Tire size question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Seymour Indiana
Tire size question
Got 15 inch wheels and the tires on it just aren't cuttin it for me. They are 225 70 15 and also mud and snow tires, not really my idea of a good Corvette tire. Wanting a lower profile and wider tire that has more of a sports car tread. So anyone got any suggestions, or better yet, pictures of a good tire on 15s?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 14,345
Likes: 4
From: Hartselle AL
St. Jude Donor '09
Good luck with that quest. IMHO, (unless you are a purist) upgrade to 17" wheels then your tire choices expand exponentially. You get the added benefits of a smoother and quieter rides and better handling/grip.
Just my .02 worth.
Just my .02 worth.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
15" wheels severly limit your tire choices. That said, if you're stuck on/with them the best all around sizes for 15x8's are 245/60R15 or 255/60R15. Any larger and sidewall instability becomes an issue.
FWIW, if you're interested in something not on the main menu, Avon's CR6ZZ road legal tires are availible in the 245, but not exactly cheap. Also, Mickey Thompson offers both sizes in their Sportsman S/T line, but I've yet to see a comparative review of their tires as to handling characteristics.
FWIW, if you're interested in something not on the main menu, Avon's CR6ZZ road legal tires are availible in the 245, but not exactly cheap. Also, Mickey Thompson offers both sizes in their Sportsman S/T line, but I've yet to see a comparative review of their tires as to handling characteristics.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
The 15" sizes that work on our Corvettes are simply obsolete now...tire makers do not waste their best tire technology on such a small market segment. You can find good tires, but they're not up to the specs of 16" and up...and even 16" are becoming less common in performance lines.
You want the best performance tires you have to upgrade rims as well as tires. The issue then becomes will the new technology rubber overtax the old technology suspension on the car.
You want the best performance tires you have to upgrade rims as well as tires. The issue then becomes will the new technology rubber overtax the old technology suspension on the car.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,948
Likes: 3,351
From: NYC NY
You even said you wanted 18s. If you really do your homework and shop around you can get what you really want at a reaonable price. Even a lower end 18" tire will out perform just about any 15" street tire your are going to be able to find that fits a C3. Why settle for something you didn't want in the 1st place? Wait and get what is going to make you happy.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Seymour Indiana
Yes I would like to put 18s on it andalmost bought a set of Z06 wheels and made them work BUT what it seems people are over looking is that I already bought another set of 15s that I just could not pass up so I wanted to know what is a better tire more suited for a Corvette than the truck tires the PO had put on it. I'm not looking to do any road racing with it I just want something that is a more appropriate. My wife would shoot me if I went and spent a grand on new wheels id have to send another 5-600 for tires. So those will have to wait till I win the loto. Plus with the wheels I just bought they will fit my old blue chevy truck if I want to pull the cragers off it. Yes there is a method to my madness I'm just no tire expert so I wanted to know what others have that look good in way of 15" tires. But one down side is with these new wheels white letter tires would be a big no no, sucks because I'm a white letter tire fan, even my car trailer has black wheels with white letter tires!
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 698
Likes: 8
From: Stockholm Sweden
I run 255-60-15 BFG:s on my car and they works fine on the road.
These relativ high profile tyres are very forgiving and makes it a "nice drive" on the sometimes not perfect roads.
They give a satisfying feel of controll when going a bit harder on the twisty countryroads aswell.
There is a lot of other choises of rubber (unlimited) if you go for bigger rims but if you really need it depends on how you are using your car.
Personally, i dont like todays popular "big-rims-mania", i doesnt suit theese cars.
They suits a modern Japanese or German car better..
But thats only a matter of taste.
//Ricky.
These relativ high profile tyres are very forgiving and makes it a "nice drive" on the sometimes not perfect roads.
They give a satisfying feel of controll when going a bit harder on the twisty countryroads aswell.
There is a lot of other choises of rubber (unlimited) if you go for bigger rims but if you really need it depends on how you are using your car.
Personally, i dont like todays popular "big-rims-mania", i doesnt suit theese cars.
They suits a modern Japanese or German car better..
But thats only a matter of taste.
//Ricky.
