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If you have a '68-74 car, you should keep front tires no wider than 235 mm. That is about the max width that ALL C3's of those years will accept. Beyond that width, there is possibility of frame rub at the ends of steering travel. '75 and up can take 255's (and somewhat larger) all around because of larger wheel well openings and clearances.
Having had 18 C3’s since 1978 my preferred size is 235/65/15 in the ‘68 to ‘73 ‘vettes. My last Classic Corvette came into my hands with 255/60/15 all around and it looked good, worked and about the same height as the 235/70.
I got the car with front tires P215/60R15
and rear tires P235/60R15
they need to be replaced
any suggestions on size while keeping the same rims?
Mixing two sizes limits the ability to do a 4-position tire rotation. (My '72 has 235/60s all around and looks good as far as filling the wheel well and stance.) Keep in mind that the width x height ratio will change the way the car sits:
So, your front tires are an inch smaller in diameter which lowers the front by 1/2 inch - and 3/4" narrower - than the rears. When you start changing tire sizes from direct replacement sizes, be aware that it will mess with the speedometer reading.
Last edited by barkingrats; Aug 6, 2020 at 02:18 PM.
I’m thinking the tires were just whatever they could get on the car to it sold. They are in bad shape needing replacement. You guys know what looks good I hope so I asked for suggestions.
An option was the 255/60/15. If this was chosen the factory trimmed the front lip of the fender and the inside of the rear portion of the front fender opening. You could put 255/60/15 in the rear without a problem. The front is another question. If it was not trimmed it could mean a rub. Put your hand about 12 o'clock under the lip and run it forward. Does the lip disappear? is there a cut out on the rear portion like this, if so then the car probably came with 255/60/15:
On my 77 I run 225/70-15 on the front and 255/60-15 on the rear. Both have the same outside diameter and fill the wheel well without rubbing. The 255/60-15 just look better on the rear IMO than the stock 225/70-15 also get a little more traction with the wider tread.
Cooper cobras from discount tire online are a good price. Just bought front tires for under $100 each, free delivery.
I’m going to go with the 235/60/15 all around, down the road I want to upgrade to fancier rims, I think that’s when I’ll put a bigger tire on the rear.
thanks for everyone’s input.
but I am curious if 255 would fit on the front
attached pics of the front fender
Front of front fender on passenger side Back of front fender on drivers side
Last edited by Secretouting; Aug 10, 2020 at 08:27 PM.
I’m going to go with the 235/60/15 all around, down the road I want to upgrade to fancier rims, I think that’s when I’ll put a bigger tire on the rear.
thanks for everyone’s input.
but I am curious if 255 would fit on the front
attached pics of the front fender
Front of front fender on passenger side Back of front fender on drivers side
As you showed in the pics the fenders are not trimmed for 255/60s so that size not chosen at the time of the order. I could not find any explanation except to make clearance for turning. GM must have had some test results to have the workers take this extra step. In 80 they fixed the problem. So it is a crap shoot on whether they would be ok.
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