15x8 Rallys - AZ code vs Internet House brand

[Roger D.]

I have all 5 correct matching AZ code wheels for my '72 coupe. The original spare is still in the carrier and mounted to it is the original Firestone polyglass whitewall tire. I'd like to buy a new wheel and tire for use as a spare and keep the original wheel/tire perhaps for future judging purpose.

Question: I heard that the wheels available from the various Corvette supply houses are made in China and aren't of very good quality. Is that true? Anyone ever purchase one of those? I've been looking at eBay/Craig's list a good long while now for an AZ code rally for replacement with no luck so far.

Thanks in advance.
Roger

[Joe L.]

Re: 15x8 Rallys - AZ code vs Internet House brand

I have all 5 correct matching AZ code wheels for my '72 coupe. The original spare is still in the carrier and mounted to it is the original Firestone polyglass whitewall tire. I'd like to buy a new wheel and tire for use as a spare and keep the original wheel/tire perhaps for future judging purpose.

Question: I heard that the wheels available from the various Corvette supply houses are made in China and aren't of very good quality. Is that true? Anyone ever purchase one of those? I've been looking at eBay/Craig's list a good long while now for an AZ code rally for replacement with no luck so far.

Thanks in advance.
Roger

Roger-----


First of all, if you have a Firestone "polyglass" tire, then you have a tire model that was never manufactured. If you actually have a Firestone fiberglass belted tire, then you have a tire that was manufactured for some original applications and is reproduced today, but which was NEVER originally used on any 68-72 Corvette.

As far as the wheel goes, the Corvette 15X8 "AZ" coded wheels used on Corvettes from 1969 to 1982 are no longer manufactured by Hayes Wheel and have not been in quite some time. Still, there are PLENTY of used examples of this wheel out there. Hayes sold them for many years and they were a VERY popular wheel among the hot-rodding set. You won't have any problem finding a used wheel. It will be more difficult if you want a properly date-coded wheel, but it doesn't sound like that's what you're after. However, not all used wheels are good wheels. Some may be bent and some may suffer from excessive wear in the lug nut seats.

Most of the Corvette rally wheels on the market today are made in China, although some may still be made in Mexico. However, I believe that Wheel Vintiques in Fresno, CA manufactures in-house their own wheels of this type. I think the offset on these wheels is very slightly different from the original Corvette wheel but I've never heard of any problems using these wheels on a Corvette.

[Michael M.]

Re: 15x8 Rallys - AZ code vs Internet House brand

Also, from experience, the Rally wheels sold by the Corvette parts houses do not fit the hub the same as the Hayes wheel. I bought a set for street use from one of the larger Corvette vendors and center of the wheel does not fit snugly over the hub (it is at 1/2" to 3/4" of an inch too big. This is probably a wheel meant for many different applications. What this meant for me was that the wheel was centered and supported vertically by the lug nuts and not the wheel fitting snugly around the hub. I used these wheels for a while but could never get them to balance properly. I found a new set off eBay (not properly date coded) and had them painted. They fit perfectly as the factory intended.

BTW, after I realized the too large of an opening on the wheels I searched all the Corvette parts houses for a set of Hayes wheels but the only ones being sold were the wrong ones with bigger hub opening.

[Terry M.]

Re: 15x8 Rallys - AZ code vs Internet House brand

Also, from experience, the Rally wheels sold by the Corvette parts houses do not fit the hub the same as the Hayes wheel. I bought a set for street use from one of the larger Corvette vendors and center of the wheel does not fit snugly over the hub (it is at 1/2" to 3/4" of an inch too big. This is probably a wheel meant for many different applications. What this meant for me was that the wheel was centered and supported vertically by the lug nuts and not the wheel fitting snugly around the hub. I used these wheels for a while but could never get them to balance properly. I found a new set off eBay (not properly date coded) and had them painted. They fit perfectly as the factory intended.

BTW, after I realized the too large of an opening on the wheels I searched all the Corvette parts houses for a set of Hayes wheels but the only ones being sold were the wrong ones with bigger hub opening.

FWIW: When the wheel is located by the center hole it is called "hub centric" and when the lug nuts locate the wheel it is "lug centric." Some vehicles/wheels are designed each way, but Corvette (and I think most, if not all, Chevrolet) wheels are hub centric. As you found out the hard way, life goes better if one sticks with the system as designed by the professional engineers.

