Always buy from Tire Rack but the T/A are so expensive what is a good substitute?

 

You own a Corvette, don’t scrimp on tires.

 

No one stocks these 15 inch tires but tire rack and the alternates are not inpresive!

 

Discount tire does

 

I've been running the Cooper Cobra's, 255-60/R15. Seem fine and have better ratings on TireRack and priced 25% less than the Goodrich T/A's I had previously. I didn't notice any difference in sound or handling.

 

performance plus tires in long beach CA sells v rated 15s ( and I just notice some w-rated 255s). I have the v-rated 235/60R15 for a few years. They're wonderful and smooth and a lot less expensive than those over-rated BFGoodrich tires that I replaced.....and, NO, I don't give a crap where they're made. The domestic manufacturers have had decades to compete.

https://www.performanceplustire.com/...60-15:ty:Tire/

 

In the 50's and 60's Japan made junk. But they made real progress in the 70's which forced the US makers to belatedly also start to improve. Hence the reason why when I bought my 1976 Ford LTD wagon with 80k miles in 1980 to take me from my home in NY to my first post college job in TX I was concerned about making it there vs. today where I'd be shocked if any car I'd buy today would have a major issue before 150k miles.

But Japan won the market playing fair. China is not. They subsidize their state owned companies, provide low interest loans to domestic makers, raise obstacles for non Chinese companies who want to enter their markets, and the list goes on. I know this for a fact as I work for a US company which is the largest in the world in its industry and has the majority of it manufacturing in China today while still maintaining sizeable workforces in North and South America, Europe, and Asia outside of China. I've been to China so many times in my role in product reliability and failure analysis that I hold a 10 year multiple entry visa. The BS we put up with in China as they attempt to force, successfully, technology transfer is miserable. If you tick off the gov't, suddenly you government auditors showing up inspect your plants and production, shipments into and out of China are delayed by customs, etc. etc. And while what our plants in China make is of good quality following our process controls, anything we outsource to local vendors is always suspect. And if you do have a problem, good luck getting a Chinese court to find in favor of a non Chinese owned business against one of their businesses. Recall the massive issue with Chinese drywall which had to be torn out of tens of thousands of new homes in the US and Europe - all paid for not by the Chinese companies which made it but by the US and European companies which sold it. Recall a massive number of tires going flat due to failures of Chinese made air valves.

In the case of Japan, their ingress to the US improved quality and reliability (two different things) because that is what they competed on. In the case of China they are winning due to unfair trade practices. And the real kicker is this is purely the result of greed of American and European corporations so focused on getting a cut of the China market today that they are willing to sell out their own nations in the long term. And, of course, the US consumer will buy a Chinese product because it is cheaper.

However, I don't fully condemn the US consumer because thanks to US corporate greed US made alternatives can't easily be found. For example, I am looking for a replacement bolt for the harmonic balancer. I could get an ARP for $20+. I don't want to start a discussion here on the merits of ARP bolts. They have their place. But, IMHO, they are overkill for the HB on engines at least up to 400 ft-lb torque which have stresses well within the range of the OEM bolts specifications. But thus far I haven't found a US made non ARP bolt. This leaves me with the choice of trusting Chinese quality control or paying for a bolt which costs more not because it is US made, but because it is over designed for the application. Ultimately, I will likely buy the ARP as I do care where it is made both for the quality aspect and since I will, wherever I can, buy a quality US product over even a quality Chinese product which is cheaper primarily due to unfair trade practices of China.

 

Check out Coker Tire

 

Yes China having to deal with the local Chinese people i only rebuild, repair or buy American. I can recall in the late 50,s my late father ripping apart a toy my aunt bought for me made in Japan and the inside was a old Rhein gold beer can turned into a toy. I can recall the communist party in Hartford Ct in the late 50,s at Keney park trying to sell the GI,s returning home from war the lies and bull ****, the same as the new Biden plan kissing up to the Chines government. Look at Jonson controls they moved the battery division to China under Baracks command. Now who makes batterys here? The people of China are okay it is the party it self. Look at walmart all Chinese crap buy it on a monday and buy it again at the end of the week. I am not looking for cheap tires but looking to see what is on the street to purchase that has some bang for hour inflated dollar.

 

I agree with your comment about the Chinese people. They are wonderful. While I've been treated well in most countries I've travelled to for business, China is definitely where I am treated the best. As for Biden's plan for dealing with China, I believe it involves continuing to print more $, get inflation going, thus driving down the value of the US $ which will make everything we import cost more while simultaneously reducing the value all the hundreds of billions of $ valued bonds held in China. I'll leave it there since the topic is good rubber and not where's it's made.

 

Hi,

I recently gave up the T/A addiction and bought Michelins. 215/70/15. I honestly have no idea the model without looking, and the car is in storage. This is the approx. size the C3 had from Chev. It is a much narrower tire, but a much, much better tire. The car rides extremely well, handles better, much quieter. Secure wet weather traction, better braking. All round improvement.
I won't go back to the T/As ever. And funny not one observer ever mentioned the smaller width.
I'm in canada, so can't comment or tire prices but the Michelins, to me, were not stupid expensive.
Good luck
1

 

Thanks will check in to Michelins. I like there product but they do not wear well and side wall cracking has been a problem!

 

Can not find the Michelins any where in CT in that size! I guess may be late fall tire production will be up prior to the virus we just went through, hoping any way.

 

Just curious. Do you know who makes Goodrich T/As?

 

Good information.

I run a couple different wheel/tire size combos on my car during track days, but for street driving I like the look of 15" wheels and tires. I'm pleasantly surprised at the speed rating and price of the tires mentioned in your link.

Thanks!

 

Michelin bought BF Goodrich in 1990. Check out Costco for BFG's for your Corvette. I got a set there for much less than quote from Discount Tire.

 

Mickey Thompson.
Almost identical to BFG's in ratings and performance but the letters STAY WHITE.

 

17's are cheaper tires, if your considering upgrading your wheels someday, just got a few sets of rims myself. One for my C3 & fits others, set for my C4 and staggered set for my TA, if you shop around you can find good deals, winter usually.

Still I also got a couple rear 15 tires to try with my C3 to replace the drag radials it had, I'll swap to the 17's later or use em on a diff ride, that set will fit four of my rides. I prefer 15's but the tire options/price for size I like sucks.

 

I like the ARP damper bolt options, they have with a square drive center that I like to use when lashing valves. I always put one on my cars and got another one for my project truck BUCK. People always give me crap for the ebay heads BUT honestly I spent a lot more on USA made stuff. Then they have no problem with all the china turbos and LS swapped imports LOL w/e my goal is to complete my projects in the next decade and I think we got bigger problems these days.