Time for Tires
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Time for Tires
Time for new rubber. Got a guy in Miami lined up to clean and polish my wheels, he will mount and reballance them before returning them to me. Recommendations? I have Coopers on there now but they are dry rotted. The car will be black sometime this month. Just finished the brakes, had to change the calipers and put in O-ring kits. Will be getting it running this weekend, been sitting a while but don't expect any problems with that. Still got to get windsheild ordered before paint.
So, whats the latest wisdom for tires?
So, whats the latest wisdom for tires?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
If you've been happy with the Coopers, stick with them as replacements. Other good alternatives...BFG, Dunlop, Firehawk and surely others. Pep Boys' Futura is a Cooper Cobra under their name.
Lots of good choices to pick from. The problem these days is availability. Tires for cars of C3 vintage are fairly well obsolete and most tire makers have slimmed down their lines for such tires and make occasional runs of them rather than make them continuously, and that results in occasional shortages of some sizes. Make a list of what tire best suits your needs and wallet then add acceptable alternatives.
Lots of good choices to pick from. The problem these days is availability. Tires for cars of C3 vintage are fairly well obsolete and most tire makers have slimmed down their lines for such tires and make occasional runs of them rather than make them continuously, and that results in occasional shortages of some sizes. Make a list of what tire best suits your needs and wallet then add acceptable alternatives.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
The good news is that there are still a few tires of appropriate 15" sizes from which to choose.
The bad news is that there has been very little development in the way of such tires since the 1980's. That's a big reason so many who want the performance advantages of modern tires have opted for larger diameter wheels.
The bad news is that there has been very little development in the way of such tires since the 1980's. That's a big reason so many who want the performance advantages of modern tires have opted for larger diameter wheels.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
My car had Coopers on it when I purchased it. I never liked them, based on looks and performance; but they are less expensive. I went with BFG T/A Radials when I replaced them and have been happy with that choice. I bought them at Sam's Club, and I believe they can still get them (if you have a membership there). They only carry 235mm widths and higher, however. I got 235R60-15's for all wheels.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,266
Likes: 156
From: Galloway Twp. NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
My car had Coopers on it when I purchased it. I never liked them, based on looks and performance; but they are less expensive. I went with BFG T/A Radials when I replaced them and have been happy with that choice. I bought them at Sam's Club, and I believe they can still get them (if you have a membership there). They only carry 235mm widths and higher, however. I got 235R60-15's for all wheels.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,298
Likes: 1,580
From: Western NY
My car had Coopers on it when I purchased it. I never liked them, based on looks and performance; but they are less expensive. I went with BFG T/A Radials when I replaced them and have been happy with that choice. I bought them at Sam's Club, and I believe they can still get them (if you have a membership there). They only carry 235mm widths and higher, however. I got 235R60-15's for all wheels.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
I really like 225/70s because it feels the wheelwells so good.
But at least get white letters, it helps so much on the looks.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
Not good for a roadside interview.
"Do you know how fast you were going?"
"Sorry, officer."
After I changed to the 235-60's, the speedo is much more accurate, according to my GPS. Almost dead nuts up to 70 MPH.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
White letter out, I love the look on a name brand tire such as bf Goodrich or Firestone but it really dates us old guys. A young un would never put anything but black walls out. Just saying.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
ive been pretty happy with my mickey thompsons S/Ts. 275/60/15 i the rear with the E brake brackets ground off, and if fills the wheel wells very nice.
235/60/15s in the front, and i wish i had gone with the 245/60s. or better yet, i wish MT made a 235/70. i might just cut the front springs to lower the gap this winter.
235/60/15s in the front, and i wish i had gone with the 245/60s. or better yet, i wish MT made a 235/70. i might just cut the front springs to lower the gap this winter.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,298
Likes: 1,580
From: Western NY
Cleaning out my shed, I found the origional spare for my '74. It was an old worn out Firestone 500, in a GR7015 size. I measured it carefully. The dimensions were quite close to the 235-60R15. The 225-70R15 is a bit taller. Also, when I was running the 225-70R15's, my speedo was pessimistic.
Not good for a roadside interview.
"Do you know how fast you were going?"
"Sorry, officer."
After I changed to the 235-60's, the speedo is much more accurate, according to my GPS. Almost dead nuts up to 70 MPH.
Not good for a roadside interview.
"Do you know how fast you were going?"
"Sorry, officer."
After I changed to the 235-60's, the speedo is much more accurate, according to my GPS. Almost dead nuts up to 70 MPH.
Because A) I used to have a part time business selling tires; and B) I'm a packrat that hangs on to stuff, I just went into my files and dug out my old GoodYear tire data books from 1979, for the GR70, and the 1988 book, for the 60 series tires.
Just an FYI...
GR70-15 GT Radial 8.65" section width, 27.40" OD, and 6.40" tread width
235/60/15 Eagle GT 9.25" section width, 26.10" OD, 7.8" tread width
255/60/15 Eagle GT 10.04" section width, 27.05" OD, 8.4" tread width
Keep in mind, this NOT yardstick or tape measure data, or "it sorta' looks like" information. It is DIRECTLY from the GoodYear data books. Hope it helps.............
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,994
Likes: 79
From: central FL, near the beach.
There are at least 2 modern tires in 225/70/15. Good ratings in consumer reports. I have Hankook Mileage Plus II on my 61, and Falkens on my 72 from Discount Tire, only $78. Smooth ride, lightweight and rated 44 psi max. I'll never go back to old school tires! I go over a manhole cover and the steering wheel doesn't even quiver! with 40 psi! Fast around corners! Rated EXCELLENT for wet braking by consumer reports! New school rules! Faster 0-60 mph than 255/60 BFG's. About 0.3 seconds faster, due to much lighter weight, according to 2010 Car & Driver tire acceleration test. Google it.
Last edited by Matt Gruber; Nov 7, 2012 at 07:24 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
Adam
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
I got my BFGoodrich T/A's this summer in 255/60R15. Paid $504.00 for the set of 4 delivered to my door. Check this website (disclaimer--I don't work for these guys nor do I get a kickback). Tires were current dates and in stock at that time. Check them out.
http://tirecrawler.com/
http://tirecrawler.com/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
