Correct Tire Replacement for 73 vette

[David P.]

I have to buy tires for my 73 vette , which tires are the correct ones to buy?

Thanks
Dave

[Duke W.]

Re: Correct Tire Replacement for 73 vette

Correct? Are you looking for the best functional replacement, or one that that yields the least points deduction during Flight judging?

Duke

[David P.]

Re: Correct Tire Replacement for 73 vette

I want to drive the car with the tires and also get as many points as possible

Dave

[Duke W.]

Re: Correct Tire Replacement for 73 vette

1973 was the first year of OE radial tire usage on Corvette. The OE size is 225/70R-15, and I believe Firestone was an OE brand, if not the only brand used that year. (Perhaps someone can check the '73 JG.)

The least points deduction requires the OE size in an OE brand.

Unfortunately, the V-rated Firestone Firehawk PV 41 "police pursuit tire" is no longer available in this size, but you might be able to find some existing stock with some effort.

(The General XP2000V is also gone, which leaves the Goodyear Eagle RS-A as the sole surviving V-rated 225/70R-15 police pursuit tire).

The time is rapidly approaching when the only tires available for vintage Corvettes will be low quality, low performance, low speed rated, non-nylon cap belted tires.

For C2 the remaining best choice is the W-rated 215/70ZR-15 Pirelli P4000 Super Touring, but it's probably "on the bubble".

There are still a handful of H-rated tires in these two sizes. H-rated tires are the lowest speed rating that have the critically important spiral wrapped nylon cap belt that immensely improves the tires' resistance to sudden catastrophic failure

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Tire Replacement for 73 vette

1973 was the first year of OE radial tire usage on Corvette. The OE size is 225/70R-15, and I believe Firestone was an OE brand, if not the only brand used that year. (Perhaps someone can check the '73 JG.)

The least points deduction requires the OE size in an OE brand.

Unfortunately, the V-rated Firestone Firehawk PV 41 "police pursuit tire" is no longer available in this size, but you might be able to find some existing stock with some effort.

(The General XP2000V is also gone, which leaves the Goodyear Eagle RS-A as the sole surviving V-rated 225/70R-15 police pursuit tire).

The time is rapidly approaching when the only tires available for vintage Corvettes will be low quality, low performance, low speed rated, non-nylon cap belted tires.

For C2 the remaining best choice is the W-rated 215/70ZR-15 Pirelli P4000 Super Touring, but it's probably "on the bubble".

There are still a handful of H-rated tires in these two sizes. H-rated tires are the lowest speed rating that have the critically important spiral wrapped nylon cap belt that immensely improves the tires' resistance to sudden catastrophic failure

Duke

Duke----


The original tire size for 1973 Corvettes was GR-70-15. I don't think that P-metric sizes ahd appeared yet. However, the 225-70-15 is the current size that most closely matches the original size. Firestone was definitely at least one of the suppliers of tires for the 1973 Corvette, but Goodyear may have been another.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Correct Tire Replacement for 73 vette

Dave
Tires are covered in the judging reference manual but 73 tires are hard to fit in the chart. The judge knows GR-70-15 Goodyear or Firestone are the only original brands . The 10%and 20% deductions are out because no one makes a reproduction in GR-70-15.The next two 30%-40% refers to (type and size) if the judge says a 225-70-R15 is not a GR-70-15 and the letters and size are different those are both gone. I think 60% is where you will end up (Current day service replacement size) with 225-70R-15.
I allways used a set of old Firestone 500's and don't judge exterior so others who do may be able to tell how they are judged as I'm interested too.
Lyle

[David P.]

Re: Correct Tire Replacement for 73 vette

So it seems to me that I have to buy either Firestone or Goodyear 225 70 15's. Should the tire have white walls or raised letters.
Dave

[Duke W.]

Re: Correct Tire Replacement for 73 vette

How 'bout just plain blackwalls? They were standard.

Opps! The first year for metric sizing (225/70R-15) was 1978.

Duke

[David P.]

Re: Correct Tire Replacement for 73 vette

I dont like the way the blackwalls look.

Can anyone recommend a specific tire to buy, I need to buy them now as the tires on the car on out of round.

Dave

[Peter G.]

Re: Correct Tire Replacement for 73 vette

David,

Blackwalls were standard and not seen much. Whitewalls was an option with more numbers being used and raised white letters were the most common of all three designs of tires.

Many cars ordered early in '72 for white letter tires acually were delievered with whitewalls due to a tire shortage around Feb. 1973.

You can't get too close for perfect judging with any replacement due to the new metric sizing difference, but you would take a small standard deduction for Goodyear or Firestone raised white letters in size P225/70x15 with the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 or the Goodyear Eagle GTII.

I am doing a decision on my tires too. See my poll and posting under:

Whitewalls or Raised White Letters?

[Robert R.]

Re: Correct Tire Replacement for 73 vette

David,

If you can live with the blackwall look, the Firestone PV41 tire is an excellent performer. I was not aware that they were being discontinued, but I bet a few phone calls to your local Firestone dealers could net you a set. They were used for a number of local police department cars and if you get lucky, you may even get them at a discount from the $249 each retail price.

I was able to secure a set last summer and they ride very well.

Bob Ricchio

[Jim T.]

Re: Correct Tire Replacement for 73 vette

David not the correct replacement for my 70, but I am going to buying new 255/60-15 tires soon. I have Goodyear GT's 255/60-15 on it now and put them on years ago because I liked the look of the wider tire profile that was used on later model C3 Corvettes. Really like the look of the wider profile on my 70 and it is a driver that is enjoyed.
I am planning soon to replace them with Goodyear GTII's 255/60-15. I have had some good service and mileage from the current GT's.

[Robert R.]

Re: Correct Tire Replacement for 73 vette

Jim,
With that size tire, did you have any clearance issues? I recall that the ' 78s with the wider tires had to have the fender lips shaved for that reason.

Bob Ricchio

[Michael W.]

Re: Correct Tire Replacement for 73 vette

I dont like the way the blackwalls look.

Can anyone recommend a specific tire to buy, I need to buy them now as the tires on the car on out of round.

Dave

I installed 225/70R-15 RWL Goodyear Eagle GTs on my '73 as they looked 'closest' to the original tires. They have acceptable ride and handling characteristics. These tires have been replaced in production by Eagle GT IIs which I've seen used on many 73s with equally good results.

The 255/60-15 size mentioned is not correct for a '73 and will increase the judging deduction.

I'm not aware of any whitewall tires presently available in this specific size.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Correct Tire Replacement for 73 vette

I dont like the way the blackwalls look.

Can anyone recommend a specific tire to buy, I need to buy them now as the tires on the car on out of round.

Dave

The way I see judging of 73 tires if you buy 225-70-R-15's you will lose 60%. Any other size 100%.
If anyone can see a way for a less deduction point it out by the tire deduction chart as to why.
The big question on blackwalls only is a GR7015 the same as a 225_70R-15. I say it is not and may not be made in Firestone or Goodyear.
JMHO
Lyle