Tires..help help help

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Dec 19, 2008 | 06:03 AM

78vette78

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From: California

Tires..help help help

Im about to buy new tires.

i want vette to agressive..... i need to know the best tire size front and rear.

thanks in advance

Dec 19, 2008 | 06:15 AM

c3corvettes

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From: Winchester CA

Here's my 2 cents.

I was running P295/50 R15's (Cooper Cobras RWL) on all four corners of my '80. It definetly gave it a much more muscular/aggressive stance. If your staying with 15" wheels, this wouldn't be a bad choice. I had no rub issues whatsoever on the fronts or rears with stock suspension.

Dec 19, 2008 | 07:38 AM

jb78L-82

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From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN

If you are sticking with the OEM 15 in rims, you are severely restricted to any real perfromance tire. I up to very recently had the 255/60/15 OEM tires on the stock rims which only come in a S rated tire (112 MPH) or T (118 MPH), very soft side wall and generally fairly hard rubber which equals poor performance. No one makes an ultra high perfromance speed rated tire for the 15 in rims. If you can fit larger sizes, the car will look aggressive but performance improvements will be incremental. Any reduction in the overall diameter of the tire is like raising the rear end ratios numerically (3.55 to 3.70, for example), just to keep in mind. For a real performance improvement, you need to change the rims like I finally did a few month ago to SLP's 17 in rims. I run 255/45/17 ZR's in front and 255/50/17 ZR's (170 mph) in the rear. They look great, ride BETTER than the cheapo 15 in tires, and handle with much better steering response than the OEM type tires. The difference is incredible, a completely different riding and handling C3, much like a modern car with the suspension mods I have made over the years. If you want a change in appearnce you can stick with the 15 in rims but would need to go to at least 17 in rims for real ultra high performance tires and a dramatic handling improvement.

Dec 19, 2008 | 05:15 PM

MN-Brent

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From: Minneapolis, Mn USA

I assume the OEM 15x8 rims so:

Front options:
255-60-R15. Trim the front fender fiberglass the same as the 78-79 factory 255 option.
265-50-R15. With a little coil spring 3/4 turn cutting to lower the car and fill the gap. Wider but shorter tire than OEM.

Rear options:
255-60-R15. Should fit with no changes.
265-50-R15. Back off the rear spring nut to lower slightly to fill the gap. Wider but shorter tire than OEM.
275-60-R15. Taller tire but wider. has more sidewall so more flex. good for straight away but bad for the twisty roads
295-50-R15. Almost the same as OEM height but much wider. You might have to clearance the E-brake braket on the trailing arm or move it to the top.

Brent.

Last edited by MN-Brent; Dec 19, 2008 at 08:35 PM.

Dec 19, 2008 | 06:37 PM

Inshakoor

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From: Las Vegas Nevada

I have a 1980 'Vette so I'm not sure if the same will go for a '78, but I bought the following without any issue. Fit great and look nice and mean

BFGoodrich Radial T/A From Discount Tire

Front - 255-60/15
Rear - 275-60/15

I love 'em and there's no rubbing. Again, not sure if they'll fit the '78, but I imagine it's close if not the same. Good luck!

Dec 20, 2008 | 09:26 AM

blctalon

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From: Austin TX

255/60/15 fit all around on my 78. I don't know about some of the larger sizes being listed, they would probably rub on mine but you could always have the shop put them on and see if they rub on the frame up front.