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Topic: What Tires to choose ???

in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling


What Tires to choose ???

Posted: 9/17/05 7:54am Message 1 of 16
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Gilbert, AZ - USA
Joined: 4/26/2004
Posts: 108
Vette(s): 1976 Stingray Coupe

I need some advice from all you clever people out there, i have a 76 Vette and it is in desperate need of some new tires, as i have just moved to AZ I do not have to worry about driving in the snow and rainy days may not be too many i can therefore go for a tire that suites these conditions, i would like to put a lower profile tire on and intend to keep the original wheels (Steel).

Does anyone know what size tires would fit (without making the car look silly or handle like a pig)

 

Thanks

 

Gary

 




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What Tires to choose ???

Posted: 9/17/05 9:07am Message 2 of 16
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Fountain Valley, CA - USA
Joined: 9/11/2003
Posts: 407
Vette(s): 1969 Daytona Yellow Coupe - ZZ4/4 speed, Hurst shifter, Griffin aluminum radiator w/ Dual Spals, March Serpentine Pulley kit, Hookers with STS Racing Baffles, VB&P Suspension bits, 17" AR Hopsters, L-88 Hood
The most popular sizes I've seen on the stock rallys are either 255/60/15 or 245/60/15...I had the latter on my '70. IMO you can't go wrong with either one of these...a profile lower than a 60 series will not look right on a 15" wheel.Daytona6938612.3808680556


What Tires to choose ???

Posted: 9/17/05 1:30pm Message 3 of 16
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East Hanover, NJ - USA
Joined: 9/25/2004
Posts: 525
Vette(s): '68 Black Conv. Matching 327/300 4 Spd. P/S, P/B, P/W, Tele, A/C

What Tires to choose ???

Posted: 9/27/05 10:12pm Message 4 of 16
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Gilbert, AZ - USA
Joined: 4/26/2004
Posts: 108
Vette(s): 1976 Stingray Coupe

Guys Thanks for the info, i ended up with the BF Goodrich T/A's 255/60/15's they look great, i was still trying to decide what to do when i had the day from hell, the previous day my Vette started to misfire so prior to going out i had to fix my problem i assumed (wrongly) that #3 lead had come off again like it did the week before but unfortunately this was not the problem for some reason #1 lead had just separated in the middle (weird), so i then had to drive to the nearest Autozone on 7 cylinders to pick up a new lead and then replace it without burning myself then off to breakfast as we got out of the car my wife asks me if i knew i had a nail in my tire !!!!, OH s**t of course the nail had gone through the sidewall and it is not possible to repair, that forced me to replace my tires the very next day, all of this of course meant one pissed of wife who was looking forward to breakfast but obviously this had to be canceled, oh and of course when i drove off i forgot i had put my sunglasses on the roof and forgot them, so that day cost me a lot 4 new tires plus one pair of sunglasses.




What Tires to choose ???

Posted: 9/28/05 4:48am Message 5 of 16
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BINGHAMTON, NY - USA
Joined: 7/19/2003
Posts: 3808
Vette(s): ......
You made a good choice,a lot of us are running BF Goodrich TAs, there a good tire


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What Tires to choose ???

Posted: 9/28/05 6:58am Message 6 of 16
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North Ridgeville, OH - USA
Joined: 3/16/2005
Posts: 18
Vette(s): 1976 Coupe 4 Speed

All,

If you want a different look and a low profile tire you can go to a 255/45/18 I did with a set of Centerlines check out their website my car is on there go to the photo gallery just look under muscle car section only C3 there.

www.centerlinewheels.com

You will have to manually type the address in your browser for some reason it will not let me hyperlink.

 




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What Tires to choose ???

Posted: 10/4/05 5:35am Message 7 of 16
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Gilbert, AZ - USA
Joined: 4/26/2004
Posts: 108
Vette(s): 1976 Stingray Coupe

Just one final note about these tires, I purchased them at Discount Tires out here in AZ and while the price was good it is obvious these people aren't paid for there brains !!!, not only did they forget to put my left rear tire on the spare as per my and the shop assistants written instructions, but they damaged every trim ring (of course i can prove this) but they also inflated every tire to 34 psi ?????

I have spoken to BF Goodrich who tell me the pressures should be 26 front, and 32 rear although they have put the caveat in that i should check the front for uneven wear and increase the front pressure if needed.

If any of you 'experts' out there know anymore about setting the correct pressures i would love to know, of course the original label on the door refers to the 'old' size tires and therefore is invalid.

Thanks guys.

Gary

 




What Tires to choose ???

Posted: 10/4/05 9:14am Message 8 of 16
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Rockland, MA - USA
Joined: 1/30/2003
Posts: 584
Vette(s): 76, L48, 4spd & 09, LS3, 6spd

Man, what a trip to -ell and back, are you done having fun yet!

I usually run 32 all the way around, 26 seems a bit low to me.

The last time I got tires, I took them off my Vette and brought them to the tire store. It was a bit of a pain, but it was pretty simple for them, but the tire kid was dissapointed that the Vette really wasn't there. I wasn't.

Good luck !

 

 

 




 

 

What Tires to choose ???

Posted: 10/4/05 10:15am Message 9 of 16
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Gilbert, AZ - USA
Joined: 4/26/2004
Posts: 108
Vette(s): 1976 Stingray Coupe

I am sure my fun isn't over yet, after all I own a Vette !!!, I usually do take the wheels off but this time I had no choice, I have just moved to AZ and the Vette is my only car until my 'daily' cars arrive, I was so anal about it that I trailered my Vette to AZ from PA attached to the back of the Uhaul, that was fun !!!.

I might try 32 all around but the reason I am reluctant is that at 34 it feels very weird and I am wondering if the 2 psi would make it feel any different, I guess the only thing is to try it.

Maybe it feels weird because I now have new tires with tread on them and they are a different size to the originals

 

Gary




What Tires to choose ???

Posted: 10/4/05 6:46pm Message 10 of 16
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CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH - USA
Joined: 12/2/2003
Posts: 6424
Vette(s): 1975 C3 Red, T-Tops, Black Interior. All I need is time and money! Getting there!

The general rule of thumb is changing from the old syle tire to the newer construction tire add 3 PSI per tire.  After that it is a bit of a trial and error, unless you find someone with the same new tire as you have, and they have already figured the best psi.

Adding more air to the front will increase understeer, adding more to the back will increase oversteer.  This may help.




in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling


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