It appears from this board that the concensus for tire size that resembles OEM as well as trouble free regarding suspension and wheel wells would be a 205/75/R15 tire. Could members comment on current make and model tires they have recently purchased, I would like to compare sidewalls and tread designs of a couple of makers...I am looking for blackwall tires. Goodyear Invicta would be an example of a response that I am looking for....unfortunately I am looking for an agressive tire tread pattern, which I am unlikely to find, but can the readers of this board comment on some make and models to consider? Thank you.
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Dino Lanno -
Re: C2 - Radial tires
I just put a set of Michelin Symmetry tires on my 65 coupe Saturday. I wanted the small whitewall that I have only seen on these Michelins and Pirelli P3000 tires. I had checked out the diameter of the original 775-15 and found that a 215-75R15 was closest in diameter although a little larger. Due to the installation of new springs, the car sits higher, so I thought that the 215-75R15's would fit. I had also read an old article in Vette magazine where this size was used on a midyear. They did fit unless you want to turn the front wheels (I only had one mounted to check for fit). The bottom front of the fender lip hit the tires. The Michelin whitewalls didn't come in the 205-75R15's so I went with the 215-70R15 size. They fit and fill out the wheel wells. This may not help with the 205-75R15 question, but offer my experience as a way of saying that if I had followed the advise of the forum, I would have stuck with a 205-75R15 or 215-70R15 as is usually recommended here. I'm not sure that you are going to find an aggressive tire pattern on a 75 series tire. -
Re: C2 - Radial tires
Dino,
I recently shod my "LADY" with Goodyear Regatta II's in the 205/75R15 blackwall configuration. So far, I am very impressed with the ride and handling of these tires on my 1963 - but, then I have only put about 100 miles on the "LADY" since I shod her - proof in the pudding will be driving the "LADY" to and from Bowling Green with the Caravan! (VBG)Rick Aleshire
2016 Ebony C7R Z06 "ROSA"Comment
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Re: C2 - Radial tires
What do you mean by "aggressive tread pattern" - a snow tire.
Did anyone read my tire article in the current issue of The Corvette Restorer?
DukeComment
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Re: C2 - Radial tires
Well I did read your article! Didn't agree with 100% but thats OK...what do I mean by agressive, Compare a Goodyear GSC to a general all weather tire, IMHO the GSC looks agressive, you know...the tread speaks performance....
compare a Pirelli P400 20575R15 to a General Ameri-G4S, I think the Pirelli is more agressive.
What I am looking for is a list of tires from real people with real cars so I can shop at my local NTB and pull them down off the rack and check them out, and this board always gives me the best advice.Dino LannoComment
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Re: C2 - Radial tires
Well, tell me what you don't agree with and we can discuss it. You might want to review what I had to say about the design of tread patterns and compounds, particularly with regard to plain vanilla all-season versus summer high performance tires and DOT legal racing tires.
Being as how our cars have become very rare, and no current mainstream automobiles are equipped with the same OEM size or equivalent modern radial replacement sizes, you're not going to walk into a tire store and find a wide selection of tires suitable for vintage Corvettes, especially if you are looking for maximum performance. About the best you'll find in stock are cheap, all season, hard compound, low or no speed rated 205/75R-15s that are popular for old beaters, which IMO are not suitable for a vintage high performance sports car.
You're best bet is to understand published and sidewall placarded information, understand your performance and styling objectives for your Corvette, and then make a reasonable selection.
That's why I wrote the article - to try to bring an understanding and rational approach to tire selection. You can seek others rationale for buying a given set of tires, but keep in mind that most choices are based purely on cosmetics, and those who try to make a rational choice based on performance characteristics often do so erroneously because they do not understand how to evaluate the performance potential of a tire.
Then there are those who brag about paying only $200 to re-tire vintage Corvette that is worth anywhere from $15K to over $100K. Go figure!
