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Just got this 71 coupe a couple months ago and am trying to decide what style radial i should get, The spare is a F60-15 and the tires on it are P245/60SR15. I would like to get an equivalent size to the factory installed size. I like the redline ones but know they
were not available on the 71s. Any suggestions? Thanks.
The original size tires are sadly no longer available. the 245/60-15's are a popular choice. I run, as do many others 255/60-15's . I find the diameter is very close to the original and my speedo is spot on.
I would recommend Cooper Cobras or Mickey Thompson's.
Cooper and Goodrich make a 225/70/R15 tire which is almost dimensionally identical to the original tires put on the car. They are NOT performance tires by todays standards, but for cruising, etc they do everything a tire needs to do. Goodrich has problems with the letters turning brown....although I was very successful at keeping them clean with Blechwhite. Coopers do NOT have the browning problem to the same degree if at all.
They also make 255/60/R15 which is also dimensionally identical to the optional tires that became available on the later C3 Corvettes. They are somewhat smaller in diameter than the above mentioned 70 size tires, and for me, it was obvious that they did not fill the wheel well the same. They are however wider, and technically will perform better in the twisties.
All other tire sizes are different than the original two put on the cars, and may come with some level of problems or needed spacers, rub, etc.
I have recently switched to 17 inch wheels and modern Nitto tires........so I have a relatively new set of Cooper 225/70/R15 tires and wheels for sale, I have another two Coopers of the same size brand new for sale...came with my project 69. If interested, PM me.
Last edited by Shovels and Vettes; Jul 9, 2021 at 08:09 AM.
Be careful if you want to put 255/60's in the front. i have 245's in the front on my 71 and they rub at full lock. when i had 235's in front there was no rubbing. i have 255's in back with no problems. these cars can very from one car to the next so who knows you may fit 255's in the front but i would definitely try to find a set you can try before you buy if you want to run that size in front.
255's rub at full lock on most C3's....but how often do you drive at full lock? If you hear it....let off the wheel some. IMHO a 235 is too small....the 225/70 is too narrow. The 255/60 looks the best to me. Here is my old 69' 427/400 with 255/60/15's....it rubbed very slightly at full left lock, but once you are aware of it.....you will get used to it....and it rubs a small flat area of the frame so damaging a tire is not likely. I hate derby caps so there is that too...LOL!
Cooper and Goodrich make a 225/70/R15 tire which is almost dimensionally identical to the original tires put on the car. They are NOT performance tires by todays standards, but for cruising, etc they do everything a tire needs to do. Goodrich has problems with the letters turning brown....although I was very successful at keeping them clean with Blechwhite. Coopers do NOT have the browning problem to the same degree if at all.
They also make 255/60/R15 which is also dimensionally identical to the optional tires that became available on the later C3 Corvettes. They are somewhat smaller in diameter than the above mentioned 70 size tires, and for me, it was obvious that they did not fill the wheel well the same. They are however wider, and technically will perform better in the twisties.
All other tire sizes are different than the original two put on the cars, and may come with some level of problems or needed spacers, rub, etc.
I have recently switched to 17 inch wheels and modern Nitto tires........so I have a relatively new set of Cooper 225/70/R15 tires and wheels for sale, I have another two Coopers of the same size brand new for sale...came with my project 69. If interested, PM me.
Flyboy, please tell us details on your 17" rim swap. 17x8 or 9? 5" backspacing? spacers to make them sit right? Clearance? Rally's, what brand? 255/55-17 tires? good side pics? Sorry for all the questions but thank you much!
Flyboy, please tell us details on your 17" rim swap. 17x8 or 9? 5" backspacing? spacers to make them sit right? Clearance? Rally's, what brand? 255/55-17 tires? good side pics? Sorry for all the questions but thank you much!
Factory backspacing on our C3 Corvettes is 4 inches, the wheels were 15 X 8 inch. The Rallye wheels, and the optional YJ8 aluminum mags all have 4.00 inch backspacing. Original tires were F70 somethings, but the modern measurement of 225/70/R15 are dimensionally identical to the original 70 size tires. The optional 255/60/R15 tires on later model C3 Corvettes are wider in tread, but slight smaller in outside diameter.
