1984 Tire Options
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 68
Likes: 16
From: Michigan
1984 Tire Options
I have been scouring post and all I seem to find are Toyo Proxes, or BFG from years ago, which one is a track tire and the BFG I have seen on back order appear to no long be in production, am I better off to bite the bullet and find new rims?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 939
Likes: 242
From: Fruita CO
Many early C4 owners wanting to keep the factory rims have bought 245/50R16 tires. The size difference is negligible and quite a few manufacturers offer high performance tires in this size. IIRC several weeks ago I got an email from Coker Tires stating that they had bought the BFG molds and were preparing to produce the 255/50R16 tires. But they will be pricey, around $1000. for a set of 4.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 68
Likes: 16
From: Michigan
Many early C4 owners wanting to keep the factory rims have bought 245/50R16 tires. The size difference is negligible and quite a few manufacturers offer high performance tires in this size. IIRC several weeks ago I got an email from Coker Tires stating that they had bought the BFG molds and were preparing to produce the 255/50R16 tires. But they will be pricey, around $1000. for a set of 4.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 188
From: Wabasha Mn
I have 245 50 16 on my 84 Z51 and they work fine. They lower the car 3/8" to 1/2 ". Quite a tire selection in that size too!
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 66
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I just put a set of BFG 255/50/16 they are nice and sticky, but maybe a bit noisier than the Toyo's for the same price, they were out of stock but seem plentiful now. If you drive in the rain a lot I am not sure the Toyo's would be good but the BFG's are great in the rain so a tradeoff.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Toyo-Prox...erId=101128226
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Toyo-Prox...erId=101128226
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 939
Likes: 242
From: Fruita CO
I just put a set of BFG 255/50/16 they are nice and sticky, but maybe a bit noisier than the Toyo's for the same price, they were out of stock but seem plentiful now. If you drive in the rain a lot I am not sure the Toyo's would be good but the BFG's are great in the rain so a tradeoff.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 531
Likes: 278
From: Marysville WA
I recently posted in the general discussion about this same question. I just purchased my first corvette, an 84 with Z51. It came with 24 year old tires so after discovering this forum and deciding I wanted to keep the look of the 255 50/16 I ordered Toyo RA1's from Tire Rack on July 4th. They were delivered to and installed by my local Discount Tire on July 6th. Installation cost was only $22 per tire. Kudos to the shop crew for discovering that the 9.5" rims were on the front and the 8.5" on the rear. I'm only planning to drive on nice days at a leisurely pace (mostly). There have been comments by others that the RA-1's being stickier rock chips on the lower rocker panels will happen. Oh well mine are chipped up already.
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2023
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I would have gone for the Toyo RA1's if they were available in Europe. They seem to get quite good reviews for wet traction, much better than the Toyo R888R semi-slicks. There was also pretty much nothing available in 245/50-16 here in the old continent. After searching high and low I managed to track down a set of BFG G-Force Sport Comp 2's (not the A/S version) in the correct size. They were not fresh out of the oven being made in 2019, but at least they were unused.
Basically the only new street tyre available in 255/50-16 seems to be the Michelin Collection Pilot Sport, and they are about $700 a piece...
Basically the only new street tyre available in 255/50-16 seems to be the Michelin Collection Pilot Sport, and they are about $700 a piece...
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Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 50
Likes: 7
From: Denver
I see you already grabbed some but for others: If you’re dead set on stock size it might be worth talking to discount tire. They were able to get me some sport comp 2’s in the stock size that were made in the 38th week of 2022 last year. It was out of stock on the website but a rep was able to get them shipped in.