OK I am tired of running on the bias-ply tires and stock rims. my question is this, how much of a "handling" improvement will I get if I go to a 17 or 18" rim slightly wider tires and of course a high qualitity radial. is it worth the cost of new rims or am I better off just using the stock rims with radials?
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Re: C3-rim question
Dale, I had 23555R17 tires on my 72 and the worked great, big improvement no matter what radial tire you install.New England chapter member, 63 Convert. 327/340- Chapter/Regional/national Top Flight, 72 coupe- chapter and regional Top Flight. -
Re: C3-rim question
i OWN A 72 WHICH I RECENTLY PURCHASED NEW TIRES.
I BOUGHT THE STOCK SIZE GOODYEARS WHICH I AM HAPPY
WITH. Handling is just fine.....keep it stock.....
Larger sizes won't make much of a difference.
I say this because the handling of a 72 with newer suspension
restored etc....works just fine.....Big JohnComment
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Re: C3-rim question
Duke.
By handling I mean the car tends to be really impacted by any road imperfection. The slightest groove or dip pulls or pushes the car. Everything in the front end is in great condition. The alignment perfect. The power steering valve new. So my only other thought was very old bias ply tires. I want this car to be under control all the time so I can enjoy the drive vs fighting the roadComment
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Re: C3-rim question
I guess I should have mentioned it is a 68 vette. yea I know one off year but it is the only way I felt that I could drive a big block without paying 100kComment
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Re: C3-rim question
Do you have any pictures you can share so I can get an idea of what that size rim looks like on the car ?Comment
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Re: C3-rim question
Any radial tire should eliminate or reduce such "tramlining" if the suspension components are in good shape and alignment is correct.
The size you should install is 215/70R-15 or 225/70R-15 and there are still a handful of higher speed rated tires in these sizes including the 215/70ZR-15 97W Pirelli P4000 Super Touring, but most are cheap, low quality S-rated tires. Higher speed rated tires, H and above, have a nylon wound cap belt that will virtually eliminate the possibility of a catastrophic tread separation, which makes high speed rated tires inherently safer even if you never exceed posted speed limits.
For radial tires, toe-in should be checked and reset to 1/32" per wheel.
DukeComment
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Re: C3-rim question
Duke------
Hankook and Kumho offer H-rated tires in 215-70-15. I can't find any 225-70-15 that are above T-rated.
Not all S-rated tires are cheap. Although not in these sizes, Michilin has many S-rated tires that are at or near the top of the price range for a particular size.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: C3-rim question
Ok. Now I am confused. S and T ratings? Plus when I talked to the local tire dealers they were all over the map with air pressure too. Any where from 28 to 35. I simply want a very good running and handling street tire that will handle well and ride without me beating me to death.
My plans are to use the car. Not just on nice weekends three times a year. I have owned this big block for many years and I only put maybe 1000 miles on it. Since it is a 68 and original bb I hadn't driven it much because I thought it would go up in value but it really hasn't so I am going to drive and enjoy itComment
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Re: C3-rim question
Dale-----
Tires have speed ratings indicated by an alpha coding system. The most common rating is "S". This indicates a tire speed-rated to 112 MPH. The next higher rating is "T" which indicates a rating to 118 MPH. These are obviously adequate for street operation. However, higher rated tires don't just provide a higher speed rating. Basically, they "do everything better" than a lower rated tire and they have as part of their construction features which make them a somewhat safer tire.
The first rating which is really a "high performance" tire is "H". These tires are speed-rated to 130 MPH and include construction features that make them a somewhat safer tire. Beyond "H" are ratings of "V", "Z", "W", "Y", and "(Y)". The latter is rated to 186+ MPH.
I prefer an "H" or higher rated tire for a Corvette. However, they are becoming increasingly difficult to find in the 15" sizes used by all 1953-82 Corvettes. This can present a problem that can only be overcome by going to a larger size wheel which accommodates tire sizes for which "H" or above rated tires are available. I do not recommend such an approach, though. To me, a Corvette with larger wheels (and, consequently, lower aspect ratio tires) "looks funny". For me, if only "S" rated tires were available for 15" wheels, then I'd use "S" rated tires.
So, what about "S" rated tires? Well, they are what equips the vast majority of the cars on the road today. Auto manufacturers and most folks that use them consider them quite safe. I know of no general problem with them for street operation. I have used them for 1,000's of miles on my Corvette in the past and was 100% satisfied with them. If I were using them on the track, I might not be satisfied, but I'm not doing that and don't intend to.
As I pointed out previously, there are many expensive tires that are "S" rated. And, there are some fairly inexpensive tires that are "V" rated (although not in 15" sizes).In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Terry Buchanan
Webmaster / Secretary - Heart of Ohio Chapter www.ncrs.org/hoo
Corvettes Owned:
1977 Coupe
1968 Convertible 427/390 (L-36) Chapter Top Flight 2007, Regional Top Flight 2010, National Top Flight 2011
2003 Electron Blue Coupe
2019 Torch Red Grand Sport CoupeComment
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Re: C3-rim question
I switched to BF Goodrich Comp T/A's several years ago. They've been great and the tire wear has been awesome! 215/70-15.
'73 LS-4 454Comment
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Re: C3-rim question
Rich-----
The Goodrich Comp T/A is no longer manufactured (hope you don't ruin a tire and need a single replacement). However, I believe in the 215-70-15 size they were "S" speed rated.
The Goodrich Radial T/A remains available and is available in the 215-70-15 size. However, it is also an "S" rated tire.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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