TedH

I've read a number of threads where members have shared their tire/wheel upgrades. Moderator advises that if we have enough interest, we may be able to create a 'sticky' thread.

Here's what I would like to see (I will use my stock config as a baseline format for order/capture of components/parameters). Perhaps we could omit stock parts to keep the details to ONLY the changes from stock. I'll include here just as an example. If there are other fitment/parts details that are essential please share. I would like to make it easy for those of us considering upgrade to make informed purchase decisions and minimize frustration:

Car: 1980 L48 with Gymkana suspension
Front:

• Stock style VB&P rubber bushing kit
• Stock stamped steel upper/lower control arms
• Stock style spindles
• Stock 4-piston calipers & rotors
• Stock swaybar
• Stock 15x8 aluminum wheels with stock backspacing (what is stock backspacing?)
• Stock style acorn lug nuts
• Goodyear Eagle GT II P255/60R15 RWL tires
• KYB shocks
• No wheel spacers
• Stock wheel well opening (no flares)
• Stock springs/ride height

Rear:

• Stock Van Steel rebuilt standard t-arm assemblies (not offset)
• VB&P Poly Adjustable Strut Rods
• Stock Van Steel rebuilt half-shafts with Spicer greasable u-joints
• Stock calipers, rotors and stainless parking brake hardware from Van Steel
• Stock diameter swaybar
• Stock 15x8 aluminum wheels (same as front)
• Stock style lug nuts (same as front)
• Mastercraft Avenger G/T P255/60R15 RWL tires
• KYB GR-2 Shocks
• No wheel spacers, no relocation of stock parts (ie. parking brake, etc.)
• Stock wheel well opening (no flares)
• Stock steel 7-leaf spring/stock ride height
• SLIGHT change to location of rear exhaust pipes as they are custom bent from local Rainbow Muffler shop. 2.5" pipe and Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers.

Include representative pictures:

tt 383

Funny, I was just searching for biggest front wheel/tire for the fronts this morning...

redvetteman81

nice car ted

redvetteman81

beautiful car

TedH

Thanks. The garnet red/pearl base paint was applied in '94 under PO's watch. I've had it repainted/paint matched by Corvette Shop in Tampa (front then rear) after a couple hits by other drivers. Save for a few nicks from my working on the car, it looks really good. The orig color was dark claret.

Jason Staley

Currently I'm running Toyo R1R's, but I will probably eventually switch back to the Michelin Sports shown in these photos because they have a better appearance. The R1R's are a bit too small of a diameter (26") where the Pilots are almost the factory diameter (26.6").

Original Configuration: 1976 L48 with standard suspension

Front:
Aluminum SPC upper control arms
VB&P lower control arms w/ transverse spring
Stock spindles w/ anti-bump steer blocks attached
Stock size SSBC 4-piston calipers & rotors
1" swaybar
PS Engineering 17 x 8" aluminum rims
235/50ZR17 Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires
Edelbrock shocks
No wheel spacers
Stock wheel well opening (no flares)

Rear:
Stock standard t-arm assemblies (not offset)
VB&P Poly Adjustable Strut Rods
Stock half-shafts
Wilwood calipers with stock rotors and stainless parking brake
9/16" factory swaybar
PS Engineering 17 x 8" aluminum rims (same as front)
235/50ZR17 Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires
Edelbrock shocks
No wheel spacers, no relocation of stock parts (ie. parking brake, etc.)
Stock wheel well opening (no flares)
VB&P fiberglass spring
No changes to location of rear exhaust pipes or mufflers (Borla mufflers)

TedH

NICE! Thanks for sharing!

Karsten

Mine looked like this a few months ago.



Presently it looks like this or did a few weeks ago..



New bearing front and rear, complete set of Prothane bushings, Gymakana springs front and rear, Upgraded shocks (I forget) Larger sway bars front and rear, new mounting hardware everywhere. Wheels will stay the same and maybe upgrade the tires down the road but they are new.

Karsten

TedH

Y'all got palm trees in Utah? That rear area looks like a blank canvas waiting for you to pull the trigger. Looking good!

Karsten

Ted, the pic was when it was in Florida...I drove it our to get inspected, to the muffler shop for 2.5 inch pipes and off road mufflers, Nit picked the interior apart and said to hell with it....Do it right or don't do it at all.

I figured there aren't many 1973's out there left and even less as years go by...So it might be late next year before I get to drive it after paint and interior.

Talked the my friend that is doing the work and he thinks next week he will uncrate the new 375 hp 350 and start putting that together.

Karsten

Franks73

I would like to go with 17" Torque thruster rims on my 73. I added the Wilwood 6 piston front, and 4 piston rear calipers. A suspension upgrade kit from Ecklers, with rear sway bar. Steeroids rack and pinion. I think I would like to be able to rotate the wheels. Not sure what back space to specify, and tire size. Thanks for any experience you guys can share.

San Diego Ron

My '77 had the same Western style wheels I never cared for on my '74, so after buying some used Cragar wheels that were in not so good shape and with some rattle can hammer black paint got the "Old School" look I was after.

Never liked these wheels


May not last for long but good for now


Friend said "Why would you put those old wheels on that car".. Because I like the look.


Now I'm happy

Karsten

If the paint comes off invest in some Duplicolor Wheel Paint, Primer and Sealer.

Karsten

TedH

This "Tires" thread has some really good info:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...106-tires.html

This one too:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...-17-x-8-a.html

This thread was started regarding comparison of ride quality of 15 vs 17" wheels/tires. I posed a question about the 17's given I can't find more than five (5) tires in my target size of 255-50-17:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...s-vs-17-a.html

This thread has lots of good info about 17 and 18" wheels/tires combos. I'm leaning toward 18x8's:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...-thread-4.html

Easy tire height calculator gives tire measurements when you plug in your tire spec's (ex. 255-45-18 yields 27" total height... near perfect match to my 255-60-15's):

http://tire-size-conversion.com/tire-size-calculator/

TX-Techman

These are the before and after pictures of our 69. The first picture was the day I got her home and the others are after a treatment of Zanio and upgrading the wheels and tires. The new wheels are from American Racing and the tires are 225/70R15 BFG Radial TA. I can't tell you how much the tires improved the ride and drive of the car, was is unbelievable and I love the look.

Attachment 47758048

Attachment 47758049

Attachment 47758050

Attachment 47758051

Attachment 47758052

vetteman1981

Coy's polished C-5 18x8 with 4.00" back space
and Nitto 245/45/18 NT 555 front and 255/55/18 rear.
No mods to get these wheels and tires to fit.
The wheel width and back spacing is the same as stock.
Vette Brakes & Products powder coated calipers.
Vinylternative Decals for the front calipers.
Steel Braided Brake Hoses.

This thread helped me a lot.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...ly-thread.html

Jethrotracey

Real nice look vetteman1981

Jethrotracey

TX-Techman What size American Racing rims did you end up with ?

vetteman1981

Thanks, I just got the wheels and tires two weeks ago.

redvetteman81

I'm just getting ready to go thru my 81 (I've had 18 years), I'm driving my 89 right now.A lot decisions to make.