Tire Alignment Question
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 33,818
Likes: 23
From: Pacific N.W. Warshington
Tire Alignment Question
Hi, I'm new to this forum but have a few questions regarding my 1977 Corvette. The car was purchased with 265-50-15 tires on all four corners, and was very low. It actually had less than one inch of clearance beneath the exhaust pipes which would drag on slightest bumps.
To prevent bottoming out we raised the rear slightly, and put on 295-50-15. This is great, and has the look we like but has caused the handling to become ‘twitchy’. It handles great but doesn’t go straight without a lot of attention. Also this change caused the front to occasionally rub outer fender lip, even though we didn’t do anything there, and it did not previously rub. It seems we upset the balance of the car somehow. It also is more prone to veer either way when braking.
Any suggestions of what caused the front tire to rub and what is causing the sensitivity? Thanks.
To prevent bottoming out we raised the rear slightly, and put on 295-50-15. This is great, and has the look we like but has caused the handling to become ‘twitchy’. It handles great but doesn’t go straight without a lot of attention. Also this change caused the front to occasionally rub outer fender lip, even though we didn’t do anything there, and it did not previously rub. It seems we upset the balance of the car somehow. It also is more prone to veer either way when braking.
Any suggestions of what caused the front tire to rub and what is causing the sensitivity? Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa Ok
You can try to dial in as much castor as possible in the front to improve centering but with that wide a tire, you'll be catching every aberation in the road surface that exists. One of the disadvantages of wider tires is that they're running on roads where the prevailing traffic has worn tracks that are thinner, causing the front of your car to constantly seek for a level spot that doesn't exist.
As to the rub in the front, I'm rather surprised it wasn't happening before.
I run on 255-60-15 and felt that was the widest and shortest I could get away with without rubbing. Your tire is two inches shorter.
As to the rub in the front, I'm rather surprised it wasn't happening before.
I run on 255-60-15 and felt that was the widest and shortest I could get away with without rubbing. Your tire is two inches shorter.
