82 corvette original tires
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 689
Likes: 12
From: huntington wv
82 corvette original tires
HELLO,I HAVE A FEW QUESTIOPNS ABOUT MY C3 I PURCHASED TODAY AT A CORVETTE SHOW.I HAVE A C6 AND A 91 ZR1.I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CORVETTES,NEVER A C3.THE SALES MANAGER WHO PUT ON THE SHOW ALSO HAD A ZR1 SO WE TALKED QUITE A BIT.HE AND I ARE LOOKING AT THIS BLACK 82,26,000 MILES.A STUNNING CAR,FLAWLESS.HE TELLS ME THE MAN WAS TRYING TO TRADE IT TO A C5 AND THE OWNER WOULD ONLY ALLOW HIM TO GO 10,500 ON THE CAR AND THEY WERE A LITTLE APART FROM MAKING THE DEAL. I START TALKING TO HIM AND WE TAKE A RIDE IN THE CAR.NOT A POWERHOUSE,YET IT RAN GOOD,TIGHT,NO RATTLES,ORIGINAL TIRES.THIS CAR IS IN BETTER SHAPE THAN ANY 82 I HAVE EVER SEEN.I GAVE HIM 10,800 FOR THE CAR.I WILL POST SOME PICS TOM.DO YOU GUYS THINK THIS IS A GOOD DEAL.HOW COULD THESE TIRES BE THIS OLD AND NOT DRY ROTTED.THE TIRE SIZE MATCH THE WINDOW STICKER.THE CROSS FIRE SCARES ME.DO THEY HAVE PROBLEMS.I JUST REALLY DONT KNOW A LOT ABOUT THESE CARS OTHER THAN THIS CAR LOOKS AMAZING AND I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED THIS BODY STYLE..
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,305
Likes: 1
From: Red city in deep blue Oregon
St. Jude Donor '17
Wow! I just bought an '81 today! Always loved the shark body style, too.
Have had a '92 and still have an '04 Vert.
Obviously I'm a N00b in the C3 area, but from your description, I'd say you did just fine on the purchase of the '82.
If those are truly the tires the car came from the factory with, I'd take them off TOMORROW, regardless of what they look like.
Replace them with your best choice. Do a search to see what others are using.
Crossfire engine is fine as far as I know. Others with more knowledge will chime in on this item, I'm sure.
Good luck!
Have had a '92 and still have an '04 Vert.
Obviously I'm a N00b in the C3 area, but from your description, I'd say you did just fine on the purchase of the '82.
If those are truly the tires the car came from the factory with, I'd take them off TOMORROW, regardless of what they look like.
Replace them with your best choice. Do a search to see what others are using.
Crossfire engine is fine as far as I know. Others with more knowledge will chime in on this item, I'm sure.
Good luck!
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, Arizona
The tires on my '77 were put on in 1989, by me, and look brand new even though I'm afraid to drive much on them because of the age, no cracks, only have a few thousand miles on them, really look new so yours could be original.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
I have my original Eagle GT's from 81. They look great, but I only use them, when the car sits over the winter. I would not drive on the road any distance with them. I don't know if the compound got harder over the years but these tires are like rock hard and maybe thats the way they were made back then. You could light em up no problem.
Enjoy your new ride!
Enjoy your new ride!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Hi, sounds like a nice car. Here's a short paper on tire age and how to tell actual build date of the tire.
Gary
http://hunt4cleanair.net/Articles/co...tiresafety.pdf
Gary
http://hunt4cleanair.net/Articles/co...tiresafety.pdf
Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 402
Likes: 1
From: Medford NJ
Just a few years ago I bought my '78 Pace Car right out of the original dealers showroom, never titled before, window stickers still on, and only 63 miles on the odometer. The first thing that I did when I got it home was to change the original Goodyear Radial GT tires over. I called Goodyear and they said they weren't considered safe after 27 years...even though THEY LOOKED PERFECT. I got an NCRS Top Flight with the car shortlly afterwards, and lost some points for not having the original tires on it. But so what, the peace of mind gained by not having an exploding tire in my nice wheel well was worth it. I still see many people running 20+ year old tires on C3's and don't understand why they risk it. I need a spare tire for my '72 LT-1 and passed up on a "new" G70-15 on ebay last week because I won't take a chance with old rubber. It's like women - looks aren't everything! 
(yes, some of them are rotten on the inside too!) 
(yes, some of them are rotten on the inside too!)
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 689
Likes: 12
From: huntington wv
http://s788.photobucket.com/albums/yy170/drd21968/ i think this is the link to photo of car i have learned how to post the link i wish i could learn to post with photo bucket
Last edited by drd21968; May 18, 2010 at 08:52 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 924
Likes: 15
From: DFW Metroplex Texas
If those are the original tires (which I doubt) you would be foolish not to dump them and buy new. My tires were about 10 years old on my '82 when I bought it (had been in storage 8 years) and it was scary as hell to drive until I replaced the tires.
