New Wheels!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,341
Likes: 101
New Wheels!
It was time. I long debated the idea of "ditching" the original wheels. I really don't like messing with the look much but it's nearly impossible to find a decent 15" tire these days and given the suspension upgrades my car has seen I couldn't make an argument for a new set of 15' BFG tires to replace the old.
The whole idea of bigger wheels and low profile tires worried me for how it would look. So many old Corvettes look WRONG to my eye with the over-sized wheels, too short side walls and a failure to fill in the space of the wheel-well.
The new look works better for me than I had expected really. That probably has as much to do with the idea that a 255/50/17 tire is nearly identical in height to the 255/60/15 it replaces.
Honestly? Wish I'd done it sooner!
The whole idea of bigger wheels and low profile tires worried me for how it would look. So many old Corvettes look WRONG to my eye with the over-sized wheels, too short side walls and a failure to fill in the space of the wheel-well.
The new look works better for me than I had expected really. That probably has as much to do with the idea that a 255/50/17 tire is nearly identical in height to the 255/60/15 it replaces.
Honestly? Wish I'd done it sooner!
Pro
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 745
Likes: 66
From: Hutto Texas
Great choice indeed! They really pop against the red paint, which is beautiful by the way. You are right, the right size wheels and tires on 17's will match the dimensions of the original 15's very well. In addition you will definitely enjoy all the benefits the 17's give you. Keep up the good work!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
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This was more than just a cosmetic change. It has a practical side too. I worried about the potential for danger in the case of a tire blow out. The car sits low enough that the front end spring bolts actually would have hit the pavement had I ever blown-out a tire with the 15 inch wheels. With the 17' wheel that now looks less likely. 
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,341
Likes: 101
Already been there and done that!
Asking if the Z rated Kumo's stick better than the old BFGs is a little like asking if eggs will stick to an untreated iron skillet any more so than to fully treated Teflon.
The car really did drive like a "go cart" before. Turns were flat and completely predictable but the absolute inability of the tires to handle it was very apparent when-ever you pushed hard.
Much better now.
Asking if the Z rated Kumo's stick better than the old BFGs is a little like asking if eggs will stick to an untreated iron skillet any more so than to fully treated Teflon.
The car really did drive like a "go cart" before. Turns were flat and completely predictable but the absolute inability of the tires to handle it was very apparent when-ever you pushed hard.
Much better now.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,341
Likes: 101
The paint still shines though it's far from perfect. It was done 15 years ago and while there is no big damage and the car sees but a couple of thousand miles per year......... it has all the little paint nicks and chips you'd expect to see when you get up close and personal.
........I generally don't tell anyone who asks when they see it but the shade of red?
When I selected it in 1996?
It's actually a Ford Truck Color.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
The new rims look good on your car.
The tire and rim size fill out the wheel wells and fit nice. Comparing the overall dimensions to get a tire that equals the 15 inch sounds like the right way to go.
kdf
The tire and rim size fill out the wheel wells and fit nice. Comparing the overall dimensions to get a tire that equals the 15 inch sounds like the right way to go.
kdf
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,988
Likes: 3,366
From: NYC NY
I think that says it all!
Your car looks great!
I really don't understand why there is so much apprehension about whether or not to upgrade to 17" or 18" wheels/tires. With the internet and the programs that are available you can create a car that is close to your own and "test fit" the wheels you like to give you a really good idea of what the car will look like before you spend your hard earned money. If you are upgrading for performance reasons and feel guilty because you're modifying the stock look of your car 20 lug nuts later it's back to stock. Besides the reaction after the upgrade always seems to be positive.
Your car looks great!
I really don't understand why there is so much apprehension about whether or not to upgrade to 17" or 18" wheels/tires. With the internet and the programs that are available you can create a car that is close to your own and "test fit" the wheels you like to give you a really good idea of what the car will look like before you spend your hard earned money. If you are upgrading for performance reasons and feel guilty because you're modifying the stock look of your car 20 lug nuts later it's back to stock. Besides the reaction after the upgrade always seems to be positive.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,714
Likes: 32
From: Shreveport LA
LA Events Coordinator
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,341
Likes: 101
American's Torque Thrust wheels with 4" of back spacing. They really did match up pretty exactly with the dimensions of the Stock Chevy aluminum 15" wheels and 255/60/15 BF Goodrich tires. So much so all clearances are virtually identical.
This was important as we've obviously lowered it quite a bit and I worried something might rub if the tires were too large or, on the flip side, I'd be dragging exhaust on the pavement if they were too small.
No such problems though. They've worked out perfectly so far.
Terrorizing Orange Cones
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,572
Likes: 17
From: Northern CO
Great choices: wheel/tire combo. Sounds like the handling is better matched to the capabilities of your cars suspension. Some say it's a move in the wrong direction but many of us know what you've learned.
Welcome (to the dark side) and enjoy.
