cant find 255/50/16 tires, any other options?
05-13-2011, 01:54 PM
#1
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cant find 255/50/16 tires, any other options?
I'm looking for new tires for my 85 and having trouble finding the correct size. I actually placed an order yesterday from dicount direct tire and a littel while later they called me and said they have nothing in that size. Any other tire sizes that fit and look good on a 85?
Thanks
Bill
Thanks
Bill
05-13-2011, 02:47 PM
#3
Race Director
buy 17x9.5 and run the 275 40 17, you'll be happy you did in the long run. the 16" tire sizes are looking to be discontinued. even the bfg sport is on back order from the tire rack
even www.tire-easy.com only shows r888's and some junky sigma tire. you'll pay $123ea for a plain jane tire made god knows when or just buy a set of knock off grand sport wheels and run 275 40 17, FAR more choices and cheaper tires
if you don't do either of these go with the above advice and buy 245 50 16
actually i worded that weird, since my vote is 275 40 17 1st, then 245 50 16, then the junky sigma 255 50 16
a quality 245 50 16 isn't a bad choice if you don't want to buy new wheels
even www.tire-easy.com only shows r888's and some junky sigma tire. you'll pay $123ea for a plain jane tire made god knows when or just buy a set of knock off grand sport wheels and run 275 40 17, FAR more choices and cheaper tires
if you don't do either of these go with the above advice and buy 245 50 16
actually i worded that weird, since my vote is 275 40 17 1st, then 245 50 16, then the junky sigma 255 50 16
a quality 245 50 16 isn't a bad choice if you don't want to buy new wheels
Last edited by racebum; 05-13-2011 at 02:53 PM.
05-13-2011, 08:46 PM
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St. Jude Donor '05
Look up Cooper. 15 and 16 in tires are hard to find these days.
05-14-2011, 01:17 PM
#7
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Try Falken tires, they have 255/50-16s. I have them on my 84. They handle very well wet or dry and are quiet not that I can hear that much over exhaust.
Woody
Woody
05-14-2011, 05:39 PM
#9
call tirerack and ask them when they'll have the BFG G-Force Sports in stock.
They're listed at $122 ea.
Have them on my 87. They have better straight line tracking than the SZ50 they replaced. Not quite as good in the rain. About equal cornering.
Don't put 245's on it unless you drive like an ol' lady. It won't be fun when they break loose.
JS
They're listed at $122 ea.
Have them on my 87. They have better straight line tracking than the SZ50 they replaced. Not quite as good in the rain. About equal cornering.
Don't put 245's on it unless you drive like an ol' lady. It won't be fun when they break loose.
JS
12-10-2011, 11:08 AM
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St. Jude Donor '05
Entered that size into Google a number of things came up.
Looks like Hankook Yokohama and Falken among others may have it.
Looks like Hankook Yokohama and Falken among others may have it.
12-10-2011, 11:09 AM
#13
Its too bad the 1984- 1987 & base 1988 tires for a C4 in 255/50ZR16's are nearly gone.
They really handled great on my 87 Z52 auto Vert.
Be best to move up to 17's or 18's & 19's.
Never fully understood why the larger diameter rim tires cost so much more than 15's or 16's..........
There is less rubber present..........less rubber material per tire than a comparable 15 inch or 16 inch tire of same overall height or rubber contact patch with the ground cross section wise.
They really handled great on my 87 Z52 auto Vert.
Be best to move up to 17's or 18's & 19's.
Never fully understood why the larger diameter rim tires cost so much more than 15's or 16's..........
There is less rubber present..........less rubber material per tire than a comparable 15 inch or 16 inch tire of same overall height or rubber contact patch with the ground cross section wise.
12-10-2011, 11:36 AM
#14
Regarding the 16s...I ran the BFG and loved them. Quiet on the street, good hold wet or dry and good wear.
I found in the s tex area that the 17s were cheaper than 16 because there was many more to choose from. With so few 16s left,. they went at a premium. My 17 yoko (that I hate BTW) and other similar tires were about $10-$20 less than the BFG 16". BFG 17 was a couple $ less.....go figer.
I found in the s tex area that the 17s were cheaper than 16 because there was many more to choose from. With so few 16s left,. they went at a premium. My 17 yoko (that I hate BTW) and other similar tires were about $10-$20 less than the BFG 16". BFG 17 was a couple $ less.....go figer.
12-10-2011, 12:06 PM
#16
Team Owner
Moving up to a 17x9.5 wheel and a 275/40-17 tire may be the best thing to do. There is a much wider selection of 275/40-17 tires and the mounted dimensions of the 275/40 tire is nearly the same as the 255/50-16 tire. There are wheel vendors that offer the ZR-1 style wheel in the proper 38mm offset for the 84-87 C4's
12-10-2011, 12:28 PM
#17
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I would very much like to not have to get new wheels. It's a low
mileage (38K) fairly original car. And I only need new rear tires.
It's not a disaster to have to wait until January, though I'd have liked
to take the 'vette on a 2K mile road trip over Christmas. We can
always take the Pathfinder or the Passat wagon.
How accurate are Tire Rack's back order estimates?
Chuck
mileage (38K) fairly original car. And I only need new rear tires.
It's not a disaster to have to wait until January, though I'd have liked
to take the 'vette on a 2K mile road trip over Christmas. We can
always take the Pathfinder or the Passat wagon.
How accurate are Tire Rack's back order estimates?
Chuck
12-10-2011, 01:08 PM
#18
Team Owner
I would very much like to not have to get new wheels. It's a low
mileage (38K) fairly original car. And I only need new rear tires.
It's not a disaster to have to wait until January, though I'd have liked
to take the 'vette on a 2K mile road trip over Christmas. We can
always take the Pathfinder or the Passat wagon.
How accurate are Tire Rack's back order estimates?
Chuck
mileage (38K) fairly original car. And I only need new rear tires.
It's not a disaster to have to wait until January, though I'd have liked
to take the 'vette on a 2K mile road trip over Christmas. We can
always take the Pathfinder or the Passat wagon.
How accurate are Tire Rack's back order estimates?
Chuck
That January date has been there for a couple months now. There have been other peeps asking about availability of the early C4 tires in other threads.
12-10-2011, 01:22 PM
#19
I would very much like to not have to get new wheels. It's a low
mileage (38K) fairly original car. And I only need new rear tires.
It's not a disaster to have to wait until January, though I'd have liked
to take the 'vette on a 2K mile road trip over Christmas. We can
always take the Pathfinder or the Passat wagon.
How accurate are Tire Rack's back order estimates?
Chuck
mileage (38K) fairly original car. And I only need new rear tires.
It's not a disaster to have to wait until January, though I'd have liked
to take the 'vette on a 2K mile road trip over Christmas. We can
always take the Pathfinder or the Passat wagon.
How accurate are Tire Rack's back order estimates?
Chuck
Watch C4 parts for sale over the next 1 month or 2 this winter for P255/50ZR 16's or VR speed rated tires if you desire that speed rating.
They are out there NOS brand new yet in private hands or smart Corvette collectors that stocked up on them that seen the handwriting on the wall that early C4 16's were going bye bye for good in next few years coming.
Ebay I see NOS Goodyear Eagles come & go in C4 sizes on occasion.
Do an Ebay Saved Search......P255/50ZR16,
Goodyear Eagle P255/50ZR16,
Goodyear Eagle GSC,
Goodyear Eagle GSC P315/35ZR17 ( I installed factory 1990 ZR-1 wheels on my 87 vert).
Be patient & watch & wait,
they will show up when you least expect them to.
I ran Yokahama AVID 4's in P255/50VR16's when I bought my 87 vert.
They were mounted brand new by previous owner.
I liked them for the most part.
Good all around all season tires.
Straight line traction driving hard was so, so,
In other words at speeds above 80 mph to 150+
did not inspire total steering wheel feedback confidence.
Goodyear Eagles & Goodyear GSC's are the very best tires ever made for an early C4.
Best all around street radial tire that can be driven in wet weather with 100 % confidence from the driver's seat all times I have used & driven several thousands of miles on in all driving weather conditions.
Its 2011,
No tire manufacturer cares about a C4 Corvette & owner no longer.
Not selling large volume of tires to them.
C6, Ferrari's, Lambo's, Bugatti, AMG's,.....ect........geared toward them of course.
Have to be very resourceful today as a C4 owner.
BR
Last edited by 87 vette 81 big girl; 12-10-2011 at 01:43 PM.
12-10-2011, 01:35 PM
#20
The Yoko is a good tire as far as traction and ride, but its LOUD on concrete...
They sing like a 4x4 mud tire while at freeway speeds on all concrete surfaces, grooved, broomed or otherwise. The transition to asphalt is dramatic...instantly goes down about 30db in the cabin.
BTW...these are 17" sawblades that are in my avatar. I grew weary of searching for 16" and the lack of options in ratings etc. The jump to a 17 (still a Vette wheel) instantly gives me dozens of choices and reduces the tire profile enough to make it more attractive and still fill the wheel well. Next time around I'll probably try the BFG 17" or maybe a Khumo.
I miss the Michelin 315x16s that I had yrs ago,....those were so fat that the car looked like the Flintstone mobile from behind..
They sing like a 4x4 mud tire while at freeway speeds on all concrete surfaces, grooved, broomed or otherwise. The transition to asphalt is dramatic...instantly goes down about 30db in the cabin.BTW...these are 17" sawblades that are in my avatar. I grew weary of searching for 16" and the lack of options in ratings etc. The jump to a 17 (still a Vette wheel) instantly gives me dozens of choices and reduces the tire profile enough to make it more attractive and still fill the wheel well. Next time around I'll probably try the BFG 17" or maybe a Khumo.
I miss the Michelin 315x16s that I had yrs ago,....those were so fat that the car looked like the Flintstone mobile from behind..
Last edited by leesvet; 12-10-2011 at 01:41 PM.