In choosing tires, answer these for yourself and pick a tire based on your answers. Are you concerned about originality? Do you want performance? Is all-season important for you?

There are some performance oriented tires I like and have heard good things about. They're listed below. If you are concerned with all-season capability or originality, pick up some BFGoodrich or Goodyear tires that will last a long time.

I like Falken Azenis found here:
http://www.vulcantire.com/azenis_rt615_t.htm
Very sticky, better in the wet than their RT215 predecessor. However, they have a wear rating of only 200 (Higher = longer lasting/more durable).

I also like these Toyos:
http://ec-securehost.com/OnlineTires...OXES_T1-R.html
Sticky, longer lasting than Falken Azenis above, better in the wet than the Azenis too. Wear rating of 280.

Yokohama AVS ES100s are nice:
http://ec-securehost.com/OnlineTires...AMA_ES100.html

I was also looking at these Dunlops for my Vette someday; mostly because I'd like to put ZR-1 size 315/35-17s on the rear and 275/40-17 in front and they come in both sizes.
http://www.ec-securehost.com/OnlineT...PORT_8000.html

These aren't all of the sporty tires out there, I know I'm missing some good ones out there. It's a personal preference based on how much/often/aggressive you drive. Do some research and find a tire that works for you. Good luck in your search.

cmac72

Keep in mind that when you go with wider tires you also increase your ability to do those 90 degree hydroplaning tricks. There is less weight per square inch of tire meeting the road surface which means it takes less water to "lift" the rear end off the road. Light fiberglass cars don't exactly help the problem.

76mike

Haha true true. But my rear tires have very little tread on them, so anything is better than that. I definitely want to try to get larger tires, because I have 4.11 gears in the back and I'm paying enough for gas already. I figure that if I get 295s, I'll get a 10% increase in mph/rpms over the 235s that I have now. What should I be looking to get?

enkeivette

Motorhead! You've sparked my interest. I was set on buying offset trailing arms to fit some 295s. Can I fit those with the stock trailing arms? Will the wheels stick out of the well? How wide of a wheel do you need?

1969Vette383

http://gcrall.miller-motorsports.com...oject+Corvette
click on the thumbnails to see larger versions. 295/50-15s on all 4 corners baby! The bad news is I bought the car that way. I have no idea what the prior owners did to make that all work.

Those pictures are old though, my car has been down since mid-2002 and I no longer have any exhaust on the car, no engine, no gas tank, that rear spring is now a fiberglass VBandP 360# kind, the shocks are KYB whites... You get the picture.

In the future, ZR-1 wheels and tires are going on my car.
275/40-17 front (since my 295s rub the swaybar & inner fender)
315/35-17 rear (to better fill out those rear flares)

NHvette

The 295/50-15s will not change the tire diameter much - like your post
seems to suggest. It will only increase the tread width significantly.
For tire sidewall height ... take the treadwidth (295) and multiply by the
aspect ratio (50%) .... 295*.5=147.5(mm). Double this and add to the
rim diameter gives 295mm+15" = 26.61" tire diameter.

Compare this with the most common size of 255/60-15 which give a
tire diameter of 27.05".
Assuming your 235s are 65 series ... these are 27.03" diameter.

So, going to 295/50s will effectively lower your mileage and further
increase the effective rear gear ratio. You can definitely get taller tires
in there, but I do not know the exact sizes. Perhaps someone will chime
in with tall tire suggestions.

My future holds C5 polished rims ... rear wheel currently in back of my CRX
275/40-18 in back (26.6")
245/45-17 in front (25.7")

MYBAD79

275-60-15 fits, advertized overall diameter is 28" - I measured 26.75" on my stock aluminum rim.
Some say it fits without modifications to the parking brake cable bracket, mine had to be (re)moved.... I took it off, the parking brake didn't work very well...if you want to keep a working parking brake then simply cut the bracket off the trailing arm and weld it back on the inside of the trailing arm and re-route the cable.

The photo below shows the 275-60 tire on stock alu rim with a 1" spacer that I needed to clear the end of the leaf spring. I installed 9" bolts instead of the stock 6" - if you use the original spring bolts you can run this tire/rim combo without a spacer.