Just acquired a LT4 C4 with 275/40/17 on all corners...Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

 

Here is a thread I had started that had a great discussion on tires. Tires - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion

 

I have gone through 4 sets of tires on my 90 C4 over the years and so far out of the 4 the Michelin's are the best.

 

Agree that Michelin's are the best. You can beat their price often times, but It's hard to ignore their quality and performance achievements. Just ordered some for my newly picked up '96. The tires on mine
are Firestone Firehawk SZ50EP's and tread looks almost brand new. After having the car a couple of weeks I noticed the ride was pretty hard compared to my former C7. I started looking for the dates on these tires and none to be found. Researching online and looks like these we're discontinued 2003-04! So, just a little old I'm sure! Hopefully the new Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4's make it a nice smooth rides on my hard concrete streets. I should have known better to look for the tire dates!

 

Good read and read them all...This happens to be a Collectors Model LT4 and all 4 are the same size which really excites me as all my Vettes have been different from front to rear, - 275/40/17 but these are 15 years old.

 

Tire rack had michelin pilot sport 4 As on sale for #195.00. Plus a rebate. I am very pleased with mine.

 

If dry performance is paramount, I would suggest the Falken Azenis RT660 in 255/40R17 or you can follow the herd and stick with 275/40R17.

The 255 is 3 lbs lighter, $40 cheaper per tire and will rev like a 3.54 gear (830 revs/mile vs 812). Most folks on this board will think its way too small, however. Braking and acceleration tractive forces will also be increased by 2.17% for a given torque due to the decreased tire radius.

If money is no object, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S in 265/40R17 appears to be a good compromise with an emphasis on dry performance.

Interesting quote from caranddriver pertaining to 255/50R16 and 275/40R17 tires from 1988 (admittedly, not exactly apples to apples comparison):

"Of the running-gear changes, the most obvious are the larger wheels and tires, which are standard with the racetrack-oriented Z51 package or the similar Z52 street setup. Except for such boutique machines as the Porsche 959 and the Lamborghini LM002, the 1988 Corvette is the first car in modern times to be outfitted with seventeen-inch wheels and tires. The tires are 275/40ZR-17 Goodyear Eagles—a wider, lower-profile development of the 255/50ZR-16 gatorbacks that are still fitted to the base car.

Surprisingly, the racy-looking rubber does not—and was not intended to—improve the Corvette's absolute cornering power. But the Corvette had plenty of grip already. Our Z52-equipped test car circled the skidpad at 0.87 g, a performance identical to that of the Z52 we tested last June, and as high as that of any production car we've ever tested. Corvette and Goodyear engineers developed the new tires not to increase the ultimate grip but to improve controllability at the limit and performance on wet pavement."

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...tte-road-test/

 

In Socal you probably can use summer tires all the time, but for me the choice would be Conti ExtremeContacts or Michelins, if you wanna pay for Michelins.

I have the PS2 on my C7, its a great tire, just gotta pay through the nose for them. I have Conti's on the C4.

 

Depends on how you plan to use the car. I'm guessing all street driving - no competition - and clearly no freezing weather or ice/snow. Hopefully you don't mind a tire that lasts about 30k miles instead of 50k miles. Your best option in your 275/40/17 size is likely to be the Continental ExtremeContact Sport. It has great dry weather traction in all temps down to freezing, and it's amazing in the rain. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is very similar, but doesn't come in that size. Their PS 2 is even stickier but not as good in the rain or cool temps, and won't last that long. It's pretty nearly a competition-oriented tire. There's no reason for you to get an all-season tire unless you take the car somewhere where it snows.

PS - Base 96 C4s came with "staggered" 8.5 front and 9.5 rear wheels, even with the CE and LT4. That had different tire sizes. Yours probably has the Z51 suspension option with 17x9.5 wheels front and rear, given your tire sizes. But make sure! Pull a front wheel and look for the size: it will be stamped on the back of one of the spokes. If you have 8.5" front wheels, we need to discuss other sizes because 275/40/17 is too wide for those. I only mention this because a lot of people put the too-wide 275s on 8.5" front wheels in a misguided attempt to improve front grip.

 

Good info and am leaning towards Continentals...All Z51 pkgs had both 9.5 wheels front & rear along with 275/40 F&R as stated on window sticker and door jam...Having a hard time locating them.