Tires and wheels
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2018
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Tires and wheels
Replacing tires on my 1974 C3. Installing BF Goodrich TA's P255 60R 15s (front and back) and the wheels are in poor shape. Looking to buy new wheels, are these standard GM Rally wheels, 15 x 8 w/ 5 @ 4.75 mounting?
Installing same tires that is on it... just want to confirm correct wheel to purchase and install. Any suggestions?... Suggested vendors?
Installing same tires that is on it... just want to confirm correct wheel to purchase and install. Any suggestions?... Suggested vendors?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Get them sand blasted and repaint. Or scuff with snd paper and paint Unless they are bent
Last edited by Nowhere Man; Jul 18, 2024 at 06:01 PM.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2018
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The two I am looking at both have curb dings and some corrosion on inside. Prefer to install new. I see confusing information where some state 7's on front and 8's on rear. Some comments claim 8's all around.
What was original?
What was original?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,684
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From: Shamong, NJ
The original "AZ" code rally wheels on the Corvette were 15x8 with a 4" back spacing, not 4.75". None of the repro wheels available are exactly the same as the original wheels, though they do look the same as original once the trim rings and center caps are installed.
Personally, unless your wheels are bent or severely pitted, before I bought some Chinese replacement wheels I'd try sandblasting and repainting your original one, like Nowhere Man suggested.
68 Corvettes were 15x7 front and back, 69-82 were 15x8 at all four corners.
Personally, unless your wheels are bent or severely pitted, before I bought some Chinese replacement wheels I'd try sandblasting and repainting your original one, like Nowhere Man suggested.
68 Corvettes were 15x7 front and back, 69-82 were 15x8 at all four corners.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Omaha NE
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7" wide was '68 only. 8" after that on all four...
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: WI
LOL...I'd probably go new.
I bought 6 decent looking aluminum C3 wheels from various sellers from the internet and one from a swap meet. They're in pretty good condition (by looks) and need to be polished...but they're not super oxidized. I put the bare rims on the spindle (tightened down to no play) ... my spindles are 'trued'. Put the dial indicator on them. Guess what? Every wheel has warpage! LOL. More than I want to deal with. It's not the spindle or the hub..I checked the outside and inside ...it's the wheel/s. I double-checked on the other spindle. A lot of Corvettes were rough-housed over the years. Technically they'd work "ok", they're not THAT bad. But more than I want. If I'm going to put work into polishing wheels, I dont want them bobbing up/down at 70mph on the highway. Therefore, I would recommend considering *new* unless you know some used ones are real nice.
I bought 6 decent looking aluminum C3 wheels from various sellers from the internet and one from a swap meet. They're in pretty good condition (by looks) and need to be polished...but they're not super oxidized. I put the bare rims on the spindle (tightened down to no play) ... my spindles are 'trued'. Put the dial indicator on them. Guess what? Every wheel has warpage! LOL. More than I want to deal with. It's not the spindle or the hub..I checked the outside and inside ...it's the wheel/s. I double-checked on the other spindle. A lot of Corvettes were rough-housed over the years. Technically they'd work "ok", they're not THAT bad. But more than I want. If I'm going to put work into polishing wheels, I dont want them bobbing up/down at 70mph on the highway. Therefore, I would recommend considering *new* unless you know some used ones are real nice.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2018
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Thanks for the reply's and guidance on this topic. I work in my garage not a shop. Pulling all four tires, removing from rims, sandblasting painting and reversing the procedure is not my idea of spending 2-3 weekends. I am going with new wheels and have the new tires mounted, and I can change tires in a couple of hours. Can anyone suggest a line of "Built in America" GM style rims and where I can source them?.... or is everything new imported? Again, thank you to all that take a few minutes to respond....
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 9,438
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
so why cant you remove the wheels and tires and use some elbow grease with sand paper, or scotch brite pads or a wire wheel on a drill and remove all the rust, paint then prigemer and paint, then have the tires removed and get new tires put on?
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