Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics - NCRS Discussion Boards

Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

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  • Brandon T.
    Very Frequent User
    • October 23, 2008
    • 872

    Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

    Be nice to get an idea of how they look from a rear view etc before I order that size from tire rack for my 68.

  • John H.
    Beyond Control Poster
    • December 1, 1997
    • 16513

    #2
    Re: Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

    Isn't some t******* of the wheel opening return flanges required in order to run 255/60's? I'm not a C3 guy, but I seem to recall St. Louis having to do that.

    Comment

    • Don L.
      Extremely Frequent Poster
      • August 31, 2005
      • 1005

      #3
      Re: Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

      Here are a couple old pics with 255 60 15 BFG TA's on my '72. They're gone now. I found them to be too big and they rubbed the frame rail up front. Remember, there are flares on the '70 + bodies that help conceal the width of the wide tire vs '68 and '69 bodies.

      I now have a set of 245 60 15's and a set of F70 15's. Like the look of the F 70 (bias ply). Like the handling of the 245 (radial) much more. I stuck with the 245's because they were a bit narrower than the 255's, they gave me an OD that was closest to OEM, which better-fills out the wheel wells with minimum width while still a sporty radial. My 245's don't rub.

      Of course you could go with the taller profile 70 series...
      Attached Files
      Don Lowe
      NCRS #44382
      Carolinas Chapter

      Comment

      • Brandon T.
        Very Frequent User
        • October 23, 2008
        • 872

        #4
        Re: Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

        thanks john I'll check up on that

        and thanks for the pics Don they certainly give it that MEAN look I'm after, the 245/60 is the other tire size I'm looking at actually kinda leaning that way..u don't have any pics of the 245's by chance do you?

        the 245's may go along a little better with the 7" wheels on my 68 too..right now it has 215's on it so I'm thinking 245's would probably be wide enough over the 215's for my liking.

        I also thought about this, why keeps me from going 255/60 in the rear for that mean rear view stance and 245/60's up front to cut down on the rubbing doubt I'll go that way but you certainly could.
        Last edited by Brandon T.; August 4, 2009, 08:22 PM.

        Comment

        • John M.
          Expired
          • November 10, 2008
          • 364

          #5
          Re: Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

          ,When I bought my Vette it had 255 60's on it. The 68/69 dosen't have the flairs as the 70 and up and as you can see, they stuck out pretty far. I'd say a full 2 + inches outside the body.

          In my opinion, it just dosen't look right.

          Like 4x4 Mudder tires.


          I ended up going with 225 70R15 Redline Radials which are just slightly larger than stock. I wish I would have gone with the skinny Bias plies now.

          I understand the look your going for, but the C3 is such a sleek elegant design, that an aggressive, wide stance tire seems to work against it.

          I think I'll end up going with the Redline or skinny white pinstripe Bias Plies with P02's for Show events, and run an extra set of Redline Radials with Ralley Rims for cruising.

          The smaller thinner tires just look better with the sweeping lines of the early, pre-flare C3.
          Attached Files
          Last edited by John M.; August 4, 2009, 08:40 PM.

          Comment

          • Don L.
            Extremely Frequent Poster
            • August 31, 2005
            • 1005

            #6
            Re: Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

            I echo John's comment on the skinny/OEM look being the best. Didn't really think I'd like them until I got them and saw them on the car. Now I'm a fan.

            Be careful not to exceed the OEM OD, however, as Mr. Hinckley points out, damage could occur to the front fenders.

            I have only one photo of my car with the 245's on it (last summer) and I'm afraid it's too big to post as it exists now. Sorry. Will work on re-sizing and post when/if I get it sized right.
            Don Lowe
            NCRS #44382
            Carolinas Chapter

            Comment

            • Steven B.
              Extremely Frequent Poster
              • June 30, 1982
              • 3990

              #7
              Re: Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

              Originally posted by John Hinckley (29964)
              Isn't some t******* of the wheel opening return flanges required in order to run 255/60's? I'm not a C3 guy, but I seem to recall St. Louis having to do that.
              In '78 St. Louis ground the inner fender lip when the car was ordered with the optional 255's. My '78 SA was ordered with them, but came with the 225's as the factory was out of 255 stock---but the inner fenders were still ground. The grinding was not a clean job, either.

              I ran 255 - 60's on my '77 with no problem with the YJ-8's or ralleys. I had 8.5 inch custom wheels for awhile with offset not quite adequate and there was a little rubbing on the brake clip, but it only very lightly scuffed the sidewall. I put 0.25" spacers on the back---no rubbing but the studs snapped, all ten of them! 'Installed new studs and removed spacers and no problem except the very minor scuffing (looks like a fingernail rubbed it).

              Comment

              • Brandon T.
                Very Frequent User
                • October 23, 2008
                • 872

                #8
                Re: Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

                Originally posted by Steven Brohard (5759)
                In '78 St. Louis ground the inner fender lip when the car was ordered with the optional 255's. My '78 SA was ordered with them, but came with the 225's as the factory was out of 255 stock---but the inner fenders were still ground. The grinding was not a clean job, either.

                I ran 255 - 60's on my '77 with no problem with the YJ-8's or ralleys. I had 8.5 inch custom wheels for awhile with offset not quite adequate and there was a little rubbing on the brake clip, but it only very lightly scuffed the sidewall. I put 0.25" spacers on the back---no rubbing but the studs snapped, all ten of them! 'Installed new studs and removed spacers and no problem except the very minor scuffing (looks like a fingernail rubbed it).
                So, you was correct on that John..

