Kelsey producing P255/60R15 GT Radials

[Tom R.]

Kelsey Tire is now manufacturing the P255/60R15 GT Radial, last produced in 1979. The P255/60 was optional for 1978-79 Corvettes and featured the raised, white outline letters. The project has been in the making for the last two years. The smaller P225/70R15 are expected out at the end of this month in both small and large raised, solid white letters.

The photos show a glamour shot, still in the wrapper and TIN (date code)

kelsey GT.jpg

wrapper.jpg

TIN.jpg

[Oliver B.]

Re: Kelsey producing P255/60R15 GT Radials

WOW, this is AWESOME.
The more as I already had planned to replace my 1977's GT+4s with GTIIs this year.

Can you give details where to order those then (hope they DO ship overseas) and specs like cost and speed ratings maybe?

Thanks, Tom.

[David R.]

Re: Kelsey producing P255/60R15 GT Radials

Thanks for letting us know. I could use a new set that are safe to drive on!

[Joe L.]

Re: Kelsey producing P255/60R15 GT Radials

WOW, this is AWESOME.
The more as I already had planned to replace my 1977's GT+4s with GTIIs this year.

Can you give details where to order those then (hope they DO ship overseas) and specs like cost and speed ratings maybe?

Thanks, Tom.

Oliver------


I would expect it's the same as for any other Kelsey product------www.kelseytire.com

I don't know the cost of these yet but I would expect it's going to be SUBSTANTIAL.

[Tom R.]

Re: Kelsey producing P255/60R15 GT Radials

Oliver------I would expect it's the same as for any other Kelsey product------www.kelseytire.comI don't know the cost of these yet but I would expect it's going to be SUBSTANTIAL.

Joe got it right:

They may not have updated the website yet but call the 888 number.
Retail = $350.00 per tire but ask if there is an early bird special for NCRS members.

Re speed ratings...its covered in the Sep issue of Corvette Enthusiast but its as it was in 78-79 102S or 112 mph

http://www.kelseytire.com/home.html

[Steven B.]

Re: Kelsey producing P255/60R15 GT Radials

Thanks guys! I emailed Kelsey and asked for info. on the GY GT Radials and 15" Blue Streaks. I will post when I receive an answer. (I wish I had kept my worn GT Radials instead of throwing them away in '89.)

Steve

[Joe L.]

Re: Kelsey producing P255/60R15 GT Radials

Joe got it right:

They may not have updated the website yet but call the 888 number.
Retail = $350.00 per tire but ask if there is an early bird special for NCRS members.

Re speed ratings...its covered in the Sep issue of Corvette Enthusiast but its as it was in 78-79 102S or 112 mph

http://www.kelseytire.com/home.html

Tom------


That's in the range I expected. Actually, it's at the LOW end of the range I expected.

As expensive as it may sound to some, if one goes out and buys a good, American-made tire for a C4, C5 or C6 Corvette these days, it will cost that much or more. I recently put a set of Goodyear F1-GS tires in the original 275-40-17 size on my 1992 and it cost me over $300 per tire even with an excellent discount.

The Kelsey reproduction tires are made in relatively small quantity. As such, tooling and all other pre-production costs have to be amortized over a relatively small sales volume. Actually, all things considered, I'm surprised that any of the Kelsey tires are not priced even higher than they are.

[Tom R.]

Re: Kelsey producing P255/60R15 GT Radials

Tom------


That's in the range I expected. Actually, it's at the LOW end of the range I expected.

As expensive as it may sound to some, if one goes out and buys a good, American-made tire for a C4, C5 or C6 Corvette these days, it will cost that much or more. I recently put a set of Goodyear F1-GS tires in the original 275-40-17 size on my 1992 and it cost me over $300 per tire even with an excellent discount.

The Kelsey reproduction tires are made in relatively small quantity. As such, tooling and all other pre-production costs have to be amortized over a relatively small sales volume. Actually, all things considered, I'm surprised that any of the Kelsey tires are not priced even higher than they are.

Joe

Yeah, just bought a set of Michelins Sports for my 00 C5 and it was just shy of $1,200...but these are of the run-flat variety.

It's a very nice tire and I've have poured all over the one of I've got here. I was looking for absence or presence of DOT compliance labels. For example, no safety warning label and the only embossing that will differentiate it from an original is the TIN on the outboard side. It will even have the TPC 1032 label on all tires (used to indicate a tire meets OEM specs.

[Paul B.]

Re: Kelsey producing P255/60R15 GT Radials

.....well there goes the value of all the original ones out there.

....wonder if they're going to have that safety warning on them that the original ones did not have, but that the service replacement tires did???

....what ever happened to getting a nice resto tire for us '73-'77 Corvette owners? Oh, wait a minute, nobody wants those years anymore, hence why make any parts for them. Very few of them being judged anymore.

[Tom R.]

Re: Kelsey producing P255/60R15 GT Radials

....wonder if they're going to have that safety warning on them that the original ones did not have, but that the service replacement tires did???

No safety label warning...just like the originals!

...what ever happened to getting a nice resto tire for us '73-'77 Corvette owners? Oh, wait a minute, nobody wants those years anymore, hence why make any parts for them. Very few of them being judged anymore.

Kelsey in the interview said that they don't get as many requests for tires from the 73-77 era as they do the GT Radials from the 78-79 period.

[Michael W.]

Re: Kelsey producing P255/60R15 GT Radials

Very few of them being judged anymore.

Ain't that the truth.

[Dave S.]

Re: Kelsey producing P255/60R15 GT Radials

Joe

Yeah, just bought a set of Michelins Sports for my 00 C5 and it was just shy of $1,200...but these are of the run-flat variety.

It's a very nice tire and I've have poured all over the one of I've got here. I was looking for absence or presence of DOT compliance labels. For example, no safety warning label and the only embossing that will differentiate it from an original is the TIN on the outboard side. It will even have the TPC 1032 label on all tires (used to indicate a tire meets OEM specs.

Tom,
I thought 225 70R 15 was not a size that came on original Corvettes. I know they are the closest size to F 70 X 15 tires so the 225's look good on 68-72 cars. Can you clarify.????

[Dick W.]

Re: Kelsey producing P255/60R15 GT Radials

Tom,
I thought 225 70R 15 was not a size that came on original Corvettes. I know they are the closest size to F 70 X 15 tires so the 225's look good on 68-72 cars. Can you clarify.????

Dave he is talking about 255/60's

[Dave S.]

Re: Kelsey producing P255/60R15 GT Radials

Dave he is talking about 255/60's

Tom mentioned that the 225 70R 15's were coming soon. Why would Kelsey make 225's if they were not an OEM size.???

[Dick W.]

Re: Kelsey producing P255/60R15 GT Radials

Tom mentioned that the 225 70R 15's were coming soon. Why would Kelsey make 225's if they were not an OEM size.???

Oops Dave, just read the subject line and not the whole article. That's what happens when you have ADD