tire and wheel question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,839
Likes: 19
From: Folsom CA
tire and wheel question
Getting ready to sell my 69 coupe. It's is numbers matching car, 350/350 4 speed with tilt wheel, factory air, etc. A great street car, but not a show car. It has an aftermarket stereo, adjustable rear links and a few other items that are not stock, including the wheels. I had the car at a consignment shop for a few weeks, and they told me that the general comment about the car is that people wanted it to have rally rims instead of the American wheels. I have been looking into getting some reproduction rally wheels, but I still like the looks of the Americans. I think the car needs some bigger tires to fill out the wheel wells, as it has 275x45x17 on the rear and 245/45/17 on the front. Any suggestions for tires or wheels would be appreciated.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,237
Likes: 4,330
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi fl,
If you're thinking a 'stock' appearance, but with a little taller/wider tire than stock, a set of 225-70-15 tires will give that look.
The question as to what wheel/tire combo will sell or not sell the car is open to debate.
To some people's eye the tires on the car are nice and fat but don't fill the wheel-wells well because they too 'short'…. too small a diameter. The 275/45/17 is 1 1/2" shorter than the stock original tire was, and 2" shorter than a 225/70 tire. It's height/diameter that fills the wheel well. It's PART of the reason your car looks 'high' in the rear
Regards,
Alan
If you're thinking a 'stock' appearance, but with a little taller/wider tire than stock, a set of 225-70-15 tires will give that look.
The question as to what wheel/tire combo will sell or not sell the car is open to debate.
To some people's eye the tires on the car are nice and fat but don't fill the wheel-wells well because they too 'short'…. too small a diameter. The 275/45/17 is 1 1/2" shorter than the stock original tire was, and 2" shorter than a 225/70 tire. It's height/diameter that fills the wheel well. It's PART of the reason your car looks 'high' in the rear
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Jan 28, 2015 at 07:12 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Hi fl,
If you're thinking a 'stock' appearance, but with a little taller/wider tire than stock, a set of 225-70-15 tires will give that look.
The question as to what wheel/tire combo will sell or not sell the car is open to debate.
To some peoples eye the tires on the car are nice and fat but don't fill the wheel-wells well because they too 'short'…. too small a diameter. The 275/45/17 is 1 1/2" shorter than the stock original tire was, and 2" shorter than a 225/70 tire. It's height/diameter that fills the wheel well. It's part of the reason your car looks 'high' in the rear
Regards,
Alan
If you're thinking a 'stock' appearance, but with a little taller/wider tire than stock, a set of 225-70-15 tires will give that look.
The question as to what wheel/tire combo will sell or not sell the car is open to debate.
To some peoples eye the tires on the car are nice and fat but don't fill the wheel-wells well because they too 'short'…. too small a diameter. The 275/45/17 is 1 1/2" shorter than the stock original tire was, and 2" shorter than a 225/70 tire. It's height/diameter that fills the wheel well. It's part of the reason your car looks 'high' in the rear
Regards,
Alan
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
I love mods and customs yet I do not like modern big wheels on the classic c3, seems others are in my boat.
The first thing I see when I look past the wheels and too much air over the tires is a basically stock looking car, which in this case IS the selling point,
If I was selling it and not in a huge hurry, I would put rallys and the right size tires on it, sell the aftermarket wheels and tires now on it to equal out the $$$ for the rallys and tires, I believe that would give less for the nit pickers to whine about and get a faster higher dollar sell....
The first thing I see when I look past the wheels and too much air over the tires is a basically stock looking car, which in this case IS the selling point,
If I was selling it and not in a huge hurry, I would put rallys and the right size tires on it, sell the aftermarket wheels and tires now on it to equal out the $$$ for the rallys and tires, I believe that would give less for the nit pickers to whine about and get a faster higher dollar sell....
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,839
Likes: 19
From: Folsom CA
Thanks everyone! I am going to order some rally wheels and probably a 60 series tire. I have always liked the 5 spoke Americans so I was very happy they were on the car when I bought it. That being said I want to sell it so I will replace them and try and sell them.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,936
Likes: 3,344
From: NYC NY
Before you go spending the money for another set of wheels and tires for a little bit of work and the price of 2 bolts can't you just try lowering the rear and get rid of some of that air over the tires?You have a great looking car. Good luck with the sale.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 66
From: Killeen Texas
Hi fl,
If you're thinking a 'stock' appearance, but with a little taller/wider tire than stock, a set of 225-70-15 tires will give that look.
The question as to what wheel/tire combo will sell or not sell the car is open to debate.
To some people's eye the tires on the car are nice and fat but don't fill the wheel-wells well because they too 'short'…. too small a diameter. The 275/45/17 is 1 1/2" shorter than the stock original tire was, and 2" shorter than a 225/70 tire. It's height/diameter that fills the wheel well. It's PART of the reason your car looks 'high' in the rear
Regards,
Alan
If you're thinking a 'stock' appearance, but with a little taller/wider tire than stock, a set of 225-70-15 tires will give that look.
The question as to what wheel/tire combo will sell or not sell the car is open to debate.
To some people's eye the tires on the car are nice and fat but don't fill the wheel-wells well because they too 'short'…. too small a diameter. The 275/45/17 is 1 1/2" shorter than the stock original tire was, and 2" shorter than a 225/70 tire. It's height/diameter that fills the wheel well. It's PART of the reason your car looks 'high' in the rear
Regards,
Alan
I stuck with 15" wheels on my 73 but as time goes by it's going to get harder to find them. I'm running 295 in the rear and 265 in the front. Took some searching to find a matched set...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,839
Likes: 19
From: Folsom CA
Once again thanks for all the suggestions. It already has the long bolts and I am down as far as you can go on them. I also agree that the wheel/tire combo should not stop a potential buyer.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,637
Likes: 27
From: Norwalk Ct
A 275/45-17 should be 26.74" tall..a 225/70-15 should be 27.4 tall..so that means the rear the tire would be basically .6" inch taller, or .3 closer to the wheel arch lip...thats not going to do much to close up that gap!
In my eye your car is sitting very high in the rear. Has the rear leaf spring been changed? you say that the bolts have been changed for longer ones and it still sits that high, something looks off. If it where me I would check the rear spring before spending more money on wheels.
The other thing I noticed, the front wheels look quite far in...are they 4" backspace?
The other thing to remember is that if you like to do any performance driving, you wont find perfromance tires in 15" sizes.
Last edited by lvrpool32; Jan 29, 2015 at 12:21 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,637
Likes: 27
From: Norwalk Ct
for me, I'd paint the centers of the AR's grey and sell it like that.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
You guys know I love mods but I still believe that if he installs rallys with the right tires it would help widen the audience, it shouldn't be a deal breaker but some will not even take a look when the see the modern wheels they will assume all kinds of stuff and just more on,
Plus a bargain hunter like me could buy rallys and tires sell what's on there and actually make a few extra toad pelts....ironic no one in this thread/forum wants to buy it.
Plus a bargain hunter like me could buy rallys and tires sell what's on there and actually make a few extra toad pelts....ironic no one in this thread/forum wants to buy it.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,839
Likes: 19
From: Folsom CA
Found another thread about car heights and it had a chart. Looks like my front is okay the back from the ground to the fender lip is over an inch high, even with the low profile tires. I looked at the records from the original owner and he did install aftermarket springs front and rear. I already have the 8 inch bolts, so I guess I will have to put in a new spring, as it will still look too high even with rally rims and taller tires.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,839
Likes: 19
From: Folsom CA
Just talked to a local spring shop. The owner told me this is a fairly common problem with aftermarket springs in older Corvettes. They can de arch the spring to get the car to sit lower. The aftermarket spring in the car are from John R. Spring Service, Inc, and I have no info on it. Is there any aftermarket spring that will drop the rear about 2 inches that you guys would recommend?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 66
From: Killeen Texas
Yes Alan but not for long. I would venture to say that the next time I need to put tires on my 73 I will need to go to 18's or larger. That will likely be in 5 years....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 115
From: Yelm Wa
"had the car at a consignment shop for a few weeks"
The consignment shop, will give you excuses why it hasn't sold yet, including tire/wheel combination.
How are they marketing it?..where?, how often?, how large is their customer base, etc.
The savvy consignment shop would have told any real potential customers, that it is also available with rally wheels, if that was their preference, rather then lose a sale (working out the details with you, offsetting the cost by selling what is on there).
I'd seriously consider selling it on your own.
The consignment shop, will give you excuses why it hasn't sold yet, including tire/wheel combination.
How are they marketing it?..where?, how often?, how large is their customer base, etc.
The savvy consignment shop would have told any real potential customers, that it is also available with rally wheels, if that was their preference, rather then lose a sale (working out the details with you, offsetting the cost by selling what is on there).
I'd seriously consider selling it on your own.