Another tire question

[Kenneth H.]

Re: Another tire question

We need to update our manuals much more quickly, especially where there is a potential safety issue involved. I chose to put P215/70R15 tires on my 'vette for three reasons. First and mainly, the size is what the current edition of the Judging Manual said was the correct service replacement radial size for the F70-15 tire. Second, in previous posts about this subject, some members commented that the P225/70R15 tires had a tendancy to rub when the steering wheel is fully turned to one side or the other which seemed unsafe to me, and third, the tire installer said that the P215/70R15s would fit fine on the 8' rim, which they do.

All of that said, I've had no problems with the P215/70R15 tires mounted on my 8" rims. However, if P215/70R15 radial tires truly are unsafe on 8" rims, our manual shouldn't ID them as the correct service replacement for the F70-15's originally supplied with the '70 'vette.

Thanks.

[Peter G.]

Re: Another tire question

I am convinced that the present day P225/70-15 tire mounted on a 8" wheel is approximately 1" wider than a early 70's GR70-15 tire mounted on the same 8" wheel. I can see it with the two tires and wheels side by side.

On my car there is evidence of the P225/70-15 rubbing on the outside of the frame near the rear of the wheel, but only very slightly.

I want to drive on the narrower tire as I don't like the wide tire with all it's issues. Rubbing, road noise and rock chips. The body with the mild wheel flares at the bottom were designed with the narrower tire in mind.

I hope the repo tire in radial will come out soon so us owners of 73 cars will have more options with tire appearance. RWL, thin WW and blackwall BOTH sides.

[Peter G.]

Re: Another tire question

Paul...

If original tires were bias-ply and you went with radials. I would probably as a judge hit you a bit more maybe 2 additional points for the DIFFERENT tire construction materials.

I would ask other judges who judge C1s and C2s that have radial tires on: How many additional points do they deduct?

[Terry M.]

Re: Another tire question

We need to update our manuals much more quickly, especially where there is a potential safety issue involved.

[Paul C.]

Re: Another tire question

Thanks for your input especially as a judge. I have P225's now and have had no problems with rubbing and love the wider tire because of performance. I would never buy the 215's due to the safety issues raised here. I agree it would be nice if reproduction tires came in radials.

[Greg H.]

Re: Another tire question

I'd like to match the OEM Firestone F70-15 whitewalls. The closest I can find is Goodyear Integrity all season radials. The whitewall looks much wider, but the size is available and there are very few choices for whitewalls.

Any comments or advice on these for 1970 model year?