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I hope you meant to type 255-60 15. I had 255-70 15 tires on my truck and while they looked great on the truck with 15x8 rims, I can't imagine they would fit on the Vette! Even 255-60 15 tires sometimes give trouble at full lock turning on C3 cars. The factory trimmed the front edge of the front wheel openings and I think something is a little different at the back edge of 78 and 79 models equipped with the optional 255-60 15 tires. I knew some that ran 245-60 15 tires without issues, but I never liked the look of the shorter tire and now I don't think that size is readily available. On stock wheels, I personally think 225-70 15 looks best on 68-77 Vettes.
225/70/15 on the front of my '68........they fill the wheel well with 1.5" clearance above the tire. 225's look too thin on the rear though......235's or 245's would look better, but they can't be rotated to the front because they would rub badly.
Lots of choices.If you don't want the front tire taller than the rear but want a wide tire on the back then you could go;
255/60/15 rear
215/65/15 front
Unless it is lowered slightly in the front it may not look right.
225/70/15 front and 255/60/15 rear is less than half an inch in height difference and the casual looker may not even notice the difference.
I have BFG 255/60's on stock 8" rims all around on my 73. with a stock suspension height the drivers front only just kisses the frameside at full lock; just enough to polish the dust off and certainly nothing to be worried about.
I have 235/60/15 on and in next few days changing to 245/60/15 all round so I'll take side and rear pics of both to compare
awesome--thanks!
Thanks to all for the responses so far...Just trying to figure out the best way to go, and since I have to replace both the drive and driven gear in the trans anyway this spring, no time like the present to make a change...
Just hate to spend the $$$ and end up having to buy new tires later on anyway due to fitment issues.
I am leaning toward 255/60/15 rears and 235/60/15 fronts--does anyone see any issues there?
Will it fill the wheel wells OK?
In MY opinion, 235's seem a bit small in the front wheel wells. Here is a picture of my 79 with 235/60 on the front and 275/60 on the rear. I just happened to have these tires laying around, so I put them on until I got around to ordering 255/60's for all 4....which will hopefully be in the next week or two...
I have a 77 that I'm running cooper radials. 255/60 on the rear 225/70 on the front. The 255's are too wide for the front. Even the 225/70's rub just a little at full lock. Here is what it looks like.
I am not considering the 255/60/15's for the rear, and the 245/60/15 for the fronts...
I have seen a few other threads where folks mention having to make 'adjustments" to the wheel wells in the fronts with 255's...I do not want to get into all of that...
The 245's are also slightly taller than the 235's, so they should fit the wheel well a bit better as well...
I'll be ordering sometime in the next week or so--Discounttiredirect is having a sale--$40 off a set of 4 coopers, and free shipping...
Will also be picking up a set for the Camaro as well...
Would the tire height be noticeble to the naked eye if I went with a .9" shorter tire on the rear?
I have a 74. The original tires were
GR70-15. Before I threw out the ancient spare, I carefully measured it. It was closer in size to the 235/60R15 than the 225/70R15. I have them now, Firestones, and I like them.
Years ago, I used the 255/60R15 tires and they rubbed a bit in the front when at full lock. Also, they tended to "tramline", and followed all the ruts in the road. The thinner tires, IMHO, offer better steering feel.
My 69 had 255/60R/15s on the original wheel when I purchased it. They did rub on the front when turning hard. These are 215/70R/15s all the way around which are equivalent to the F70/15 Wide Ovals that were original equipment. Great improvement in ride and handling with no rubbing.
Another Tire sizing question