DukeComment
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Re: C2 - Radial tires
Dino, I installed 215/65R15 Goodyear Eagle GA's on my convertible about four years ago after seeing them on Dave Walter's '67 L88 coupe. The fit is good. The car handles and the rides great. No complaints. Good luck, Jim Weeks Member #2978
BTW, How's the old Triumph?Comment
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Re: C2 - Radial tires
Dino, I also installed P215/65/15 tires on my 65 roadster. They are Goodyear Eagle GT+4's. They are H-rated, have a good looking tread and have had no clearance problems. I mounted them with the smooth side out on a set of 6 inch direct bolt ons. Bought them from the Tire Rack but were told they were going to be discontinued so not sure how long they will be available. Good Luck......Paul #38454Comment
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Re: C2 - Radial tires
Duke:
With all due respect to your vast knowledge of "all", has it EVER occurred to you that the original equipment tires on a C-2 were purchased by Chevrolet for a little over $2.00 apiece. NO speed rating, No nothing. Junk! I don't know MOST people that own C-2's but the ones I do know don't drive them anywhere near the limit that would require anything more than $50 apiece tires! Today's $50 tires are many times better and safer than yesterday's $2 tires.
You need to get off this kick and start recomending tires people can actually use for everyday. You have a lot of good points but you get off on this tangent that everyone drives on the edge! Not so! By your own admission, you drove 140 or so MPH on the oem tires and lived to talk about it. Well, so did I! What is 3.08 X 6.95 14 X 6500 rpm equate to? Some of these people that are listening to you don't even know how to check the pressure in their tires. Get real, man.Comment
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Re: C2 - Radial tires
Yes, as a matter of fact, Mike, it occurred to me in a most noticeable way. The General JetAires on my SWC chunked when they were three months old on my first day of hot lapping Kent, proving without a doubt that the OEM tires were totally inadequate for a high performance sports car.
The best available choices of tires at the time came down to the Pirelli Cinturato, Michelin X, and Goodyear Blue Streak Sports Special. Though the Goodyears offered the best potential dry weather performance, the Michelins offered the hope of excellent wear characteristics and good wet weather performance - an important consideration in Seattle. Though their 1964 vintage preceeded the general use of speed ratings, they survived several more trips to Kent over then next four years and 47,000 total miles.
I learned very early that a high performance sports car built on a weak tire foundation will perform in the crucible of maximum performance about as well as a house built on sand.
Sports cars are for driving!
If you happened to read my tire article you should realize that my tire recommendations are perfectly suited to normal normal driving, will fit within the fender wheels, will not increase speedometer and odometer error, and provide a much greater safety margin than cheap, low or non-speed rated tires, and my own excursions to top speed were not made until after I had replaced the OEM tires.
Your cynical comment about "these people... don't even know how to check their pressure in their tires" reflects your obvious ignorance of the folks who make up the NCRS.
DukeComment
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Re: C2 - Radial tires
You want blackwalls? Mount whitewalls and white lettered tires inside out - put the exterior whitewall side on the backside. Maybe this will increase your selection pool. Yes, you can see the whitewall and letters from the side at certain angles. Period correct cool.Comment
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Mike, you wouldn't by any chance...
...be a liberal, would you? I'll take someone who knows something and tries to share it, ANY DAY, over someone who feels the need to protect us poor incapable unwashed masses from getting confused by the information.Comment
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Re: C2 - Radial tires
I have BF Goodrich XLM H/T W/W P205-75-R15 on my 65. They ride well, and I don't ahve to worry about tire rubbing the inner fender when turning. I tried to find 195 B/W, but couldn't. My car came from the factory with General Jet-AirII's B/W on it. I got real good service out them back then.Comment
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Mike/Duke....
why not turn down the personal rehetoric? We're allowed to have differences of opinion here. And, Mike, there's no need to SLAM anyone on this forum!Comment
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Re: C2 - Radial tires
Hi Dino - Don't laugh, but the best tires I've found for my 65 and 67 were at Wal-Mart. I bought a set of Goodyear Viva II for the 65, and a set of Uniroyal Tiger Paw A/W for the 67, both 205/75-R15. The last time I looked at Wal-Mart the Viva had been replaced by an updated version that doesn't look as good, but the Uniroyals were still available. The whitewall is close to the correct size and the tire is as close to the look of an original tire as you'll find. It's not a speed rated tire, just a basic economy radial but fine for the way I use my cars, I'm sure they will crack from old age before they wear out. They are under $50 each, I don't know if they come in blackwall or not. These tires will more than fill the bill as long as you don't intend to cruise at high speeds, they're far better than the tires these cars had when they were new.Comment
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