You will not get 250HP from a "mostly stock" crossfire. You will encounter a lot of issues if you try to "soup it up" without understanding what you are doing.
My advice is to keep it stock and enjoy the '82 for what it is. It still has enough 'ooomph" to enjoy.
A molested and/or modified Crossfire setup will certainly decrease the overall value IMO.
You will not get 250HP from a "mostly stock" crossfire. You will encounter a lot of issues if you try to "soup it up" without understanding what you are doing.
My advice is to keep it stock and enjoy the '82 for what it is. It still has enough 'ooomph" to enjoy.
A molested and/or modified Crossfire setup will certainly decrease the overall value IMO.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Honestly, with that low original miles you are likely best leaving it alone. Buy some other high mileage smog exempt C3 and mod the hell out of it if that is your desire.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
If those are the original tires (which I doubt) you would be foolish not to dump them and buy new. My tires were about 10 years old on my '82 when I bought it (had been in storage 8 years) and it was scary as hell to drive until I replaced the tires.
You will not get 250HP from a "mostly stock" crossfire. You will encounter a lot of issues if you try to "soup it up" without understanding what you are doing.
My advice is to keep it stock and enjoy the '82 for what it is. It still has enough 'ooomph" to enjoy.
A molested and/or modified Crossfire setup will certainly decrease the overall value IMO.
You will not get 250HP from a "mostly stock" crossfire. You will encounter a lot of issues if you try to "soup it up" without understanding what you are doing.
My advice is to keep it stock and enjoy the '82 for what it is. It still has enough 'ooomph" to enjoy.
A molested and/or modified Crossfire setup will certainly decrease the overall value IMO.
with the crossfire stuff. I would buy new wheels and new tires and store the originals complete. They do assist with the value of such a low-mile car IMHO.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 646
Likes: 17
From: Hendersonville NC
I had a 10 year old spare mounted on the back of my camper it had never been on the ground and one day it exploded leaving a hole in it big enough to stick your fist in don't ride on old tires you may lose a fender or worse.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,357
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
Just a few years ago I bought my '78 Pace Car right out of the original dealers showroom, never titled before, window stickers still on, and only 63 miles on the odometer. The first thing that I did when I got it home was to change the original Goodyear Radial GT tires over. I called Goodyear and they said they weren't considered safe after 27 years...even though THEY LOOKED PERFECT. I got an NCRS Top Flight with the car shortlly afterwards, and lost some points for not having the original tires on it. But so what, the peace of mind gained by not having an exploding tire in my nice wheel well was worth it. I still see many people running 20+ year old tires on C3's and don't understand why they risk it. I need a spare tire for my '72 LT-1 and passed up on a "new" G70-15 on ebay last week because I won't take a chance with old rubber. It's like women - looks aren't everything! (yes, some of them are rotten on the inside too!)
(yes, some of them are rotten on the inside too!)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 924
Likes: 15
From: DFW Metroplex Texas
There was a tragic accident this weekend at the Texas Motor Speedway.
A professional driver was driving a 87 year old man around the track in a C5 as a reward for him donating blood throughout last year.
The Vette had a blowout during the ride which caused the car to hit the wall at about 100 MPH. The driver is in critical condition and the 87 year old passenger was killed. These cars are well maintained but major malfunctions can still happen.
For what it's worth: Don't go cheap on tires. Don't drive on old tires.
We don't need for people to die needlessly.
A professional driver was driving a 87 year old man around the track in a C5 as a reward for him donating blood throughout last year.
The Vette had a blowout during the ride which caused the car to hit the wall at about 100 MPH. The driver is in critical condition and the 87 year old passenger was killed. These cars are well maintained but major malfunctions can still happen.
For what it's worth: Don't go cheap on tires. Don't drive on old tires.
We don't need for people to die needlessly.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,992
Likes: 56
From: Antioch IL
I read a story in one of the Corvette magazines a decade or so ago that addressed your request. They had to P/P the heads, slightly better cam, extrude hone the intake and modify the throttle bodies some to get there. Not sure if you can access that same info but I would do a search on crossfire modifications and see what comes up if you really want to go that route.
Honestly, with that low original miles you are likely best leaving it alone. Buy some other high mileage smog exempt C3 and mod the hell out of it if that is your desire.
Honestly, with that low original miles you are likely best leaving it alone. Buy some other high mileage smog exempt C3 and mod the hell out of it if that is your desire.
and as for the tires change them!!!
Last edited by larryg3; May 19, 2010 at 06:42 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 689
Likes: 12
From: huntington wv
thanks guys for the advice.i have a zr1 and a c6,when i get in the 82 it really feels like it has very little power.the car is perfect,runs great for what it is,im leaving it alone.i have not driven this car any distance,trying to find a set of wheels now,to mount a new set of tires and store the originals.this was a two owner car and i talked to them both at the same time at the corvette show when i purchased the car.they both suggested new tires
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Just to be clear, I would not drive on the original tires, but having them does give options at resale time on such a low-mile car.