Best Available Tires for a 1988 Anniversary

[John G.]

With an eye to getting this car NCRS judged and wanting the least deduction what is the best available tire for a 1988 Anniversary?

[Edward J.]

Re: Best Available Tires for a 1988 Anniversary

John, The tire that came with car originally is the best bet, sometimes places like craigs list have tires and wheels removed from the Corvettes of your era. Other wise the same make tire and size should be used to get the least points deducted, and look in the Judging guide for the details, some may of had a raised white letter??

[Joe L.]

Re: Best Available Tires for a 1988 Anniversary

With an eye to getting this car NCRS judged and wanting the least deduction what is the best available tire for a 1988 Anniversary?

John------

Your car was originally equipped with Goodyear tires and Goodyear-branded replacement tires of the original size are what will give you the best score as far as judging is concerned. As far as availability goes, it depends what size wheels and tires your car is equipped with. 1988's without Z51 or Z52 used 16" wheels and 255-50-16 tires. Cars with Z51 or Z52 used 17" wheels with 275-40-17 tires. If you have the 16" wheels there is no current Goodyear 255-50-16 tire available. If you have the 17" wheels, there is a Goodyear F1 All Season asymmetric tire available and that's exactly what I would use. I've used these tires on another car I have and I like them.

[John G.]

Re: Best Available Tires for a 1988 Anniversary

They are 17" front and back. But what tire that is currently available (obviously Goodyear) will get me the least deduct?

[Joe L.]

Re: Best Available Tires for a 1988 Anniversary

They are 17" front and back. But what tire that is currently available (obviously Goodyear) will get me the least deduct?

John------


The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All Season that I mentioned above is the ONLY Goodyear tire currently available in the 275-40-17 size you require. So, if you want a Goodyear tire for judging purposes, it's currently the ONLY way to go. In several more months the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D5 may become available again. However, this tire has a radically different tread design compared to the original tires so I expect that aspect will not judge well. The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All Season has a tread design that while not the same as the original tires is at least generally like the original. Also, the F1 Asymmetric is a "W" speed rated tire which puts it up near the top in speed rating.

By the way, while your car currently has 17" wheels, do you know that it ORIGINALLY had 17" wheels? To find out check the SERVICE PARTS IDENTIFICATION LABEL. The RPO code Z51 or Z52 needs to be present if the car was originally equipped with 17" wheels

[John G.]

Re: Best Available Tires for a 1988 Anniversary

It has the apparently identical white wheels as every other Anniversary has so I'm assuming they are the originals (but I've only had the car about 15 years). I'll plan on this tire. By the time I got to the booth at Lakeland they had decided to wrap-up early selling the judging guides so I'll buy one from the on-line store.

[John G.]

Re: Best Available Tires for a 1988 Anniversary

I currently have Goodyear P275/40ZR17 Eagle F1 tires on the car (see pic). They are in great shape but 15 years old. Maybe I should keep
these and put them on unblemished wheels (if I can find a set), and the put new tires on these wheels for daily driving.1988-goodyear-F1-tires.jpg

[Patrick N.]

Re: Best Available Tires for a 1988 Anniversary

John,

If my memory is correct, 88's with your rim size came with Goodyear gatorbacks. http://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/eagle-zr-gatorback

I have Continental on my 88 Z52 17" rim now but still have the Gatorbacks in my basement. Ill take a pic and post tonight if I find them.

[Joe L.]

Re: Best Available Tires for a 1988 Anniversary

John,

If my memory is correct, 88's with your rim size came with Goodyear gatorbacks. http://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/eagle-zr-gatorback

I have Continental on my 88 Z52 17" rim now but still have the Gatorbacks in my basement. Ill take a pic and post tonight if I find them.

Patrick------


Yes, I also believe the Goodyear Gatorback was the original tire for 1988. However, this tire is no longer manufactured in the 275-40-17 size. In fact, I don't think it's currently manufactured in any size.

[Patrick N.]

Re: Best Available Tires for a 1988 Anniversary

Took me a while but attached are the Gatorback tires I took off my car years ago.gatorback1.jpggatorback2.jpg