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Wheel/tire size without mods?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Rouses Point NY
Wheel/tire size without mods?
I have a 69 with 15" ralley wheels on it right now. I'd really like to swap out to a larger diameter wheel and a lower profile tire but dont want to have to do a lot of modding, or any if at all possible. Does anyone have any recomendations for me?
thanks
Slinky
thanks
Slinky
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
I have Toyo Proxxes T1R 245-55-16 on a set of 16X8 wheels, I guess if you want the "Ghetto Cruiser" look you could go with 17/18/19 or now appearing in some of our local shows 20-24" wheels. The Toyos are the best tire as far a speed ratings and grip for a C3 Vette.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Rouses Point NY
I want to get rid of the balloon tire look though. My dad put these tires on the car probably about 15 years ago...they dont have a lot of miles on them (only 58k on the car)....but starting to show signs of weather checking etc...we've gone through with all new shocks, trailing arms, brakes, etc around the car but it just looks like it has a set of offroad tires.
i'd like to find a set of wheels in 17/18 that look like the rally wheels and run a little lower profile, better handling tire.
I want to have car still have that factory but updated look. Its a driver not a show car.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
You could go with the later c3 aluminum wheels (78 - 82 or Collectors Edition) with some wider 15" tires than what you have. For a later style look, plus access to better tires, TorqThrust II's are available in 17" with correct offset and bolt pattern for c3. SLP has a C5 lookalike wheel available in 17" with correct offset and bolt pattern. There are a few others, mostly special order wheels that can take you to 17" (Boyd Coddington, etc.). OEM C4 and C5 wheels can be used with bolton adaptors or spacers and relatively minor modifications.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Rouses Point NY
You could go with the later c3 aluminum wheels (78 - 82 or Collectors Edition) with some wider 15" tires than what you have. For a later style look, plus access to better tires, TorqThrust II's are available in 17" with correct offset and bolt pattern for c3. SLP has a C5 lookalike wheel available in 17" with correct offset and bolt pattern. There are a few others, mostly special order wheels that can take you to 17" (Boyd Coddington, etc.). OEM C4 and C5 wheels can be used with bolton adaptors or spacers and relatively minor modifications.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
You could look at PS Engineering.
http://www.psewheels.com/
They custom make the wheels to what ever you want, and they bolt directly on. They are bit more expensive than Torque Thrust II's but not too bad. I'm running 17x8's.
http://www.psewheels.com/
They custom make the wheels to what ever you want, and they bolt directly on. They are bit more expensive than Torque Thrust II's but not too bad. I'm running 17x8's.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,935
Likes: 3,343
From: NYC NY
If you want something more along the lines of an "old school" look that is also just a little more than TTIIs take a look at Vintage Wheel Works. http://www.vintagewheelworks.com/products/wheels . They have 2 5 spoke wheels, a "minilite" type wheel, and a "grand sport" type wheel (well OK Cobra type wheel 
).
).
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
You can spend over a grand on aftermarket wheels, or stick with something ALL Corvette, and get a set of C4+ wheels for less than 200 bux complete, then a set of 2.5 inch VBP wheel adapters for like 250 bux last I saw....
now the C4 wheels I have are 17x9.5 so the width difference to the inside is only 3/4 inch, which will hit the ebrake on the T/arm in rear...so you need to move that, most guys like it up top of the arm, I did mine to behind the rotor, some 15 years ago....
moved the frame brackets on the other end of the cable shroud too....
then you can fit 275/50/17 in rear and 255 up front.....
expect some road ditch wandering though, modern rubber tends to show up the inherent defects in the old steering design these sharks have.....
this would be true regardless of how you did the wheel change, it's lower profile, wider rubber that accentuates the problem a good bit...
now the C4 wheels I have are 17x9.5 so the width difference to the inside is only 3/4 inch, which will hit the ebrake on the T/arm in rear...so you need to move that, most guys like it up top of the arm, I did mine to behind the rotor, some 15 years ago....
moved the frame brackets on the other end of the cable shroud too....
then you can fit 275/50/17 in rear and 255 up front.....
expect some road ditch wandering though, modern rubber tends to show up the inherent defects in the old steering design these sharks have.....
this would be true regardless of how you did the wheel change, it's lower profile, wider rubber that accentuates the problem a good bit...
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 148
From: East London/SW Essex UK
done the same thing with Toyo's but 18" & Boyd JYD's 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
I have 17 in SLP rims that I got from Mid America last August when they were on sales for $699 for four rims with free shipping. I had the OEM 15 in aluminum rims with 255/60/15 tires, BFG Radial T/A's, S-rated (112 mph). On the Slp's I put 255/45/17 ZR Kuhmos in the front (26 in diameter tire, 1 in less than the 27 in 255/60/15's) and 255/50/17's Kuhmos in the rear (27 in diameter) since I have 3.70 rear gears and did not want the engine to rev more with a smaller diameter tire. I also like the pitched forward look with the new rims and tires. The ZR tires look awesome and have tons more grip than the OEM 15's. The car's handling, steering response, and ride is soooo much better. One of the best mods I have made (I made too many to list). Go with the 17's and definitely go with a V or Z rated tire if you want the best handling and the biggest change for the buck!. The standard S/T rated tires are like marsh mellows and will not give you the maximum handling/steering response benefit, even in 16/17/18 in rims. I went to the 17's primarily because I could get Z rated tires.
Last edited by jb78L-82; Feb 21, 2009 at 05:01 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Rouses Point NY
thanks for all the replies guys....i'm most definately going to go with a 17, just gotta figure out which style wheel....i like the TTII's but the SLP's would be cool. decisions decisions
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
I've enjoyed tremendous sucess with upgrading to newer Corvette factory wheels over the years. Very affordable. Huge improvement in performance every time.
Bee Jay
Bee Jay
Last edited by Bee Jay; Feb 24, 2009 at 09:34 PM.
Terrorizing Orange Cones
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,572
Likes: 17
From: Northern CO
Here's a pic of TNBusa's car [it had 18x8 & 18x9.5] before it met an untimely exit (hopefully, temporary). I just do not see this as a poor selection of rolling hardware:
I love that car's look. So much so, I'm copying it, at my level. Like I mentioned, we agree on tire choice:
Before the 18", I ran 17" and loved them for the look as well as getting good performance tire selections:
As long as one chooses carefully and matches the look to whatever goal one has with the car, I think we can have our cake and eat it too.
Ciao!
Terrorizing Orange Cones
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,572
Likes: 17
From: Northern CO
That yellow car would look good sportin' a set of these bad boy tires. Click the link and see who's in your neighborhood:
http://www.toyo.com/docs/findadealer.asp
Looks like they do NOT size a 305/35-18 in the T1R model tire but they do offer the 295/35-18. Surf the site and it'll open a pdf with all the data you seek.
I printed off the top 5 tire dealers in my area and called them to ask initial questions. Then I visited the top 3. Each one priced my choices differently enough that on a whim, I drove to dealer #4 on my list.
They were a really small "mom & pop" shop with one "touchless" wheel mount machine and one grizzled looking tech who was their prime operator of it. The owner's estimate was near $80 cheaper overall than the least expensive dealer of 3 I'd visited and his timeline was next day delivery from his warehouse. The others all quoted 2-4 day delivery (same geographic area).
I agreed to their offer, they got the tires, I brought my wheels and after a few hours, all was said and done without any surprises: beautiful. Paid the bill and couldn't be happier.
Tip: shop around. Could save some big bucks from big, box stores and give much needed support to working dudes like you and I.
Couldn't hurt.
Last edited by Dustup7T2; Feb 27, 2009 at 09:26 PM. Reason: add missing text