C1 time to re-tire

[kenneth bingener NCRS#38563]

Any suggestions for a radial replacement tire for a 58. Looking to replace my 20+ year old Coker whitewalls. I want to retain the original look as much as possible but want to boost handling/ride with the radials. Car still has the original wheels (5" I believe). Can I safely put a slightly wider tire (70 series) on this wheel? A vendor recommendation appreciated too - email me direct if preferred. Thanks

[Duke W.]

Re: C1 time to re-tire

If you can wait until the next issue of The Corvette Restorer, I think my tire article is going to make it, but Terry made me break it into two parts because it's so lengthly (I like to think of myself as "thorough". ), so it will take another issue for the second installment.

Bottom line is that if you want to stick with the OEM 5" wheels your choices are limited to 205/75R-15s unless you want to violate manufacturers' minimum wheel width recommendations for 70 series tires. I have never found any 205/75s better than S-rated or with any claim to being anything other than wheel protectors!

If you're willing to go with wider wheels, such a 6" or 7" Rally wheels the tire options expand considerably to include some V and W-rated 70 series radials with some impressive test results, and I'm pretty sure you can install the OEM wheelcovers on any wider Corvette steel wheel other than the C1 era RPO 276 5.5" wheels.

The title of the article is "Police Pursuit Tires - How to make your Corvette Handle"

Duke

[Christopher R.]

Re: C1 time to re-tire

205/75-15s are the only size you can find in the usual tire stores if you're keeping the original 5 inch wide wheels. You will not find a performance tire in that size, though. But I have to think that even the humblest radial tires of today are far superior to what came on the car originally. How fast are you going to drive the car anyway? Another problem for you is that you can get 205/75-15s with a thin whitewall at the usual tire stores. But I think Coker makes a white whitewall radial.

[Bob Simard]

Re: C1 time to re-tire

One of the corvette vendors had 7 inch c1 wheels in their catalog with hub cap nubs. I used generic GM 7 inch wheels and welded on nubs that were smoothed out with epoxy. A seven inch wheel with a c1 hubcap looks amazingly stock and handles much better. Save the five inch wheels for judging.

[Wayne C.]

Re: C1 time to re-tire

Not a lot better, but TR-rated Pirelli P400 comes in 205/75-15.

[Jeffrey C.]

Re: C1 time to re-tire

It would sure be great to find a vendor with the wheels with the nubs. I understand without them original hubcaps tend to spin off. Then you could move to a 215 tire that is the closest to equivelent diameter to original. Coker sells the BF Goodrich Silvertown style wide wide white radial that would look great and I'm sure perfom well.