tire size
06-15-2018, 01:19 PM
#1
tire size
hello, I just bought a 73 Stingray with a 454 4 speed. wanted to know what is the largest tire size I can fit on the rear without any rubbing? I have 15" stock rims and plan to stick with those. Thanks!
06-15-2018, 02:03 PM
#2
Team Owner
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I have 70R-235s on my 68 without any issues.
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Alex66 (06-17-2018)
06-15-2018, 04:03 PM
#4
06-16-2018, 11:47 AM
#6
They should since they are shorter. I went with the 275/60 in the rear since the are a little wider than the 255/60. They are almost an inch taller also so it gives the car a nice stance. Looks mean as hell to me and still fits inside the wheel wells.
06-17-2018, 03:33 AM
#7
06-17-2018, 04:39 PM
#9
Team Owner
On a '73, you can only guarantee that 235R60-15's will fit in the front without rubbing. About half of pre '75 C3's will accept 245's with no rub; fewer than that accept 255's.
But...you could get lucky.
But...you could get lucky.
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rct2007 (06-18-2018)
06-18-2018, 08:14 AM
#10
06-18-2018, 08:20 AM
#11
I have 245/60/15 on all four corners now with no rubbing with turning or height. Was looking to stay with the front size and wanted to go with a 50 in the rear. Didn't know if anyone knew if a 50 series would fit. Mainly would it hit or rub on the backside.
06-18-2018, 12:01 PM
#12
did you have to modify anything?
06-18-2018, 02:26 PM
#13
I did not have to modify anything to make them fit. The only modification that I have done in the back are 8 inch bollts to drop its *** down and bilstein hd shocks. My car looked like it had air shocks when I bought it because it sat really high in the rear. I leveled it out with the 8 inch bolts. The rake I wanted was achieved with the taller tires in the rear.
I have no rubbing in the front with the 255's or the rear. Each car is different and that is why I recommended asking the tire shop to mount one up for you to see if it will fit. The shop where I bought my tires did this for me and it would have only cost me the price of the tire mount if it didn't fit.
I have heard comments that if they fit you are lucky. My Dad also has an 82 C3 with 15,000 original miles. He took the original tires off to keep and is running my same tire setup with no rubbing. He has done no modifications to his at all.
My uncle was running 255/50/17 all the way around on his 71 when he sold it. His suspension was factory also with no modifications. That size is exactly the same dimension as a 255/60/15.
I have no rubbing in the front with the 255's or the rear. Each car is different and that is why I recommended asking the tire shop to mount one up for you to see if it will fit. The shop where I bought my tires did this for me and it would have only cost me the price of the tire mount if it didn't fit.
I have heard comments that if they fit you are lucky. My Dad also has an 82 C3 with 15,000 original miles. He took the original tires off to keep and is running my same tire setup with no rubbing. He has done no modifications to his at all.
My uncle was running 255/50/17 all the way around on his 71 when he sold it. His suspension was factory also with no modifications. That size is exactly the same dimension as a 255/60/15.
Last edited by bradley2434; 06-18-2018 at 02:50 PM.
06-18-2018, 03:18 PM
#14
I did not have to modify anything to make them fit. The only modification that I have done in the back are 8 inch bollts to drop its *** down and bilstein hd shocks. My car looked like it had air shocks when I bought it because it sat really high in the rear. I leveled it out with the 8 inch bolts. The rake I wanted was achieved with the taller tires in the rear.
I have no rubbing in the front with the 255's or the rear. Each car is different and that is why I recommended asking the tire shop to mount one up for you to see if it will fit. The shop where I bought my tires did this for me and it would have only cost me the price of the tire mount if it didn't fit.
I have heard comments that if they fit you are lucky. My Dad also has an 82 C3 with 15,000 original miles. He took the original tires off to keep and is running my same tire setup with no rubbing. He has done no modifications to his at all.
My uncle was running 255/50/17 all the way around on his 71 when he sold it. His suspension was factory also with no modifications. That size is exactly the same dimension as a 255/60/15.
I have no rubbing in the front with the 255's or the rear. Each car is different and that is why I recommended asking the tire shop to mount one up for you to see if it will fit. The shop where I bought my tires did this for me and it would have only cost me the price of the tire mount if it didn't fit.
I have heard comments that if they fit you are lucky. My Dad also has an 82 C3 with 15,000 original miles. He took the original tires off to keep and is running my same tire setup with no rubbing. He has done no modifications to his at all.
My uncle was running 255/50/17 all the way around on his 71 when he sold it. His suspension was factory also with no modifications. That size is exactly the same dimension as a 255/60/15.
06-19-2018, 11:17 AM
#15
Team Owner
For a 275 width tire, you need 10" wide rims.
06-19-2018, 03:02 PM
#17
Not with 15 inch 60 series tires. There is plenty of sidewall to get a 275 on a 15 by 8 inch wheel.
I have had 275 tires on 17 x 8 inch wheels. I had 275/45/17 Nitto tires on stock 2004 GTO wheels with no problems.
Here is a great article from VETTE magazine back in 2000. This has probably been referenced before.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/MoreBite.pdf
I have had 275 tires on 17 x 8 inch wheels. I had 275/45/17 Nitto tires on stock 2004 GTO wheels with no problems.
Here is a great article from VETTE magazine back in 2000. This has probably been referenced before.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/MoreBite.pdf
Last edited by bradley2434; 06-19-2018 at 03:02 PM.
06-19-2018, 08:55 PM
#18
Team Owner
I have 235R60-15's on 8" rims all-around. Pretty sure I wouldn't want 275's on the front, even if they didn't rub. Also pretty sure I wouldn't want 275's on 8" rims....even if some have done it.
06-19-2018, 10:35 PM
#19
No one ever said they were putting 275’s on the front. He asked to look at my set up with 255s on the front and 275s on the rear. Guys have been putting these tires on the stock wheels for decades. My dad ran 255 Goodyear eagle st’s all the way around back in the 80s on his completely original 1969 big block coupe. BF Goodrich's website says they can go on that size wheel. Per manufacturer’s recommendations for a 275/60/15: rim width min/max is 7.5” to 9.5”
https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/tire...ich/radial-t-a
https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/tire...ich/radial-t-a
Last edited by bradley2434; 06-19-2018 at 10:37 PM.
06-20-2018, 10:42 AM
#20
Team Owner
Yes, you CAN fit them on that wheel. It's your car...go for it.
Your Dad may have had 255's on the front of his '69 without any modification. Perhaps he was careful to not turn the wheels to either full lock position; perhaps his was one of the 20% (or so) which would accept 255's on the front without any modification; perhaps he modified it without your knowledge. Who knows?
We were asked if 255's would fit in the front wheel wells of an early C3. The answer is.... "MAYBE". You can argue about this all you want, but that's the way it is.
Your Dad may have had 255's on the front of his '69 without any modification. Perhaps he was careful to not turn the wheels to either full lock position; perhaps his was one of the 20% (or so) which would accept 255's on the front without any modification; perhaps he modified it without your knowledge. Who knows?
We were asked if 255's would fit in the front wheel wells of an early C3. The answer is.... "MAYBE". You can argue about this all you want, but that's the way it is.
