tire size
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 420
Likes: 3
From: deposit new york
tire size
I was thinking I would really like to run a 50 series tire on the back of my 81, has anyone mounted a 50 on the stock aluminum 8 inch rims, if so what size did you run and any clearance issues???. thanks 
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,573
Likes: 7,017
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
The previous owner of my project car put 295-65 tires on the 8" rims.
Not a good thing to do....he had to remove the cables and bend the E-brakes brackets to keep them from gouging the inboard side-walls.....and the ends of the steel main-spring would probably cut the side-wall of the tires in hard cornering since there is only 1/2 inch of clearance between the side-wall and the end of the spring!
Check the tire charts and remember than an 8" wide rim will cause the side-walls of the new wider tires to "balloon outward" past the rim edges an extra inch or more!
Not a good thing to do....he had to remove the cables and bend the E-brakes brackets to keep them from gouging the inboard side-walls.....and the ends of the steel main-spring would probably cut the side-wall of the tires in hard cornering since there is only 1/2 inch of clearance between the side-wall and the end of the spring!
Check the tire charts and remember than an 8" wide rim will cause the side-walls of the new wider tires to "balloon outward" past the rim edges an extra inch or more!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
Width is a more critical factor than the series. What width do you want? I had 275x60x15's on my '74. I just got competition tires that are 245x40x18 and the tread width is actually wider because the width is measured at the widest portion of the tire.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Sidewall instability is NOT your friend.
Tire/wheel fitment is best considered an indivisible item so as to avoid poor combinations which result in less than optimum handling characteristics. Too wide and/or too tall of a tire on a given rim, whatever you may be able to force mount onto it, will necessarily increase sidewall instability.
Long story short; unless you'd rather your car handles more like it's riding on balloons, you'll be better off if you stick with a 245 or 255/60x15 on 8x15 rims. 295/50x15s need 10" rims, but won't clear within the factory rear wheelwells without frame mods. Whatever tire/wheel combo you should eventually choose, 26-27" diameter is the sweet spot for the C3 body. My $.02
Long story short; unless you'd rather your car handles more like it's riding on balloons, you'll be better off if you stick with a 245 or 255/60x15 on 8x15 rims. 295/50x15s need 10" rims, but won't clear within the factory rear wheelwells without frame mods. Whatever tire/wheel combo you should eventually choose, 26-27" diameter is the sweet spot for the C3 body. My $.02
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,000
Likes: 299
From: New York
I run 295/50/15 ... Fit is perfect I did relocate the e-break mount to the top of the control arm easy to do any shop with a welder can do both sides in 45 minutes .
I have other pics I need to find them but the tire fits as it should and it is the second year on them
I have other pics I need to find them but the tire fits as it should and it is the second year on them
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 21
Likes: 1
From: Edmonton Alberta
As Diehrd said a P295 50R15 will work the best on a OEM wheel. You should not have any clearance problems either. Years ago I ran a corporate BFG store and we did several C3 Corvettes. The other popular size at the time was a 275 60R15 on all 4 corners. Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
The TRA standards utilized as an industry accepted reference point on which to base and determine tire section widths (the P#) should NOT be misinterpreted as a recommendation that just any wheel width that happens to fall within the fitment window for a given tire size will necessarily provide optimum stability and performance. Rather, a much better rule of thumb is to go with the widest practical rim width within a tire's fitment window.
Also, tho I do know of a few C3s with 295s stuffed within stock rear wheelwells, all have been modified in one way or another to provide adequate frame clearance. You'd be very much surprised at how very much tires deflect under heavy cornering loads, and the taller a tire's sidewall the more clearance necessary.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 420
Likes: 3
From: deposit new york
diehrd I love the look from the back, and no clearance issues with the rear spring?? just the e brake?
is that still your car, cus Rochester is not that far maybe someday I could come up and look at it in person that would be great. would love to see the car in person
is that still your car, cus Rochester is not that far maybe someday I could come up and look at it in person that would be great. would love to see the car in person