So....the 17 X 8 inch American Racing Torq Thrust wheels I have on my 77 are matched with Nitto 555 255/50/R17 tires, which have an outside diameter very close to 27 inches, which is identical in outside diameter to the original tires put on the cars in the 70's, AND have 10 inch of tread on the ground, making them the perfect fit in outside diameter, filling the wheel wells as Chevrolet designed it to be.....and puts 10 inches of high performance modern rubber onto the ground for traction and handling. The fronts could rub slightly......mine do not, at full wheel deflection.
I found that American Racing sells ONE 17 X 8 inch wheel, and one wheel only, with the correct 4.00 inch backspacing. And they are ONLY available in Polished aluminum. Chrome wheels with 4.00 inch backspacing are not available.....>EXCEPT, they will build CUSTOM wheels at many backspacing, etc....but are extremely high prices.
So, to answer your question.....my wheels are PERFECT fit to my car. With the 50 size tires, they are exactly the same outside diameter as the original tires, and with the 4.00 inch backspacing the wheels fit perfectly where they are designed to fit....without any spacers. Some guys use 45 size tires....I think they look too small in the wheel wells.
But...as I said, its one wheel they sell that fits.....everything else has different backspacing, unless you pay the big bucks. If you want the part number I can dig it up.
They look perfect on the car, and fortunately, I prefer polished aluminum versus Chrome. Win win for me.
I have a set or chrome 17x8 ordered and paid for. They are telling me they will
be in this week. I placed the order April 12. I better double check the backspacing
they say they will fit. We’ll see.
I have tall white walls on mine, 225/75/15 on the front and 235/75/15 on the rear. The 235s will rub on the front. It was the tallest tire I was comfortable with on the rear, the idea was to bring my cruising RPMs down a little bit. F60-15 is 25.9in diameter, 235/75/15 is 28.9in diameter. The net result is if I run the speed limit on the highway, I'm actually doing 5 over.
Factory backspacing on our C3 Corvettes is 4 inches, the wheels were 15 X 8 inch. The Rallye wheels, and the optional YJ8 aluminum mags all have 4.00 inch backspacing. Original tires were F70 somethings, but the modern measurement of 225/70/R15 are dimensionally identical to the original 70 size tires. The optional 255/60/R15 tires on later model C3 Corvettes are wider in tread, but slight smaller in outside diameter.
So....the 17 X 8 inch American Racing Torq Thrust wheels I have on my 77 are matched with Nitto 555 255/50/R17 tires, which have an outside diameter very close to 27 inches, which is identical in outside diameter to the original tires put on the cars in the 70's, AND have 10 inch of tread on the ground, making them the perfect fit in outside diameter, filling the wheel wells as Chevrolet designed it to be.....and puts 10 inches of high performance modern rubber onto the ground for traction and handling. The fronts could rub slightly......mine do not, at full wheel deflection.
I found that American Racing sells ONE 17 X 8 inch wheel, and one wheel only, with the correct 4.00 inch backspacing. And they are ONLY available in Polished aluminum. Chrome wheels with 4.00 inch backspacing are not available.....>EXCEPT, they will build CUSTOM wheels at many backspacing, etc....but are extremely high prices.
So, to answer your question.....my wheels are PERFECT fit to my car. With the 50 size tires, they are exactly the same outside diameter as the original tires, and with the 4.00 inch backspacing the wheels fit perfectly where they are designed to fit....without any spacers. Some guys use 45 size tires....I think they look too small in the wheel wells.
But...as I said, its one wheel they sell that fits.....everything else has different backspacing, unless you pay the big bucks. If you want the part number I can dig it up.
They look perfect on the car, and fortunately, I prefer polished aluminum versus Chrome. Win win for me.
Thank you very much Flyboy. That's exactly the info I needed. I really want the cast rally wheels but I needed to make a decision on width. Your tires look perfect on your car and on 8 inch rims are perfect for what I want. I think my only issue will be a 4.5 or 5in backspace requiring spacers, but it looks like 255/50's will work well.
Tires for 71
