Pirelli Scorpion P Zero's a Wacky Idea?

[LONNIE WIGGINS]

There really isn't much available in a "high performance" 15" tire for C3 Corvettes. Most go with TA Radials or Goodyear GTs and such. While doing a Tirerack search for a '73 tire replacement, the Pirelli Scorpion P Zero's popped up in the 255/60-15 size....which are V rated, of course.

Although listed for "performance 4X4" trucks and SUVs, we're not talking about Jeep Wranglers going up cliff sides, but high performance street SUVs like the Infinity F35s and F45s, BMW X5s and such. Although it would be nice to stick with an American tire when tooling around the street, with a high performance BB I'd like all the tire performance available.

Anyone else ever tried these on a C3? And would you ever talk to the owner of a 'vette who did :-) ?

[Dick W.]

Re: Pirelli Scorpion P Zero's a Wacky Idea?

I have a set of the Scorpions (not V rated) mounted on a 4X4 and am getting horrible tread wear. Less than 50% of what I normally get on Firestones. Drive and ride good though. I believe that the 255's may be a bit of a tight fit during turns on a '73

[LONNIE WIGGINS]

Pirelli Scorpion P Zero's a Wacky Idea?

Hmmmmmm. Thanks for the response. The car has a set of 18 year old Goodyear NCTs in 255/60-15s on it now (we just got it going again after sitting in the garage for 18 years) and clearance hasn't been a problem - the state heigth of the tire is 27", which I think is about the same as the old G-70s.

Treadwear could be an issue...but it may be acceptable given a couple or so thousand miles of driving a year.

[Duke W.]

Re: Pirelli Scorpion P Zero's a Wacky Idea?

The '73 OE size is 225/70R-15 and you have a choice of three V-rated "police pursuit tires" in this size. The Firestone PV41 and GY Eagle RSA are available from The Tire Rack. I don't think the General XP2000V4 is, but you can view it and the others at the manufacturer's web sites.

The Firestone is tough to find on the Bridgestone-Firestone sites. As you go through the menus for passenger car tires, click on "specialty tires". It won't come up with a size search.

You can also go to a 235/70R-15 size with these three tires, but I don't know if they will cause any interference problems. Also, the General is available with a thin white stripe. I believe the others are blackwall only.

Duke

[Dick W.]

Re: Pirelli Scorpion P Zero's a Wacky Idea?

I also had a 74 with the 255/60 NCT's. The fender lips required, shall we say, a gentle massaging. Still hit fenders, when at speed, during hard cornering

[David N.]

Re: Pirelli Scorpion P Zero's a Wacky Idea?

I also have a '69 BB conv. with F-41 suspension. There is no wheel well problems, not even when I was a serious autocross driver. The tires would rub a clean spot on the frame rail at max lock to lock steering wheel.positions. But, for street use worked just fine.
David Nims #19639

[Terry M.]

Goodyear 235-70R15 RSA

I just bought a set of these from a fellow 1970 Corvette owner who said they wouldn't fit on his F41 equipped Corvette. Rubbed the fenders on the front he said. They will work fine on my Caprice.

[Dick W.]

Re: Goodyear 235-70R15 RSA

I firmly believe that body location on the chassis has a wide latitude. You can switch one oversize tires on the early C-3's and see what is being discussed. Fit on one car and no clearance on the next. So much for precision manufacturing in that era