Keep original tires?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 399
From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Keep original tires?
I just purchased a 1992 LT1 with only 20,000 miles. Looks and drives like it just came out of the showroom. However as can be expected time has taken it's toll on rubber items including the tires So along with changing all the fluids I have ordered new tires. The question is do I keep the old tires just in case I ever decide to enter it in a show? Plenty of thread but the rubber has hardened and there are cracks showing in the thread.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 143
From: Manalapan New Jersey
If you're driving on 25 yr old tires take them off immediately. Check the date code on the sidewalls to see if they're the originals. I still have my original tires stored. Harder than a hockey puck...just thought it would be a good thing to keep. Maybe one day a C4 will be worth with something....maybe not in my lifetime!
Congrats on the buy!! Enjoy the ride!
Congrats on the buy!! Enjoy the ride!
Last edited by MRANT212; Mar 13, 2017 at 11:28 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 399
From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Original date codes and driven less than a mile to my house and then it's 3.5 miles to the tire dealer. I have been lucky enough to have survived doing all those stupid things when I was young and now just trying to enjoy life safely. It's been a long time since my 64 vette.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
It will drive way better with new ones
You can wrap the old ones up in case you sell I wouldnt really drive on em. New guy may or may not appreciate the tires, if you got the extra storage-if they are cracked and dry rotting maybe try advertising them see whatthey may bring )
Get some cheap Sumitomos or some Conitnentals and put some hard miles on that thing.
You can wrap the old ones up in case you sell I wouldnt really drive on em. New guy may or may not appreciate the tires, if you got the extra storage-if they are cracked and dry rotting maybe try advertising them see whatthey may bring )
Get some cheap Sumitomos or some Conitnentals and put some hard miles on that thing.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 399
From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I went with Nitto NT555 G2 tires. Yes once I have the new tires on it and the fluids changed I will start driving it to make sure everything works as it should. Trailer queens look gorgeous but a lot of people fail to realize how just being stored is detrimental to the vehicle's ability to operate flawlessly.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,430
Likes: 608
From: Minneapolis Mn
By showing the car, do you mean a local show or something like going for a Bloomington Gold? Nothing says you can't save the tires if you have space but personally I wouldn't want to see something shown with cracked or degraded tires on it. Plus if you mount and dismount the tires, there's the chance of damaging them if they're that old and degraded already.
My 2 cents.
My 2 cents.
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 405
Likes: 15
From: Panama City Beach Florida
When I bought my 94
Mine had 22000 miles when I bought it 4 years ago. Tread looked great but they were noisy as heck. Bought new Nitto's and the ride improved greatly and was quiet! (for a Vette). The old Goodyears had the date code on the inside (3 digit) of the tire. I sold them to someone that wanted to put them on a show car. A few days ago I sold the Vette and the wife "helpfully" said she would buy a basket for my bike so I could pick up things from the store!
Pro
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 609
Likes: 239
From: Franklin NC
Someone one day may want the original tires but store them only if you have room. If it's a pain, don't worry about it. My 'car collector' neighbor saves his but I've dumped every original tire I have ever owned and never regretted it. It didn't affect the car's sales price at all.
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Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
With your description, I would never use those tires to drive anywhere. What is the tire manufacture and model of the tires? Goodyear GS-C's? If they are the original tires for the car, you should be able to sell them to somebody who needs them for an NCRS type of restoration or entering Bloomington Gold.
There are lots of very good tires out there in the 275/40-17 size that will provide much improved performance handling capability for the car over what the original tires could do. From what I have read over the last few years is that tires should be replaced every 5-7 years regardless of the remaining tread. The compounds in the tire will "dry out" and you begin to lose tire performance.
There are lots of very good tires out there in the 275/40-17 size that will provide much improved performance handling capability for the car over what the original tires could do. From what I have read over the last few years is that tires should be replaced every 5-7 years regardless of the remaining tread. The compounds in the tire will "dry out" and you begin to lose tire performance.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 399
From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Yes original GS-C tires.
I also see you are just down the road from me since I live in Tacoma. What is a good Corvette club to join since it seems like there are more than a few in the area?
I also see you are just down the road from me since I live in Tacoma. What is a good Corvette club to join since it seems like there are more than a few in the area?
Pro
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 551
Likes: 42
From: "Exit 8" New Jersey
This is like dejavo...I started a thread last summer under the same title because I had a similar...actually the same...situation. Bought a 92 with 14k miles and original tires. Had the same cracks in the tread. Got a lot of advise and decided that since they were cracked I figured they were worthless and tossed them. I wouldn't think showing a car with cracked tires would go over well with judges. My car actually didn't ride bad with the old tires I just knew the end was near for them. Put on a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 2's and never looked back.
Last edited by Edv92c4; Mar 14, 2017 at 12:04 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 881
Likes: 24
From: Coquitlam BC
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
had treads unravel at 25mph and they can do serious damage to your 1/4 panel (or take out a brake line) dont let anyone tell you "its fine at regular speeds" it happnens fast.
Last edited by cv67; Mar 15, 2017 at 02:03 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 696
Likes: 73
From: Columbus, OH
I have a full set of original GSCs with 3,000 miles on them. I removed them a long time ago and have had them in my climate controlled basement ever since. I look at them from time to time and think about selling them to a good home, such as someone who’s C4 is going to undergo NCRS judging. Then I think I may one day have my LT-4 judged... many moons from now, so I keep hanging on to them. They are not on rims, they look brand new, no cracks anywhere on the tires, but they sure are hard!
B17Crew
B17Crew
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
Anyone with a show-quality C4 (who actually shows and judges their car) may be interested in buying your original tires. Either way I would not keep them unless I have tons of storage space to keep items like these.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 696
Likes: 73
From: Columbus, OH
I don’t have tons of storage, but if its Corvette related, I somehow find room for things. You should see my bins of 1996 OEM discontinued parts! You wanna talk LT-4 black fuel rail covers, Grand Sport Throttle body plates, interior trim, etc. still in boxes! When I purchased this car, I planned on having it a LONG time. So far, I’m at 19.5 years of ownership bliss for this C4.
B17Crew