                John you have a mind like a steal trap!

                Comment

                • Peter G.
                  Very Frequent User
                  • December 1, 1980
                  • 406

                  #9
                  Re: Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

                  I have always thought...

                  The wider the tire and wheel the more road noise and rock chips!
                  Peter Gregory # 4157

                  National Corvette Restorers Society Since 1980

                  Comment

                  • Steven B.
                    Extremely Frequent Poster
                    • June 30, 1982
                    • 3990

                    #10
                    Re: Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

                    Originally posted by Peter Gregory (4157)
                    I have always thought...

                    The wider the tire and wheel the more road noise and rock chips!
                    'and more bearing, etc. stress.

                    Comment

                    • Glenn D.
                      Very Frequent User
                      • May 31, 2002
                      • 137

                      #11
                      Re: Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

                      I have had the original G70/15's ,as well as 235/60'S and 245/60's on my 74" I just went back to 225/70's and was very happy with the result. I though the ride was much smoother than 60 series. They also filled up the wheel wells more than the 60 series tires.

                      Comment

                      • Brandon T.
                        Very Frequent User
                        • October 23, 2008
                        • 872

                        #12
                        Re: Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

                        Think I finally decided what tires I'm ordering from tirerack.

                        Decided on 255/60 bfg radials..I'm thinking with the 60 series instead of the 215x70 series I have on it now it should give me a little be lower gear ratio correct?

                        my car as we found out an M21 trans with a 3.08 gear if we're right on this going with a 60 series tire should give me a little more gear grunt off the line..I am even considereing the 50 series tires now.

                        whatcha think? the 60 series should help the ratio a bit right?

                        Comment

                        • Steven B.
                          Extremely Frequent Poster
                          • June 30, 1982
                          • 3990

                          #13
                          Re: Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

                          Originally posted by Brandon Thompson (49614)
                          Think I finally decided what tires I'm ordering from tirerack.

                          Decided on 255/60 bfg radials..I'm thinking with the 60 series instead of the 215x70 series I have on it now it should give me a little be lower gear ratio correct?

                          my car as we found out an M21 trans with a 3.08 gear if we're right on this going with a 60 series tire should give me a little more gear grunt off the line..I am even considereing the 50 series tires now.

                          whatcha think? the 60 series should help the ratio a bit right?
                          Brandon, changing the height of the tire from the factory delivered tire height will change the effective ratio. There are previous posts with the formula for calculating. Back when I did alot of autocrossing I changed my stock 70 series to 60 series and then changed the 3.55 to a 3.90 and then changed the tires to 45 series. When I was done I had gone from a 3.55 ER to a 4.10 ER. The shorter the tire the larger (the number gets bigger) the ER. 60 series look and work OK on '68-'82's but when you go to 50 series or lower there is alot of black inner fender showing and it looks out of proportion, at least to me.

                          Steve

                          Comment

                          • Brandon T.
                            Very Frequent User
                            • October 23, 2008
                            • 872

                            #14
                            Re: Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

                            Originally posted by Steven Brohard (5759)
                            Brandon, changing the height of the tire from the factory delivered tire height will change the effective ratio. There are previous posts with the formula for calculating. Back when I did alot of autocrossing I changed my stock 70 series to 60 series and then changed the 3.55 to a 3.90 and then changed the tires to 45 series. When I was done I had gone from a 3.55 ER to a 4.10 ER. The shorter the tire the larger (the number gets bigger) the ER. 60 series look and work OK on '68-'82's but when you go to 50 series or lower there is alot of black inner fender showing and it looks out of proportion, at least to me.

                            Steve
                            You're right I researched and found a couple pics of 50 series and to me they look a little too thin on these cars..I agree.

                            this is more of the look I'm after, not sure of the width or if they're 60 series or not but they look great to me..I think they look like 245/60 but I'm not sure but wow love the stance! they do look a little stuff in the front tho..




                            and here is ours currently with the 215/70..yuck, always hated these tires on that car


                            another, haha the broom stick was keepin her in place as I was adjusting the parking brake, it now holds


                            actually after comparing them with pics right near each other the silver 68 might have 70 series tires on it they look just as fat to me as the 70 series on ours.
                            Last edited by Brandon T.; August 6, 2009, 08:28 PM.

                            Comment

                            • Bryan M.
                              Expired
                              • April 1, 1999
                              • 386

                              #15
                              Re: Anyone running 255/60's on their 68-69? would love to see some pics

                              Originally posted by Brandon Thompson (49614)
                              You're right I researched and found a couple pics of 50 series and to me they look a little too thin on these cars..I agree.

                              this is more of the look I'm after, not sure of the width or if they're 60 series or not but they look great to me..I think they look like 245/60 but I'm not sure but wow love the stance! they do look a little stuff in the front tho..




                              and here is ours currently with the 215/70..yuck, always hated these tires on that car


                              another, haha the broom stick was keepin her in place as I was adjusting the parking brake, it now holds


                              actually after comparing them with pics right near each other the silver 68 might have 70 series tires on it they look just as fat to me as the 70 series on ours.
                              Hey! I recognize that car! It's mine! The tire size is P235/70R15. The front does sit a little lower than stock. The front springs have been messaged. The rear is the original stock spring.

                              Comment

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