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Topic: How wide on stock rims?

in Forum: C3 Handling Components

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How wide on stock rims? (1/14)
7/3/10 3:35pm

dads2vette

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Ash Fork, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Red Interior White exterior

Joined: 4/18/2007
Posts: 1053

Looking to get a little more meat on the rear of my 81 and want to keep the stock rims. How wide can I get without causing a problem? I've tried tracking similar posts to no evail.

Thanks again,

Dave

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

In the words of Zora Arkus-Duntov "Is your seat belt fastened? Alright, Let's go"

Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.

Lifetime Member #192

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How wide on stock rims? (2/14)
7/3/10 8:41pm

Norsky

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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: 7191

I don't have a direct answer for you but while you're waiting for one go to the Tire Rack's website (http://www.tirerack.com/) and go through the steps to find the tires they recommend for your car. Then pick one and look at the specs tab. That page lists all the available sizes for the tire and two of the columns are related to rim width. That should get you started.

Be careful not to go with too wide a tire, especially on the front as you'll be rubbing paint off of the fenders. You also don't want tires that look like bloated sausages on the rims because that will degrade the handling capabilities of the car.

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Jim Olson

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

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

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How wide on stock rims? (3/14)
7/3/10 11:04pm

dads2vette

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Ash Fork, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Red Interior White exterior

Joined: 4/18/2007
Posts: 1053

Thanks for the advice. I am going to keep the stock size up front, I was given poor advice on the '67 Camaro we restored and had a rubbing issue on the front. I don't want to take that chance with this car. I'm just looking for a little visual and performance difference.

Dave

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

In the words of Zora Arkus-Duntov "Is your seat belt fastened? Alright, Let's go"

Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.

Lifetime Member #192

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How wide on stock rims? (4/14)
7/4/10 8:56pm

KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA

Vette(s):
White '79 Corvette. It's a driver.

Joined: 8/27/2007
Posts: 2484

Check with VNCRUISER.

I remember him posting something about using larger tires on stock rims.

HTH

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How wide on stock rims? (5/14)
7/4/10 10:00pm

Norsky

Something to think about - when we got "BIGBRRD" it had the original narrow snowflake wheels (7x15) with P225-70-15 tires on them. As we got into the overhaul I tracked down a set of the wider snowflakes (8x15) - from the WS6 suspension option - to get a wider footprint. The fellow who refurbished the wheels suggested going with P235-60-15 tires on the front and P255-60-15 tires on the rear to give the car a bit more of an aggressive stance. I took his advice and really like the look of the car. Compare the look of "BIGBRRD" in my signature photo with these (click on each one to see a large image):

Going with a slightly smaller, but wider, tire on the front may solve the fender rubbing issue.

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Jim Olson

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

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

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How wide on stock rims? (6/14)
7/5/10 12:57pm

dads2vette

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Ash Fork, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Red Interior White exterior

Joined: 4/18/2007
Posts: 1053

Thanks KDADDY79. I sent a pm out.

Norsky, got rid of that camaro a couple of yrs ago so it's not my problem anymore. The wider tires do make a nice difference.

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

In the words of Zora Arkus-Duntov "Is your seat belt fastened? Alright, Let's go"

Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.

Lifetime Member #192

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How wide on stock rims? (7/14)
7/5/10 2:09pm

VetteSpecialties
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Mounds View, MN - USA

Vette(s):
70 LT1 coupe, 69 350 HP coupe, 69 390HP 427 coupe, 71 LS5 convert, 85 coupe, 93 coupe

Joined: 5/24/2007
Posts: 1031

I have P255/60 tires on stock Ralley wheels on the back of my '71. They look right, and are about a quarter inch away from the brake bracket. If the bracket was relocated, there would be room for more.

Larry

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How wide on stock rims? (8/14)
7/5/10 8:59pm

philip
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Marana, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1982 Silver Blue

Joined: 4/8/2010
Posts: 104

255R60/15 tires were optional on the 82 model using the same 8" wide wheels as the standard 225R70/15 tires. The difference is minimal in both looks and handling IMO. They are both around 27" tall and the width difference is about an inch.

Here is a link to a real handy page when changing tire or wheel sizes.

http://www.buicks.net/shop/reference/tires.html

Norsky2010-07-07 18:54:46

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How wide on stock rims? (9/14)
7/6/10 9:31am

dads2vette

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Ash Fork, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Red Interior White exterior

Joined: 4/18/2007
Posts: 1053

Great info phillip! Thanks very much. Makes it easy.

Dave

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

In the words of Zora Arkus-Duntov "Is your seat belt fastened? Alright, Let's go"

Yeah, I know, Shut up Dave.

Lifetime Member #192

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How wide on stock rims? (10/14)
7/16/10 1:25am

VNCRUISER
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North Hills, CA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 T-Top

Joined: 6/12/2003
Posts: 505

The 245-60-15's will fit your wheel with no problem at all. I think the largest I would go on the front is a 235-60-15. Some of you rubber bumper guys may wanna jump in and correct me on this because I have heard of rubber bumper era cars having some fitment issues.

I run stock Rally wheels with 275-50-15 on the rear and 235-60-15 on the front..Looks like a steam roller from the back. Never had an issue with the parking brake bracket either. When I bought the car it had the 275's on th rear and 265-50-15's on the front. never rubbed and looked like a slot car...Unfortunately, both sizes have no been discontinued, so next time I need tires my choice for the rear will be limited to drag radials from BFG if I want to keep that same size on the rear..SHAZBOT! Ever seen 295-50-15's on a 10" Ralley wheel on a C3? Bad Ass!!! Hmmm...

By the way...Lots of nice C3's out on Van Nuys Blvd last night...

Reid '72 T-top Thumbs Up

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Reid '72 T-top

www.wildbunchcarclub.com
www.vannuyscruisingassociation.com

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How wide on stock rims? (11/14)
7/16/10 1:44am

VNCRUISER
Limited Member
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North Hills, CA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 T-Top

Joined: 6/12/2003
Posts: 505

Tires fill the wells nicely, eh?

Can somebody blow this up? I suck at posting pics here...But I'm honest about it!VNCRUISER2010-07-15 22:47:22

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Reid '72 T-top

www.wildbunchcarclub.com
www.vannuyscruisingassociation.com

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How wide on stock rims? (12/14)
7/16/10 10:40pm

Norsky

Reid,

It is much better to reduce an image in size than to increase an image in size. Starting with a small image and blowing it up makes for a very grainy looking image. So it you have a larger version of that image let me know where it is and I'll get a link made to display it.

______________

Jim Olson

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

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

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How wide on stock rims? (13/14)
7/17/10 12:10am

VNCRUISER
Limited Member
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North Hills, CA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 T-Top

Joined: 6/12/2003
Posts: 505

Try this link...This picis from This past Wed cruise night on Van Nuys ...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Fernando-Valley-California/Wild-Bunch-Car-Club/106181242745761?ref=ts#!/photo.php?pid=5145226&id=695365317

______________

Reid '72 T-top

www.wildbunchcarclub.com
www.vannuyscruisingassociation.com

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How wide on stock rims? (14/14)
7/17/10 12:47am

VNCRUISER
Limited Member
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North Hills, CA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 T-Top

Joined: 6/12/2003
Posts: 505

(click to see a larger image)

(there ya go - don't have a Facebook account so couldn't see your other images - Norsky)

Norsky2010-07-16 22:14:15

______________

Reid '72 T-top

www.wildbunchcarclub.com
www.vannuyscruisingassociation.com

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