Looking to buy a 1996 convertible. Dealer said it will need tires in the near future. I prefer all season, but when I checked several tire places and only summer tires are available. Any one know if all season are available? Thanks in advance.

 

Sometimes you can go up/down a size and find something that will work. But doing that might mean a compromise in some aspects.

 

check Tirerack.com for optional sizes.

 

Tried their website and they only listed one brand of summer only tires. When I tried searching for a 96 convertible, it came back none.

 

You did not say what size tires you have or want........ Try searching by size, rather then vehicle.
FWIW, I suspect the all season is not coming up, probably due to speed rating Corvette required....

 

I've been getting tires from Discount Tire Direct. They run period specials. Tires are about what you want to spend. They list Continentals and Pirellis in 4 season tire. C4 in a snow storm is an adventure.

 

I bought a set of Cooper RS-G1 (all season performance) and at discount tire they have a $100 flash sale or mfg. rebates ($70- $100). They come in 275/40/17 and are inexpensive (especially with the rebate). I think tirerack.com has coopers now

 

Factory sizes on 96s were 255/45/17 (F) and 285/40/17 (R)... which does limit your options as they are not common sizes any more. If you just go to 275/40/17 all around (which will fit easily) you will have a much better selection to choose from.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by jon1all

Factory sizes on 96s were 255/45/17 (F) and 285/40/17 (R)... which does limit your options as they are not common sizes any more. If you just go to 275/40/17 all around (which will fit easily) you will have a much better selection to choose from.

Not always...... could be 315 and 275 combo. Also, I dont know for sure, but did the 96 not have the option of 9.5 wheels on all four corners with 275 tires on all wheels as a option?
Then of course, I think the base was 255 on front and 285 rears.

 

For a 96 vert 285 40 17 rear 255 45 17 front was all that was available.
Z51 not available on convertible use four 275 40 17 aka square set up.
Grand Sport Coupes got 315 rear and 275 fronts. Convertible had standard tires.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevova

For a 96 vert 285 40 17 rear 255 45 17 front was all that was available.
Z51 not available on convertible use four 275 40 17 aka square set up.
Grand Sport Coupes got 315 rear and 275 fronts. Convertible had standard tires.

I stand corrected.... I thought all GS got the 275-315 combo, but I was wrong on verts.

 

I have been told that the "Base", which is what I am looking at, has 255/45ZR-17 front and 285/40ZR-17 rear. I know that the Grand Sport had different size tires than the Base. I'll take a look at TireRack and Discount Tire again. I may have missed them when I looked the last time.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

If you're not always driving your Vette during heavy rains or on some snowy roads, why not get the better performing Summer type tires??? Vettes aren't designed to handle crazy winter weather.

 

I think it has to do with low temps affecting summer performance tires, not so much rain/snow

 

This is the original sizes of the tires on that car, no question about it. And you're not missing any choices, there are only two or three at most in that size, and they are summer-only tires. The only choice that's worth a damn in that size is the Continental ExtremeContact Sport. These are very grippy tires in wet or dry conditions, and they are good down to about freezing temp. They should not be used below freezing because it could crack the tread compound. If that use profile works for you, you can't go wrong with these tires. They are worlds better than Nittos, and are also probably better tires than the Pirelli P Zero Asymmetrical that cost eleventy-billion dollars. I think those are the only options in that size, and none are all-seasons.

But there's a solution! If you really want all-seasons, then substitute 245/45/17 front and 275/40/17 rear.* These are a better fit on those 17x8.5/17x9.5 wheels anyway, and this gives you literally dozens of choices in summer or all-season tires. At Tire Rack, for example, there are six choices in the category of "ultra high performance all-season". Among those, I have experience with the Rikens, which are decent for a very cheap price (i.e. good value). Someone earlier mentioned the Coopers being very good, and I've heard/seen good things about the BFGs.

All that said, if you don't drive your car in freezing temps, then I'd get the Continental EC Sports in either size. They are outstanding very-high-performance tires (confirmed by lots of autocross and road course work) and probably one of the two fastest rain tires you can buy for street use.

*Don't use 275/45/17 on the 8.5" front wheels. That's a misfit and will result in worse performance, and it will look goofy.

 

Thanks.

 

Matt, I'm in the process of going 9.5" A-mold all around and have been contemplating doing the Cont. EC in 285 all around, there is a jump in price ($40 more = $160) than the 275s. Is it worth the extra money from a performance standpoint? Do they look "better" on the car vs 275s?

 

• No, the 285s will likely perform worse because they're a bit pinched on a 9.5" wheel. They're also taller, which raises the vehicle CG and also its roll center, both of which mean more lateral load transfer during cornering, and the higher CG also means more forward load transfer during braking. All bad for performance. The only reason Chevy went with these bigger tires from 93-96 was to add cushy ride quality and reduce tramlining. The performance suspension options (Z07 or Z51) always went back to square 9.5" wheels with 275/40/17 tires.
• No, in my opinion they look worse than 275s. They look a little "balloonish."

They cost more, too, which is a third negative against them. But even if they cost the same, I'd recommend the 275 every time if performance and/or looks are a concern.