Tire question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 318
Likes: 25
From: Wonder Lake Illinois
Tire question
I bought my 94 stock Vette last October for a fantastic price and it had badly worn 275-40-17 tires all the way around so I replaced them with same size in a Nexen brand but have had issues with steering wheel vibration at various speeds. I had them road force balanced 3 times and still have steering wheel shakes at 65 mph and up. I was told they are out of round so now I am going to get a new set, question is do I stay with the same size on all four which are on 9.5" AR torq thrust rims. I need some advice please.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,772
Likes: 177
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
For your 9.5" rims, I would stay with the factory size you have of 275/40-17
Buy a good tire, installed at a reputable shop with a good balancer and you shouldn't have any vibration issues.
Buy a good tire, installed at a reputable shop with a good balancer and you shouldn't have any vibration issues.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
The tire size is not causing the vibration. Possibly balance or tire or wheel defects could.
The tire size choice is up to you, but I like all four 275/40/17. It was the OEM tire size (or optional) from '88 to '96 (although '88 was 16" std, and the std in '93 to '96 was staggered)
I have run all four 275's on my '88, '94, '95, and '96. I like the square setup.
The tire size choice is up to you, but I like all four 275/40/17. It was the OEM tire size (or optional) from '88 to '96 (although '88 was 16" std, and the std in '93 to '96 was staggered)
I have run all four 275's on my '88, '94, '95, and '96. I like the square setup.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,948
Likes: 3,351
From: NYC NY
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 318
Likes: 25
From: Wonder Lake Illinois
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 116
Likes: 16
From: Richfield Ohio
I would assume you got 1 or more bad Nexen tires, or the could be a bad wheel, or just balancing.
I don't think cold weather would be causing this, as tires warm up pretty fast, and aluminum wheels are fine even in cold weather. A lot of us that live in the northern half of the country would love to only have low temperatures of 27 degrees, in the winter 27 degrees is when you open the windows in the house for a few hours a day for fresh air. My truck, Monte Carlo, Camaro and Vette all have aluminum wheels I rarely ever have to put air in the tires.
I don't think cold weather would be causing this, as tires warm up pretty fast, and aluminum wheels are fine even in cold weather. A lot of us that live in the northern half of the country would love to only have low temperatures of 27 degrees, in the winter 27 degrees is when you open the windows in the house for a few hours a day for fresh air. My truck, Monte Carlo, Camaro and Vette all have aluminum wheels I rarely ever have to put air in the tires.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 318
Likes: 25
From: Wonder Lake Illinois
I bought my 94 stock Vette last October for a fantastic price and it had badly worn 275-40-17 tires all the way around so I replaced them with same size in a Nexen brand but have had issues with steering wheel vibration at various speeds. I had them road force balanced 3 times and still have steering wheel shakes at 65 mph and up. I was told they are out of round so now I am going to get a new set, question is do I stay with the same size on all four which are on 9.5" AR torq thrust rims. I need some advice please.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,711
Likes: 174
From: Chatham NY
St. Jude Donor '13, '15-'16,'18 thru '25
I have those on my car ( not my vette) they do everything great except they are LOUD, most of the reviews agree. The most annoying road noise tire I have ever heard. Correction I do not have the a/s but the summer tires .
Last edited by FWC; Mar 13, 2016 at 08:47 AM. Reason: added
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 318
Likes: 25
From: Wonder Lake Illinois
I bought them because I have them on my wife's 2011 SE Camry and they proved to be very decent so far with 15k on them so I thought maybe they would be ok for my Vette , I was wrong...
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,275
Likes: 165
From: Utah
I had some issues with tires.
New tires should have a mark where the heavy spot is.
Male sure they balance, the wheel before installing the tire to confirm the heavy spot.
Then they should align the marks across from each other.
I had some issues with my rear wheels that are 9.5 wide, bad vibration at 85mph.
Drove me crazy for a while until i finally identified it...
The hard part was because i had just bought the car, and i did not dare to drive fast with the rotted out tires it came with...
New tires should have a mark where the heavy spot is.
Male sure they balance, the wheel before installing the tire to confirm the heavy spot.
Then they should align the marks across from each other.
I had some issues with my rear wheels that are 9.5 wide, bad vibration at 85mph.
Drove me crazy for a while until i finally identified it...
The hard part was because i had just bought the car, and i did not dare to drive fast with the rotted out tires it came with...
Last edited by Gibbles; Mar 13, 2016 at 11:49 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
I bought my 94 stock Vette last October for a fantastic price and it had badly worn 275-40-17 tires all the way around so I replaced them with same size in a Nexen brand but have had issues with steering wheel vibration at various speeds. I had them road force balanced 3 times and still have steering wheel shakes at 65 mph and up. I was told they are out of round so now I am going to get a new set, question is do I stay with the same size on all four which are on 9.5" AR torq thrust rims. I need some advice please.
I have the Nexen tires 275 40 17 on all four corners, I have ZERO vibration.
Go elsewhere to check the wheel balance I have had them on my vette for 2 years now. They are great.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 111
The set of bf Goodrich gforce tires that were on my wife's BMW were very loud....replaced with Continentals extreme contacts and it made a huge difference!! Quiet, good handling and good price!
Intermediate
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
I recently replaced my Falken's with (Michelin Pilot Sport Ultra High Performance all season) 275/40zr18 99Y BSW rear-245/45ZR17 99Y BSW front. Am extremely pleased with the look, quietness, and road handling they offer. I believe you would be just fine with 275-40zr-17’s all around. I had 2 different size but appearance matching rims so I stayed with 17’s-18’s rather than buying new rims. Same tires are on my 2006 Mustang.
Costco gave me a buy 3 get the fourth for free sale. Ride compared to the Falken’s is night and day for the old 87.
Good Luck.
Costco gave me a buy 3 get the fourth for free sale. Ride compared to the Falken’s is night and day for the old 87.
Good Luck.
Last edited by Uppertown; Mar 16, 2016 at 06:31 PM.