'62 wheels & tires

[steve studer]

'62, red/blk, 340, ground up complete.

Went to rotate my tires and found the back two wheels don't fit on the front because of interference with something, don't remember what. Obviously these two wheels are not made for this year or maybe even this car. Did the Corvettes in that era use a special wheel or would any 15" GM steel wheel from the early to mid 60's work?

I'm due for new set of tires so I'd like to get the right wheels. Any suggestions? Also, what is the correct whitewall width for that year tire??

Thanks
Steve Studer

[Roy B.]

Re: '62 wheels & tires

If the front hub and drums have never been apart there are three rivets that may cause your wheel not to go flush to the brake drum ( they are a one piece unit), or your rear wheel center hole is to small to fit the front wheel hub.
Yes any early 50 to 60 Corvette wheel , 57 car changed over to 14" wheel.

[Mike E.]

Re: '62 wheels & tires

Front hubs and drums were never riveted in the 61-62 era, so that is definitely not the problem. Often times the replacement wheels (you could still get NOS ones until a few years ago) have the center which is ever so slightly smaller in ID than the front hub's OD. You can either replace the wheels or take a grinder and open up the radius slightly on the wheel center. It doesn't take a lot.
Good luck!

[John H.]

Re: '62 wheels & tires

The center hub pilot hole on C1 5" wheels was 2.91" in diameter; '63-up steel wheels had a hub pilot hole that was 2.78" in diameter, and won't fit on a C1 hub without modification.

[Terry D.]

Re: '62 wheels & tires

Steve

Tale Mike's advice and just ream the opening a little to clear the hub, no one will know and we won't tell. The whitewall width is 7/8" to 1-1/16.
Terry

[Joe M.]

Re: '62 wheels & tires

Are those the 3838080 wheels ?
part# 3838080 are 5.5" and have the two little nubs on either side of the valve hole?
Have a set on my 61 and had to lightly file to fit.
There is an article by Martin Ball in the "Best of the Restorer" , vol 1-9 on pp71 and 82 describing the wheels and mods.
Fix is as others have described.