C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Help about wheels and tires

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 23, 2026 | 03:03 AM
  #1  
Sauer's Avatar
Sauer
Thread Starter
Navigator
 
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Default Help about wheels and tires

Hi to all. After presenting myself a couple days ago, I start asking some questions about doubts I have.

I’ve gone arround the forum reading a lot of threads, but I still don’t have things clear about a matter related with wheels, and I hope you all may help me.

I own a 1973 C3 in Spain, and I want to replace rear wheels and tires for ones bigger and nicer. The problem in Europe is that the wide of wheels and tires have the limit of the fender flares. I mean, that they can’t go beyond fender flares. Not even half an inche.

I love that tires get just to the limit of the flare, but, as I said, they can’t go beyond it. I want to fit 275/60 R15 rear tires, that, as I have watched at many C3 Corvettes here and at C3 Facebook group, look just great. And, as I have watched in most pics, they get just to the limit of flares.

And about wheels, as I watched at Ecklers, there are two Vision brand ones wich I like very much. More even than Cragars. I have 2 possibilities about wheels:

1- 15x10, -25 mm offset, and 4.52 inches backspace.

2- 15x10, 0 mm offset, and 5.50 inches backspace.

The ones I like the most, as I love rear wheels to look very “deep”, are the ones at number one with 4.52 backspace. But, what do you think about it? Ones at number one together to 275/60 R15 tires, would protrude from fender flares? If so, how many inches would go beyond flares? And no issues should be done about brakes or rubbing at any place?

I hope you may help me!! Thanks in advance!!
Reply
Old Apr 23, 2026 | 09:59 AM
  #2  
MelWff's Avatar
MelWff
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,734
Likes: 2,582
Default

Use the calculator
Tire width
Reply
Old Apr 24, 2026 | 09:58 AM
  #3  
Sauer's Avatar
Sauer
Thread Starter
Navigator
 
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Default

It's hard for me to use the calculator, as I don't know neither the width and offset of my actual rear whells.
I will ask in a diferent way: Anybody is running 275/60 R15 tires on 15x10 wheels with 4.52" backspace? If so, do they go beyond flares? And any rubbing at any place?
Reply
Old Apr 24, 2026 | 10:31 AM
  #4  
MelWff's Avatar
MelWff
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,734
Likes: 2,582
Default

Originally Posted by Sauer
It's hard for me to use the calculator, as I don't know neither the width and offset of my actual rear whells.
I will ask in a diferent way: Anybody is running 275/60 R15 tires on 15x10 wheels with 4.52" backspace? If so, do they go beyond flares? And any rubbing at any place?
You do know the size of factory wheels and tires that do not extend beyond the fenders. 15x8, 4 backspace, -12mm offset. If you don't have factory wheels, remove the wheel and measure it.
Reply
Old Apr 24, 2026 | 11:30 AM
  #5  
69L88's Avatar
69L88
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,411
Likes: 1,821
From: Apple Valley, MN
Default

Originally Posted by Sauer
It's hard for me to use the calculator, as I don't know neither the width and offset of my actual rear whells.
I will ask in a diferent way: Anybody is running 275/60 R15 tires on 15x10 wheels with 4.52" backspace? If so, do they go beyond flares? And any rubbing at any place?
The first pic is my car in 1973 just after installing the American 200s and Goodyear Polyglas GTs. The rears are 15x10 with a 4.5” backspace. L60x15. No modifications, no rubs. The fronts are 15x8.5 with G60 x15. Very slight rub on the frame at full lock.

Unfortunately for you, the rear tread stuck out 1” beyond the top of the fender, with the sidewall protruding another ~1”.

In the second photo, I had modified the fenders to move the lip out to cover the tread but the sidewall still does protrude about an inch.


Bone stock.  No mods.
Bone stock. No mods.
Rear fenders move outward 1”.
Rear fenders move outward 1”.


Reply
Old Apr 24, 2026 | 01:06 PM
  #6  
Sauer's Avatar
Sauer
Thread Starter
Navigator
 
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Default

Ok, Thanks for the answers. Then 15x10 rear with 275/60 R15, with 4.5 backspace don't require any modifications and no rubs.
But it would protude 1 inche. And, if backspace was lower, it would potude even more, I guess.
Maybe the solution for me would be to fit some flare extensions like in the pic attached. Or run smaller wheels.
Reply
Old Apr 24, 2026 | 09:10 PM
  #7  
69L88's Avatar
69L88
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,411
Likes: 1,821
From: Apple Valley, MN
Default

Not sure you can fool the regulators but getting creative with some temporary extensions might get you what you need for the inspection and then you can remove.
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2026 | 07:17 AM
  #8  
Sauer's Avatar
Sauer
Thread Starter
Navigator
 
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Default

Hope so!!
Thanks to all for your answers!!
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 28, 2026 | 08:17 AM
  #9  
69ttop502's Avatar
69ttop502
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,240
Likes: 1,013
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Default

So my rear setup to use to estimate yours is 15X8.5 with 4.25 backspace and 275-55-15 tires. Tires do not stick outside the fenders but are close. 275 60's can pose a problem as they are taller than stock if you are close can crack a fender. Ask me how I know.
Reply
Old Apr 30, 2026 | 05:46 PM
  #10  
Sauer's Avatar
Sauer
Thread Starter
Navigator
 
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Default

How you know??
Thanks for the answer.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Help about wheels and tires





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:13 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE