tire size for 85
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 60
From: ft myers FL/Munising MI
tire size for 85
after an exhaustive search for new wheels for my 85..z51.....looks like i'm going to get the rims refinished.....presently there are 255/50/vr16...
is there a wider tire size that would fit without steering problems...thinking 275 would be ok, just wondering about anything wider...
is there a wider tire size that would fit without steering problems...thinking 275 would be ok, just wondering about anything wider...
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
What's the width of the ARE wheels you have? If they are 9-1/2" wide a 275 will work but in a 16" size, the tire may be taller. That will throw off the speedometer and odometer readings.
AFS Wheel has a 17x9.5" ZR-1 style wheel that has the proper 38mm offset for the earlier C4's. A 275/40-17 tire on that size wheel will have very close to the same dimensions as a 255/50-16 tire on a 16x9.5" wheel.
I have seen some autocrossers use a 17x11 wheel and a 315/35-17 tire in front using the OEM ZR-1 wheel. But 315/35 street tires may be hard to find. But the tire is very close to the frame rails and wheelwells.
AFS Wheel has a 17x9.5" ZR-1 style wheel that has the proper 38mm offset for the earlier C4's. A 275/40-17 tire on that size wheel will have very close to the same dimensions as a 255/50-16 tire on a 16x9.5" wheel.
I have seen some autocrossers use a 17x11 wheel and a 315/35-17 tire in front using the OEM ZR-1 wheel. But 315/35 street tires may be hard to find. But the tire is very close to the frame rails and wheelwells.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
I run 275/40 r17's on the front on 9.5" zr-1 style rims on my 86 and they seem to fit well size wise. I went out and looked at the wheels and I might feel comfortable going up 1 size in width but, that would make the tire taller. I would go to a 35 wall if I went 295 on the width. Of course, the tread would be wider than the rim at that point. I have the 11" rears with the 315/35 r17's mentioned above and they seem like they would be extreme overkill on the front.
Your mileage may vary...
Your mileage may vary...
