C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Wheel Size verses Ride Quality

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 16, 2006 | 08:39 PM
  #1  
Sky65's Avatar
Sky65
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,772
Likes: 694
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
Default Wheel Size verses Ride Quality

I am currently running 15X8 ralleys with 255/60 tires on my 65. I am considering changing to 17X8 wheels and 255/50 tires. Question is how much will it change the ride quality and handling? I expect the ride will be harder and the handling better but how much? Thanks
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2006 | 08:54 PM
  #2  
2th farmer's Avatar
2th farmer
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 1
From: Pineville Kentucky
CI 6-8-9 Veteran
Default

I switched to p245 45 17's from stock and really didn't notice a harsher ride. The car FEELS better than it did.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2006 | 08:57 PM
  #3  
7t2vette's Avatar
7t2vette
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
Default

Originally Posted by Sky65
I am currently running 15X8 ralleys with 255/60 tires on my 65. I am considering changing to 17X8 wheels and 255/50 tires. Question is how much will it change the ride quality and handling? I expect the ride will be harder and the handling better but how much? Thanks
I did this, and it was a big improvement in handling. I think the tires would be the biggest area of improvement, you just can't get a decent handling tire in 15" anymore.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2006 | 08:59 PM
  #4  
MYBAD79's Avatar
MYBAD79
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Default

with modern high performance tires (245-45-17 or 255-45-17) you'll experience a signifficant improvement
Personally I like the stock huge sidewall look so I'll stick with 15" until they don't sell these tires anymore.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2006 | 09:07 PM
  #5  
Sky65's Avatar
Sky65
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,772
Likes: 694
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
Default

Originally Posted by RedBad1979
with modern high performance tires (245-45-17 or 255-45-17) you'll experience a signifficant improvement
Personally I like the stock huge sidewall look so I'll stick with 15" until they don't sell these tires anymore.
Yeah I like a little meat in the wheel well myself. I was thinking a 255/50 wouldn't look too thin on the sidewall but get me a little more handling.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2006 | 09:09 PM
  #6  
jdunne's Avatar
jdunne
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 963
Likes: 0
From: melbourne,Australia
Default

Originally Posted by Sky65
I am currently running 15X8 ralleys with 255/60 tires on my 65. I am considering changing to 17X8 wheels and 255/50 tires. Question is how much will it change the ride quality and handling? I expect the ride will be harder and the handling better but how much? Thanks
I have 255.50.17 nittos on 17 x 8" rims and you wouldnt believe how much positive improvement it made to the handling on my 74R...JOHN
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2006 | 09:49 PM
  #7  
Sky65's Avatar
Sky65
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,772
Likes: 694
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
Default

Originally Posted by jdunne
I have 255.50.17 nittos on 17 x 8" rims and you wouldnt believe how much positive improvement it made to the handling on my 74R...JOHN
Thanks. Did the ride get hard? Are you running a stock suspension? Do you have any pics?
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2006 | 09:53 PM
  #8  
Jason Staley's Avatar
Jason Staley
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by jdunne
I have 255.50.17 nittos on 17 x 8" rims and you wouldnt believe how much positive improvement it made to the handling on my 74R...JOHN
Ride is very comfortable. I didn't really notice any harsher ride, but the handling improved greatly.
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 Jan 16, 2006 | 09:54 PM
  #9  
7t2vette's Avatar
7t2vette
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
Default

Originally Posted by Sky65
Yeah I like a little meat in the wheel well myself. I was thinking a 255/50 wouldn't look too thin on the sidewall but get me a little more handling.
Some pics of my car with 17"x8" rims and 255/50/17 tires all around.




[IMG]
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2006 | 10:07 PM
  #10  
Sky65's Avatar
Sky65
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,772
Likes: 694
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
Default

Nice pics! Great looking car! Thanks.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2006 | 10:14 PM
  #11  
jdunne's Avatar
jdunne
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 963
Likes: 0
From: melbourne,Australia
Default

Originally Posted by Sky65
Thanks. Did the ride get hard? Are you running a stock suspension? Do you have any pics?
Other than 6 way koni adjustable.....standard suspension with retempered springs....the wheel tire combo is much lighter than standard and the reduced sprung weight alone helps the handling.....let alone the improved grip levels...john
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2006 | 10:21 PM
  #12  
Sky65's Avatar
Sky65
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,772
Likes: 694
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
Default

Jason.
Are they AR Salt Flats on your car?
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2006 | 10:28 PM
  #13  
bobs77vet's Avatar
bobs77vet
Race Director
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Default

i am planning on 16" rims i figure its a good compromise both ways
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2006 | 10:45 PM
  #14  
MYBAD79's Avatar
MYBAD79
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Default

Originally Posted by Sky65
Yeah I like a little meat in the wheel well myself. I was thinking a 255/50 wouldn't look too thin on the sidewall but get me a little more handling.
A 255-50-17 will look great, there may be some minor fitting required but it will fill the fender a lot better.... maybe you should get 255-45 front and 255-50 rear... the TT2s will look awesome, no doubt...
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2006 | 10:50 PM
  #15  
BigE's Avatar
BigE
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Oakdale Ct
Default

Originally Posted by 7t2vette
Some pics of my car with 17"x8" rims and 255/50/17 tires all around.
[IMG]
7t2vette,
Will that combo bolt right on or are there issues.. ie. offset trailing arms needed, ebrake, etc...
thanks
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2006 | 12:07 AM
  #16  
jdunne's Avatar
jdunne
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 963
Likes: 0
From: melbourne,Australia
Default

Originally Posted by BigE
7t2vette,
Will that combo bolt right on or are there issues.. ie. offset trailing arms needed, ebrake, etc...
thanks
the 255.50.17 is exactly the same ride height...the back space has to be the stock one but there are zero fittment issues otherwise.....john
Reply
Old Jan 19, 2006 | 05:57 AM
  #17  
Jason Staley's Avatar
Jason Staley
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by Sky65
Jason.
Are they AR Salt Flats on your car?
No, the wheels are made by PS Engineering out of California. I forget what they call them, the center sections of the wheels are basically the old "kidney bean" wheels that were used on a lot of race cars in the late 60's/early 70's that were modified to work as 17" wheels. The outer section of the rim is spun aluminum with the cast centers welded in. Love their looks, but they are not the lightest aluminum rims around though. Wish I had a better picture to show you, but my camera is missing.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Wheel Size verses Ride Quality





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:27 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