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Wheel/tire question

Old 10-22-2017, 10:30 PM
  #21  
Kid Vette
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I'd definitely go with 18" if I was going to larger diameter wheels. Here's a chart I put together a while back on tire availability from Tire Rack.



Only 3 choices of the size you would want in 17", 255/50R17.
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Old 10-22-2017, 11:28 PM
  #22  
PeterC3
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Thanks for the chart Kid Vette!
I must admit I find wheel sizing confusing, but I've only spent enough time looking into it to start scratching my head.
I have 275/40R17 98W on my '81 now and I too would like to fill the wheel well more. Looking at before and after pics with the stock tires and my new smaller ones, there is not a huge difference, as Alan and others have noted.
I just flat spotted one of front tires while aborting a passing attempt on a mountain highway. I plan to swap fronts and rears and try a burn out (never done that befreo :-) before I replace the tires.
I have a 9mph error in the speedo because of the small tires. I was hopping to got to a larger dia tire to compensate and fill in the wheel well at the same time.
Your chart indicates that the 245/55R17 are the largest overall diameter, any issues with this size and my 17x8 5x4.75 wheels?
Old 10-23-2017, 06:08 AM
  #23  
PainfullySlow
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Originally Posted by Kid Vette
I'd definitely go with 18" if I was going to larger diameter wheels. Here's a chart I put together a while back on tire availability from Tire Rack.



Only 3 choices of the size you would want in 17", 255/50R17.
That is a fantastic resource for decision making. Thank you very much KV! It really does show how few options there are now, and no doubt will be less in the future. 18's it is then. Now to find wheels =)
Old 10-24-2017, 10:41 AM
  #24  
69Vett
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DDawson, beautiful car !
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Old 10-27-2017, 07:16 PM
  #25  
vette8121
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Originally Posted by car junkie
My sentiments exactly. You can think and think and think again about what will look best and the frustration will inevitably bring you back to stock rims for your Corvette, at least it did for me. Being tired of the same old and for the fact that I just plain like them, I went with a set of PO2's.

Not my car, just something I grabbed quick to make the point, and if I say so myself it nails it!

I love the PO2's, hard to find a nice set. A friend of mine had a set of PO 1's on his 68 BB. Back then I don't recall many people running on them. tm


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