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Topic: big wheels

in Forum: C3 Handling Components

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big wheels (1/5)
2/13/09 1:22pm

wjmorgansr
Former Member
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Joined: 1/8/2009
Posts: 1

I want to put big wheels on my stock 1973 does any one know how to figure the conversion or what say 19" wheels and tires will fit?

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big wheels (2/5)
2/13/09 6:21pm

Norsky

Lifetime Member
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Burke, VT - USA

Vette(s):
SOLD - "The Toy" - '70 Convertible
SOLD - "The Beast" - '90 ZR-1 (#682)
SOLD - "Betty" - '28 Ford Model A Tudor
Still have - "BLKBRRD" - '78 Pontiac Trans Am

Joined: 1/23/2002
Posts: 7190

I think as long as you keep the backspacing at 4 inches (which is what the stock rally wheels are) you should be ok. If you start going extra wide you will start running into rubbing issues in the front when turning and trailing arm clearance issues in the rear (unless you switch to offset trailing arms).

As far as tires go you should be able to find a size that has close to the original height (approx 27 inches I think) so your speedo will read true.

Personal preference on wheel size is across the board as noted in many threads in this forum. Visually the right combination of wheel/tire makes or breaks the look of the car. I have 16x8.5 on "The Toy" and have gotten a lot of compliments on the setup. I don't know that I would go with more than a 17 or 18 inch wheel. Larger than that you're looking at a very low profile tire which doesn't look good on the C3s (IMHO).

______________

Jim Olson

"The Toys"...!!! Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

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big wheels (3/5)
2/13/09 9:43pm

Aaron1976
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Vancouver, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1976 Corvette Stingray L-48 Automatic Black

Joined: 11/17/2007
Posts: 830

At the Mt Hood BBQ last summer there was a C3 with I think 20" and real low pro tires and it just didn't look right to me. Maybe before you buy some you can find a place that will mount a tire on a rim and place it on the car to have a look at it?Aaron19762009-02-13 18:45:32

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Aaron

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big wheels (4/5)
2/13/09 9:57pm

bio11
Former Member
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Oklahoma City, OK - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LS5 Convertible,Auto.Targa Blue with Black Interior.

Joined: 4/1/2007
Posts: 432

If you decide to make the change......a 245-60x15 tire is 27" tall, to match height and width in a 19" wheel the closest match is 245-40x19 it is 26.7" tall and the same width, your speedometor will be 1.2% slow....so if your speedo says 60mph your actual speed will be 60.7 mph Hope this helps. And watch out for caliper clearance.

Lonnie

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big wheels (5/5)
2/23/09 11:40am

bio11
Former Member
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Oklahoma City, OK - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LS5 Convertible,Auto.Targa Blue with Black Interior.

Joined: 4/1/2007
Posts: 432

I think I gave you some wrong info. The 73 came factory with P225/70R-15 tires and they are 27.4 inches tall. You could go with 265/40-19 at 27.3 inches tall but they might be a little to wide and cause some rubbing issues although the speedo would basically be the same at 59.9 mph. A 255/40-19 would be 27.0 inches tall just a little wider than stock and probably no rubbing issues with speedo at 59.2 mph. A 245/40-19 would give you a speedo of 58.5 mph.

Hope this helps

Lonnie

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