Best tires for driving- C2

[John P.]

I've searched the archives. I am interested in member suggestions regarding best tires for driving/handling my 65 327 Convertible. Appears that suspension is original. Seems the front pair are where I have had most issues-rough ride, sluggish handing. I have an add-on power steering system for many years, works fine.

At this time judging is not the plan, much more focused on the driving experience. I have replacement knockoff wheels.

Thoughts on brand and size for radials?

[Duke W.]

Re: Best tires for driving- C2

The Avon CR6ZZ, a bonafide DOT legal racing tire designed specifically for vintage sports cars, is the benchmark. Other candidates are the Vredestein Sprint Classic, Dunlop Sport Classic and Pirelli CN-72 (205HR-15) and CN-12. All are available (except as noted) in the 215/70R15 size with H and above speed ratings. A six inch rim is minimum and they should not interfere with the wheel wells on a C2 with KOs, but you need to be careful entering steep inclines with significant steering lock.

If you go with Avon's stick to the 205/70R15. It's only 0.1" less OD than the 215/70, but has a slightly narrower tread width, about 6-6.5" versus a very wide 7" plus for the 215/70, which may require shaving the fender lips.

Search the Web for these individual tires for sources and spec sheets. The Avon is distributed on the West Coast by Roger Kraus Racing in the East SF Bay area, and Lucas Tires in Long Beach has the Pirellis and other selections including the Pirelli P5 made exclusively for the Ferrari 250 GTO as so indicated on the sidewall, and only $629 each. Given that only 39 GTOs were built it's not a large market. I'm not sure if you have to own a GTO to buy these tires.

You should also check the CF as several there have the Avons installed and there has been discussion about them, all positive.

For a long time there was a real high performance tire drought for vintage Corvettes, but most of the above have come online in the last few years. They're all pretty pricey, about the same a new set of shoes for a modern Corvette, probably because they are specialized low volume tires, but we're lucky to have them.

Getting the most out of tires requires good alignment and I recommend "sport settings" of negative one half to negative one degree camber all around, as much caster as you can get on the front, up to about 2 degrees, or more with PS, and 1/32" toe-in per wheel. Cross readings should be as close to zero as possible and getting equal toe-in on the rear wheels is critical to good handling.

Other handling "upgrades" should include adjustable shocks like Spax or QA-1 to dial in the car for your roads and driving style. If oversteer at the limit is evident replace the front anti-roll bar end link rubber bushings with hard urethane bushings, and you could also install the 1/16" larger front bar from later C3s on C2 small blocks.

The OE spring rates are fine - tires, alignment, and shocks are all that's needed to give C2/3 Corvettes modern sports car handing and grip.

Duke

[Leif A.]

Re: Best tires for driving- C2

John,
Duke has given you some very good advice. This is a well worn subject here on the TDB...a quick search will give you hours of reading on this subject. IMHO, depending on if you're looking for a specific style of tire i.e. redline, goldline etc...I would go with Diamondback Radials in a 215/70R15 size. They have a couple of different brands in this size...all their tires are quality.
Also, be sure your shock absorbers are up to snuff. A Bilstein or Delco gas shock is really all you need for occassional, leisure driving. If you're going to do some serious rallying/road course driving the adjustable shocks are worth the extra dollars.

[Frank D.]

Re: Best tires for driving- C2

If you're just doing "occasional, leisure driving" there are many inexpensive, quality alternatives - I went from Uniroyal Tiger Paws (because the dang whitewalls on the newer offerings turn coffee brown in a few weeks) to Hankook Otpimo. I hated going to a foreign tire as Uniroyal was an OEM manufacturer but they now have defective (IMO) whitewall products and their customer service response on the matter is abysmal.

With my much reduced driving (due to the virus) and just plain going slower nowadays I couldn't justify the boutique racing tires with the hefty price tag.

[Michael J.]

Re: Best tires for driving- C2

TwinRacers.jpgI have 5 sets of Goodyear Assurance 205X75X15 radials mounted on American Mag Torque Thrust Ds, which Tire Rack will mount, balance, and ship to you to put on. They are great driving tires and wheels for my '63-'67s, and the whole thing is very inexpensive. They look good too.....

[George J.]

Re: Best tires for driving- C2

I am currently running the Vredesteins Duke mentioned in the 215/70 size, and they are great handling tires, that look the part, too. I was able to get them for around $225 each from TireRack. They apparently run specials now and then.

[James G.]

Re: Best tires for driving- C2

I agree Mike, but then again i am a racer

[John F.]

Re: Best tires for driving- C2

A good set of Michelins!

[Owen L.]

Re: Best tires for driving- C2

A good set of Michelins!

Agreed. But... they don't make whitewalls any longer or at least I can't find any from local or online dealers. The whitewall selection from the major brands has become quite limited. The only ones I could get in the last month are the Hankook Optimo in 205/75. Toyo made one up until just recently in a 215/70 but appears they aren't in the Toyo inventory system.

[Mark E.]

Re: Best tires for driving- C2

How about 17 x 8 aluminum "rally" wheels with modern tires? The package below with GY Eagle RS-A W-speed rated tires cost about $1,800 a set at CarID including mounting, Road Force balancing, lug nuts, nitrogen. Not that much more than the 15" performance tires mentioned above. The lighter alloy wheels should benefit handling as well.

Annotation 2020-08-25 202909.jpg

[Frank D.]

Re: Best tires for driving- C2

I wouldn't put Michelins on a go cart...they're quality has gone to crap. Here are the factory Michelins on my wifes 2016 Durango after we owned it for two years with 22,000 miles on it. Huge chunks of the rubber coming out of all four tires and she "granny drives" the car. Never again. Friends have had similar experiences.

[Owen L.]

Re: Best tires for driving- C2

How does a 4-year old car go through 2 sets of tires? That pic doesn't show much tread life left overall after only 22,000 miles! What kind of road surfaces is she mostly driving on - just regular asphalt/concrete pavement or gravel/rock roads? I don't know if there's a difference in quality, but might these have come from Costco/Sam's rather than a regular tire shop?

I've had two sets of Michelins on my Toyota truck (owned since new 24 years, first set ~2010, second 2020) and they've performed wonderfully. My '67 had a set of Michelins on it that were then transferred to my '72 while it's being "restored" - those tires are 30 years old and have zero surface cracking. That may tie in to your comment about newer tires not up to par, but I think it's impressive nonetheless.

[Frank D.]

Re: Best tires for driving- C2

We bought the Durango from CarMax with 11,800 miles on it - I can't say how it was treated prior to that; with us, the car sleeps in the garage every night and has never left the asphalt. The picture shows the factory tires - not a second set. Sooo - would this type of deterioration been OK at 32,000 miles ? 42,000 miles ? Not in my book..

I won't own anymore Michelins nor Uniroyals. There is a long thread I started on another forum about their whitewalls turning brown after only a couple of months of ownership and, as it turned out, a bunch of others had the same experience. I wore out my first set of Tiger Paws and never had a problem - something changed - it happens. The pic shows new tires 8 weeks old with 300 miles on them, after I got them replaced, the next set did the same thing. And now I have Hankooks.

I don't want to get into brand wars about it, run what you like. I have nothing more to add.

[Frank E.]

Re: Best tires for driving- C2

Had the same problem with the Tiger Paws but solved it. GO to Dollar Tree and get a spray bottle of their "Awesome" cleaner. Use it full strength and a ww brush or equivalent. Takes it right off and it stays off for quite a while. It costs a buck.......