Goodyear Eagle GT P255/60R 15. 1981 Corvette

[Larry S.]

New member here. I have a 1981 Corvette, 100% original. Need new tires, afraid to drive on the old tires even though the car has less than 2,000 miles. Looking for suggestions on replacement tires. Want to get car judged. Thanks

[Duke W.]

Re: Goodyear Eagle GT P225/60R 15. 1981 Corvette

The OE tire size is P225/70R-15 or P255/60R-15, optional, so unless you erred on the size, they are not the original tires.

Please clarify.

Also, what type of original wheels did it (or does it) have ?

Duke

[Larry S.]

Re: Goodyear Eagle GT P255/60R 15. 1981 Corvette

The OE tire size is P225/70R-15 or P255/60R-15, optional, so unless you erred on the size, they are not the original tires.

Please clarify.

Also, what type of original wheels did it (or does it) have ?

Duke

Bad typing on my part. The tires are P255/60R 15. Stock mag wheels with black inserts.

[Michael J.]

Re: Goodyear Eagle GT P225/60R 15. 1981 Corvette

If your '81 came with RPO QHX on the build sheet/window sticker, like my 5000 mile all original one did, you do have P255/60R15 Goodyear Eagle GT RWOL tires. They should have a date code to confirm they are originals. Replacement new tires that are identical are available at Kelsey Tire ($370 each), I have a set that allow me to drive mine and leave the originals in the garage for judging.

[Larry S.]

Re: Goodyear Eagle GT P225/60R 15. 1981 Corvette

Yes, date code shows made in 81. New to all this. I have the following numbers. Can you tell me which is the build date code, paint code, and trim code. B 07C 101 719
641 50L 50U74ME. Thanks

[Michael J.]

Re: Goodyear Eagle GT P225/60R 15. 1981 Corvette

That appears to be a BG Tu-Tone, 07 would be July '81, 3rd week, yours appears to be the 1719th one built in the new BG plant. 641 is the interior code, camel leather, 50L is your lower paint code, beige (but dark bronze in a tu-tone), 50U is your upper paint code, also beige. And welcome to the secret society of the '81. BTW, my first new Corvette was just like yours. I would recommend buying the '80-'82 TIM&JG for your car and start reading it.

[Larry S.]

Re: Goodyear Eagle GT P225/60R 15. 1981 Corvette

Great. Thanks for you help.

[Michael J.]

Re: Goodyear Eagle GT P225/60R 15. 1981 Corvette

Good luck, hope to see that car at judging soon too, there are very few '81s, that's why they are a secret society...........

[Larry S.]

Re: Goodyear Eagle GT P225/60R 15. 1981 Corvette

If I get the Kelsey tires ( Goodyear Eagle) is it necessary to put back on the original tires to have the car judged or would there be a big deduction ?

[Michael J.]

Re: Goodyear Eagle GT P225/60R 15. 1981 Corvette

There will be standard deductions for replacement tires vs. no deductions for the originals. Best to use the originals for judging, saves lots of points, but if your originals are like my 5000 mile ones, the problem is tread separation due to age, not wear, and they are unsafe indeed. You can get original style wheels from various vendors, like Ecklers for the '81, and with the Kelsey tires, they are a great driving set. Then you can leave your originals mounted up on the original wheels and just put them on for judging.

[Joe L.]

Re: Goodyear Eagle GT P255/60R 15. 1981 Corvette

Bad typing on my part. The tires are P255/60R 15. Stock mag wheels with black inserts.

Larry-------

The Kelsey reproductions are your best bet for judging. Albeit quite expensive, be thankful that they're available because there are currently no other Goodyear tires available in this size. In fact, the only other tire available in this size that I know of is the B.F. Goodrich Radial TA.

Since your original tires have so little wear, you might want to consider keeping them mounted to the wheels and storing them for use only for judged events. Then, you could obtain another set of wheels and mount a set of the B.F. Goodrich tires for everyday driving.

[Larry S.]

Re: Goodyear Eagle GT P225/60R 15. 1981 Corvette

That's what I will do. Thanks