[Michael M.]

Re: 15x8 Rallys - AZ code vs Internet House brand

Terry, agreed, it's just that I didn't immediately realize that I was changing the system. Live and learn. FWIW, I was able to re-sell the wheels and make some of the money back.

[Terry M.]

Re: 15x8 Rallys - AZ code vs Internet House brand

Terry, agreed, it's just that I didn't immediately realize that I was changing the system. Live and learn. FWIW, I was able to re-sell the wheels and make some of the money back.

It is not always immediately obvious which system is used, and many of us never give a thought to this feature. Of course one would expect a vendor to sell wheels appropriate to the system used by the vehicle manufacturer. This is just one of the many things I teach my students that are along the lines of "you never know when you will need this particular snippet of information." Sometimes what appears as useless trivia comes in handy. I posted this for those searching this thread in the future.

[Joe L.]

Re: 15x8 Rallys - AZ code vs Internet House brand

FWIW: When the wheel is located by the center hole it is called "hub centric" and when the lug nuts locate the wheel it is "lug centric." Some vehicles/wheels are designed each way, but Corvette (and I think most, if not all, Chevrolet) wheels are hub centric. As you found out the hard way, life goes better if one sticks with the system as designed by the professional engineers.

Terry and Michael------


Corvette wheels are hub centric. Any replacement wheel MUST be hub centric. I was not aware that the "reproduction" or replacement wheels being sold had an oversize center hole. As such, these wheels are not suitable for use on any Corvette and should not be sold for such use. Ever. Period.

[Roger D.]

Re: 15x8 Rallys - AZ code vs Internet House brand

Wow, that is some great information. I'll continue looking for an original AZ coded hub centric wheel...depending on what ya'll say about the following..

Joe, here is what was on my existing spare which I thought might be original

Firestone 4 ply rating 2 ply max load 1500 lbs @ 32 psi max press

Nylon Cord V1 Dot 147

Super Wide Oval Sports (the word Wide is above the word Oval)

Load Range B

F 70-15 Tubeless

Also there is a horizontal diamond shape on the tire with the number 61 inside it.

Well whatcha think?

Regards,
Roger

[Joe L.]

Re: 15x8 Rallys - AZ code vs Internet House brand

Wow, that is some great information. I'll continue looking for an original AZ coded hub centric wheel...depending on what ya'll say about the following..

Joe, here is what was on my existing spare which I thought might be original

Firestone 4 ply rating 2 ply max load 1500 lbs @ 32 psi max press

Nylon Cord V1 Dot 147

Super Wide Oval Sports (the word Wide is above the word Oval)

Load Range B

F 70-15 Tubeless

Also there is a horizontal diamond shape on the tire with the number 61 inside it.

Well whatcha think?

Regards,
Roger

Roger------


That sounds like an original tire. However, it's not a "polyglass" or fiberglass (or otherwise) belted tire. As a matter of fact, this particular tire is not reproduced and I don't think it's ever been reproduced.

[Roger D.]

Re: 15x8 Rallys - AZ code vs Internet House brand

Roger------


That sounds like an original tire. However, it's not a "polyglass" or fiberglass (or otherwise) belted tire. As a matter of fact, this particular tire is not reproduced and I don't think it's ever been reproduced.

Hi Joe, is that good? I mean, would it be a good thing to have as my spare in a judged event? Or is it just really just an interesting thing to have? If there's no advantage then perhaps I should just swap it for a good usable spare tire.

[Joe L.]

Re: 15x8 Rallys - AZ code vs Internet House brand

Hi Joe, is that good? I mean, would it be a good thing to have as my spare in a judged event? Or is it just really just an interesting thing to have? If there's no advantage then perhaps I should just swap it for a good usable spare tire.

Roger-----


It would be a very good thing to have as a spare for a judged event. You might want to have another tire and wheel for use as a spare at other times, though. It's pretty easy to change out a spare for a judged event.

[Roger D.]

Re: 15x8 Rallys - AZ code vs Internet House brand

Thanks Joe. Appreciate yours and everyone's input. What a great group! I'm learning alot from you guys.

Regards
Roger