Wheels and tires
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 18
Likes: 32
Wheels and tires
Hello,
I am checking to see if there is any opinions on wheel and tires for my 68. It has the flares on the sides and currently has early 1980's BF Goodrich tires that I am nervous to drive on. The tires are still about 2" from the outside edge of the flares. The rears are P295/50R15, and the fronts are P235/60R15. I would like to get wider tires and currently have old Crager wheels that may need replaced. Any opinions on the wheels similar to this with wider tires? Thanks
I am checking to see if there is any opinions on wheel and tires for my 68. It has the flares on the sides and currently has early 1980's BF Goodrich tires that I am nervous to drive on. The tires are still about 2" from the outside edge of the flares. The rears are P295/50R15, and the fronts are P235/60R15. I would like to get wider tires and currently have old Crager wheels that may need replaced. Any opinions on the wheels similar to this with wider tires? Thanks
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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you should be worried aobut those old tires. If they come apart they will rip your fenders apart. The 68s have the rear parking brake tab mounted on the outside off the trailing arms in a position that is very close to the rim if you go with a stock 69 8 inch wide rim with a 4 inch offset and should either be moved or go up to a 17 or 18 inch wheel. The torque thrust wheels are very popular and look like the old cragars. Theres some threads on 17 and 18 inch wheels that have some good selections as well. I run the torque thrusts in 17 inch with a 235/55/17 which is just over 9 inches on the road....I want to go to an 18 inch rear for the stagger. And those stock wheels just barely had my rubber touching the frame in front....I had some polished metal from a slight rub
You should post a pic of your setup with the flares
You should post a pic of your setup with the flares
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Aug 4, 2021 at 09:07 PM.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,065
Likes: 9,184
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Very nice. I dont have those awesome flares so you can obviously stuff some big meats under there. If you dont have offset trailing arms then you will have to stay with the 3.75 to 4 inch back space but you could stuff a big 10 inch rim back there. If you go to tire sites like tire rack they have tire size calculators. The stock tire height was 27 inches. I would stick to 27 in the front and go 28 in the rear and just rear gear the speedometer driven gear to compensate. As for wheel size thats your personal preference bu the best tire selection is now 18 inch and then 17 inch behind that. You have 2 or 3 for 15 inch and next to nothing for 16 inch, that shouldnt even be on the list.
215/70/15 was close to the original size. Punch in here and you can see how the comparisons work
https://tiresize.com/calculator/
255/60/15 is the go to for most stock size wheels now a days
215/70/15 was close to the original size. Punch in here and you can see how the comparisons work
https://tiresize.com/calculator/
255/60/15 is the go to for most stock size wheels now a days
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 18
Likes: 32
Thanks! I do like the flares. I also like the old school look. Do you think it would still maintain the old school look with wheels several inches wider? I would like some bigger meats on the back though......
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Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,065
Likes: 9,184
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Yes I do , do a search for the 17 inch wheel thread or the 18 inch wheel threads
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,828
Likes: 4,447
From: Virginia
OP, I haven't seen him post much recently, but @titanle has a similar flared 68.
This thread popped up recently, it has a few photos in post 21.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...springs-2.html
You may find the wheel and tire specs if you search for more posts by @titanle.
As stated, I wouldn't drive with those tires. At all.
This thread popped up recently, it has a few photos in post 21.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...springs-2.html
You may find the wheel and tire specs if you search for more posts by @titanle.
As stated, I wouldn't drive with those tires. At all.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,090
Likes: 4,015
From: New Braunfels Texas
The exact tire sizes but with a rear rim that has 2" more positive offset would look great......save a lot of $$$$$
17"'s are cool......but you will still need a lot of offset as a 315 is about as wide as it gets.......the right offset would give it a real road race look.
Jebby
17"'s are cool......but you will still need a lot of offset as a 315 is about as wide as it gets.......the right offset would give it a real road race look.
Jebby
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
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using the diagram zero offset is when the wheel flange is in the center of the rim spaced front to back. It is easily confused and effected by back spacing. So an 4 inch backspacing means from the back face of the hub to the frame side of the rim is 4 inches. So corvettes need 3.75 to 4 inches of back spacing minimum to keep the rim from hittimg the frame or trailing arms. at this point if the rim is zero offset then there would be 4 inches from the rear face of the hub to the front or curbside of the rim. I wouldnt be concerned too much with the offset at all because it is what it is when you need the rear backspacing.
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Aug 6, 2021 at 10:32 PM.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,065
Likes: 9,184
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
If you call a wheel shop they can spec out the heel for you or you can put in the backspace on a wheel eb site and they will show you the available wheels in your price range.
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Aug 6, 2021 at 10:46 PM.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,065
Likes: 9,184
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
heres a wheel website that doesnt do backspacing just offset which screws me and my method but they do let you shop plus size rims by year of vehicle. An 8 inch rim is an offset of 1 with these guys. the link is to 17 inch wwheels
https://www.wheelmax.com/wheels/?fit=1&sizeID=22339
https://www.wheelmax.com/wheels/?fit=1&sizeID=22339
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Aug 6, 2021 at 10:42 PM.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,065
Likes: 9,184
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
These guys ill let you see the heels on a corvette, the earlist is a 73 but it works, color choice is limited as well
https://www.wheelmax.com/iconfigurator/#
https://www.wheelmax.com/iconfigurator/#