C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Tire Size Question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 22, 2011 | 09:07 PM
  #1  
gr8t73's Avatar
gr8t73
Thread Starter
Pro
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 676
Likes: 36
From: Usa
Default Tire Size Question

A friend had a set of P 235/70/R15 Firehawk Indy 500s mounted on 15x8 rally wheels for sale. I installed them on the front of my 73 & they rubbed on the fender when I turn left or right. He has a new set of P225/70/R15 Indy 500s for sale which he says are approximately 1/2" smaller in diameter. My question is would the P225/70R15s clear the fenders?
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2011 | 11:06 PM
  #2  
Roughrider's Avatar
Roughrider
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
Default

GR70-15 was the original size tire that came on your car...P225/70R15 is the metric equivalent so you'll have no clearance problems. The only problem might be if your coil springs are sagging.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2011 | 07:41 AM
  #3  
leadfoot4's Avatar
leadfoot4
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
Community Builder
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,298
Likes: 1,583
From: Western NY
Default

Originally Posted by Roughrider
GR70-15 was the original size tire that came on your car...P225/70R15 is the metric equivalent so you'll have no clearance problems. The only problem might be if your coil springs are sagging.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2011 | 04:49 PM
  #4  
gr8t73's Avatar
gr8t73
Thread Starter
Pro
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 676
Likes: 36
From: Usa
Default

Originally Posted by Roughrider
GR70-15 was the original size tire that came on your car...P225/70R15 is the metric equivalent so you'll have no clearance problems. The only problem might be if your coil springs are sagging.
Thanks for the info roughrider, if the 225/70/15s are only a 1/2" smaller in diameter than the 235/70/15s I am concerned about clearance.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2011 | 04:55 PM
  #5  
Ganey's Avatar
Ganey
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Default

225/70R15 is std. size & fit unless something like previously wrecked...
235 would be taller & wider.
You should not be concerned about clearance w/ 225/70R15.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2011 | 06:16 PM
  #6  
7T1vette's Avatar
7T1vette
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Default

IMO, when you go to a wider tire (225 or 235 mm width) on a C3, the tire proportion is better if you use a 60 series tire instead of the original 70 series. With increased width, the tire's diameter is also increased. A wide 70 series tire just doesn't look right to me.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2011 | 07:24 PM
  #7  
gr8t73's Avatar
gr8t73
Thread Starter
Pro
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 676
Likes: 36
From: Usa
Default

PThanks guys, I think I will go with the 225/70/15s for stock look.
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2011 | 08:00 AM
  #8  
leadfoot4's Avatar
leadfoot4
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
Community Builder
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,298
Likes: 1,583
From: Western NY
Default

Originally Posted by 7T1vette
IMO, when you go to a wider tire (225 or 235 mm width) on a C3, the tire proportion is better if you use a 60 series tire instead of the original 70 series. With increased width, the tire's diameter is also increased. A wide 70 series tire just doesn't look right to me.
But when you go to the 60 series tire, you need to go to a 255/60/15, to maintain the correct OD. The 255 is a LOT wider, and when the 60 series tires became an option in '79 ('78 for the Indy Pace Cars), the car came from the factory with the lower lip of the front fenders "trimmed".....
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Sep 24, 2011 | 08:44 AM
  #9  
mrvette's Avatar
mrvette
Team Owner
Active Streak: 120 Days
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Default

Decent 15" rubber in these tall tires is not available, give it up and go to ~17" wheels, and I say 17 because tire prices shoot up a LOT for larger sizes...and the car starts looking stupid/ricey......

15" rubber looks like it belongs on a truck/something.....

Reply
Old Sep 24, 2011 | 11:43 AM
  #10  
gr8t73's Avatar
gr8t73
Thread Starter
Pro
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 676
Likes: 36
From: Usa
Default

Originally Posted by leadfoot4
But when you go to the 60 series tire, you need to go to a 255/60/15, to maintain the correct OD. The 255 is a LOT wider, and when the 60 series tires became an option in '79 ('78 for the Indy Pace Cars), the car came from the factory with the lower lip of the front fenders "trimmed".....
I've read in other threads that there may be rubbing issues with any tire size beyond 245/60/15 on 68 to 76 models
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Tire Size Question





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:05 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette buyer's guide

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-17 16:41:08


VIEW MORE