Looking for tires
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11
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Looking for tires
Recently purchased a solid 95 C4. Tires on back not so good. All away around is Firestone Firehawk.
Back tires are P285/40R17 Firehawk.
Apparently they are not available any longer in this size.
Is there someone out there I can buy a pair of Firehawk P285/40R17 from (used or New)?
Otherwise I'm being told Continental is the next best thing?????
Back tires are P285/40R17 Firehawk.
Apparently they are not available any longer in this size.
Is there someone out there I can buy a pair of Firehawk P285/40R17 from (used or New)?
Otherwise I'm being told Continental is the next best thing?????
Enjoy while you can.
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Ask that question in the C4 section for a better response 
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Welcome to the Forum!
Agree with dahogan you'll probably do better in the C4 section. Here's the link to C4 buy/sell: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ale-wanted-55/
Good luck with your search.
Agree with dahogan you'll probably do better in the C4 section. Here's the link to C4 buy/sell: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ale-wanted-55/
Good luck with your search.
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Moving this to C4 General.
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
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285/40-17 was the OEM rear tire size for '93 and later C4's with the base suspension. But the rear wheels were 17x9.5" and those wheels will easily handle a 275/40 tire. There would be a small difference in the tire diameter and tread width. You may want to consider finding another pair of OEM wheels in 17x9.5" and using 275/40-17 tires on all 4 corners. That way you can rotate the tires for longer tread life. Also look at the NITTO G555 G2 tires. They are a very good summer high performance tire and the tread pattern works well in the wet.
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From: N.E. Ohio OH
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I have a set of NITTO G555 G2 that I just got this summer. I am really unsatisfied with them. They flat spot within a week sitting in the garage. Over the last 40 years of having high performance cars, I have never had tires that flat spotted in a week.
I talked to a Nitto rep, he said put your car on jackstands. For a week ??
Your mileage may vary ie: YMMV, but I wouldn't recommend them. I am going to talk to the folks I bought them from.
I talked to a Nitto rep, he said put your car on jackstands. For a week ??
Your mileage may vary ie: YMMV, but I wouldn't recommend them. I am going to talk to the folks I bought them from.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Long Beach NY
Tires
I went thru this on my '93 4 months ago.
I was going to go with the 9.5 rims and bought a set. After researching this I decided to stay with the stock 9.5, and 8.5. The only advantage I could find was the ability to rotate front to back. My old tires were the Nitto 555s and after 6 years they were Dry Rotted. If the new ones Nitto NT555 G2s last 5 years with very little wear why bother to even think about Rotation.
GM chose the different size front and rear to limit tracking in ruts on the road.
I thought finding Tires would be a problem find Tires, Not an issue.
I believe my cost was about $600 from Discount Tire. Had the installed at Costco.
After 1500 miles I am very pleased, no flat spotting at all. Ride and Handle great. My car is used mostly on weekends.
I will be selling the 2 9.5 rims I bought.
Barrier
I was going to go with the 9.5 rims and bought a set. After researching this I decided to stay with the stock 9.5, and 8.5. The only advantage I could find was the ability to rotate front to back. My old tires were the Nitto 555s and after 6 years they were Dry Rotted. If the new ones Nitto NT555 G2s last 5 years with very little wear why bother to even think about Rotation.
GM chose the different size front and rear to limit tracking in ruts on the road.
I thought finding Tires would be a problem find Tires, Not an issue.
I believe my cost was about $600 from Discount Tire. Had the installed at Costco.
After 1500 miles I am very pleased, no flat spotting at all. Ride and Handle great. My car is used mostly on weekends.
I will be selling the 2 9.5 rims I bought.
Barrier
Last edited by Barrier; Dec 4, 2017 at 12:01 PM.
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From: N.E. Ohio OH
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My Nittos were built in the 25th week of 2016. I will be taking them up to the retailer I bought them from (spoke to them today) so they can see the flat spotting. You can measure it with a dial indicator and the flat spots stay until the tires are warmed up of course.
The weather here in Ohio is not as warm all year as some of you enjoy, and they seem to be worse when the temps are below 50. So in a day or so when it is cold, the 2 front are going or I will drag the manager back to the house to take a ride on cold tires. I could understand if I was letting it sit all winter, but a week ?
I will let all of you know so you can be aware. They shake my car like I have square wheels and it is unacceptable to have to go drive around to warm them up before getting on the expressway.
The weather here in Ohio is not as warm all year as some of you enjoy, and they seem to be worse when the temps are below 50. So in a day or so when it is cold, the 2 front are going or I will drag the manager back to the house to take a ride on cold tires. I could understand if I was letting it sit all winter, but a week ?
I will let all of you know so you can be aware. They shake my car like I have square wheels and it is unacceptable to have to go drive around to warm them up before getting on the expressway.
Last edited by drcook; Dec 4, 2017 at 01:20 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 219
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From: MI
I put a set of Nitto NT555 on my ‘94 last December, drove the car a few times on dry Michigan winter roads, and have about 3k miles on them. Even took it put for an hour last night with temps in the upper 30s.
Car probably sat in the garage for two months (mid-Feb through early April) due to weather. No problems with flat spots, they ride good and quiet - I’m very pleased with them.
Car probably sat in the garage for two months (mid-Feb through early April) due to weather. No problems with flat spots, they ride good and quiet - I’m very pleased with them.
Last edited by jdlclam; Dec 4, 2017 at 09:12 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 259
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From: Volcano CA
It depends on your driving habits. I drive year round. post-100' in the summer and lots of rain and cold in the winter. I got these and really like them. Very forgiving ride but again, I don't race the car or run a track. Just a driver.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...Speed+Rated%29
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...Speed+Rated%29
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
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From: Sacramento California
I have a set of NITTO G555 G2 that I just got this summer. I am really unsatisfied with them. They flat spot within a week sitting in the garage. Over the last 40 years of having high performance cars, I have never had tires that flat spotted in a week.
I talked to a Nitto rep, he said put your car on jackstands. For a week ??
Your mileage may vary ie: YMMV, but I wouldn't recommend them. I am going to talk to the folks I bought them from.
I talked to a Nitto rep, he said put your car on jackstands. For a week ??
Your mileage may vary ie: YMMV, but I wouldn't recommend them. I am going to talk to the folks I bought them from.