It's been 10 years since I put new tires on my car. They have 4000 miles on them, but, 10 years old. Time to replace I think. I'm running 225/70/15 right now. (Firehawk) I was told when I bought them that this was the direct replacement for the factory GR/70/15. They look OK, but, I always thought they were a tad narrow. I'm thinking that I should have installed 235/70/15. I stopped by a Firestone dealer today, and found that the only street tire made this size now is the Destination. It looks and sounds so wrong. Goodyear does not make an Eagle this size anymore. This car came with Firestones, but, Goodyear tires were also installed on them. That leaves me with  B.F. Goodrich as my only apparent choice. Have any of you ran into this? How wide of a tire will fit on a factory rim without rubbing? Thoughts?

Just put a new set of BFG Radial T/A's on my '73. I stayed with the 225/70R 15's which are the correct replacement for the GR70's. Very happy with the look and the ride of the T/A's, they have been the go to tire for many years.

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John Sigmund

I was told that the 225 was a direct replacement also. If you look on the BF Goodrich tire chart though, it says that it fits 6" to 7.5" rims. The factory rims are 8", which is correct for the 235. I would go wider if it did not rub.

One manufacturer's 225/70R15 may not be the same as one put out by another tire maker.  The measurement is the cross-section of the tire, but the actual tread width or footprint can vary greatly.  Tire makers can cut manufacturing costs by narrowing the actual tread...especially on a now obsolete and slow selling tire size like what our Corvettes use.  I would stick with the proper size.

I used to work at Goodyear/Dunlop Buffalo.  It's one of the few plants left that can do short runs of tires in an economical way.  I was told once that most plants were only doing 1 or two compound changes during a 24 hour span.  We would oftern do 20 in an 8 hour shift.  The real probem comes in changing molds.  Cleaning of a mold can take 4+ hours so that is a real deterrent to changing tires.

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Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!!      Long and short term leases available.

235/60/15 are 9.5" wide on a 7" rim, 26.1" tall. The stock tire, GR70/15 was 8.6" wide, 27.5" tall. No rim size given on the chart I was looking at. Currently running 225/70/15 which is 27.4 tall, 9" wide on a 6.5 inch rim. My car is not here to physically measure, but, I thought it interesting that 6.5 to 7.5" was recommended rim size. The 235/70/15 is 9.5" wide on a 7" rim, 28" tall. The tires I have look good, I just thought a little tiny bit wider would look better. I don't want the car any higher really. Maybe you can send me a pic of yours Dave, so I can see how it sets. The 60 series seems to be pretty low.

I have Cooper Cobra 235/60 15's on my car.  They are one speed rating higher than the BFG TA's.

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I'm curious if any of you are running a 255/60. 10.2" wide on the Cooper. 10.5" wide on the BFG. Both are 27.1" tall on a 7.5 inch rim. If you are, have they ever rubbed?

For whatever it's worth, I have P255/60SR-15 Goodyear Eagle GT II tires on my '80.  Since they are the same size as the original Eagle GT tires, I have never had any trouble with the fit.

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Chuck

Might want to check the date on those.


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Purchased tires new in June 2008 from Tire Rack.  I know all too well about how old tires can fail.  Had a blow-out on a tire on my '64.  Tire looked great but was almost 15 years old.  VETTE Magazine just had an article about tire care.  The worst thing for tires is to sit on concrete garage floors for long periods of time.  The best thing is to drive your car.

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Chuck

I agree. I've drove my car 4000 miles in 10 years. The tires look like new, but, 10 years old. Firestone and Goodyear no longer make 15" tires in either the Firehawk, or, Eagle. Even though I want my car to stay as factory looking as possible, I would like to put a wider tire on it.

I replaced 18 yr old Goodyear GT+2's this year with BFG T/A's. Only complaint is the white letters yellow and scrubbing the heck out of them today with bleach white and a brass brush and with other tire chemicals did nothing to brighten them. Small problem for an anal type but I'm glad T/A's are still available.

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John, that sounds like you have some serious bleed through.  They shouldn't stay yellow.  I would return them to the store.  I have experience sanding and repairing tires.  I would take a hand belt sander and clean up the lettering.

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Dave C..........My mantra: I can not be bought!!      Long and short term leases available.

Now that one thing the neighbors have never seen me do yet....I'll save that idea for the right moment!!!

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