1996 Tire Question

[Joe C.]

I am trying to get some help understanding if my car's tires should be the Goodyear EMT type (RPO WY5). My car does have the Spare Tire Delete option (RPO NB4) and Low Tire Pressure (RPO UJ6) however I cannot find WY5 anywhere on the build sheet or anything on the window sticker indicating that the car was delivered with the EMT tire option.

I appreciate any information I can get. Thanks.

[Tom H.]

Re: 1996 Tire Question

If I remember right, and sometimes I don't........... When we ordered cars with the spare tire delete, the run flats were mandatory. I'll have to dig up my old order guide to confirm how the specification was written. I don't recall the run flats being available on the Z51 or Grand Sport coupes either with the 315 and 275 tires. ( Just coupe and convertible )

I believe it was written like this in the order guide. Spare tire delete available only when EMT extended mobility tires are selected.

Have you got a copy of your build sheet you could post ?

[Joe C.]

Re: 1996 Tire Question

I do have a copy of my build sheet. Problem is that it is too large for me to scan at home. Will have to get it reduced to 8.5" X 11" then scan and post it. Thanks.

[Peter M.]

Re: 1996 Tire Question

When we ordered cars with the spare tire delete, the run flats were mandatory. I'll have to dig up my old order guide to confirm how the specification was written. I don't recall the run flats being available on the Z51 or Grand Sport coupes either with the 315 and 275 tires. ( Just coupe and convertible )

This is how I remember it also.

[Floyd B.]

Re: 1996 Tire Question

I do have a copy of my build sheet. Problem is that it is too large for me to scan at home. Will have to get it reduced to 8.5" X 11" then scan and post it. Thanks.

Take a picture of it and post it. I am separated from my car right now but I seem to recall that the trim label on the underside of the passenger side storage compartment listed a few codes that didn't appear on the build sheet.

[Tom H.]

Re: 1996 Tire Question

the trim label on the underside of the passenger side storage compartment listed a few codes that didn't appear on the build sheet.

Great suggestion. Should have though of that myself !

[Joe C.]

Re: 1996 Tire Question

The code WY5 was on the trim label on the underside of the passsenger side storage comparment.

So now my next question. Can anyone recommend a source for the correct tires for my car. Right now the car has non-OEM tires.

Thanks.

[Peter M.]

Re: 1996 Tire Question

I think these are your OEM replacement tires, Joe:

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/tires/goodyear/vehicle/viewProductDetail.do?v=005922%7C1996&rpc=30965&fpc=30963

[Joe L.]

Re: 1996 Tire Question

The code WY5 was on the trim label on the underside of the passsenger side storage comparment.

So now my next question. Can anyone recommend a source for the correct tires for my car. Right now the car has non-OEM tires.

Thanks.

Joe-----


I figured that would be your next question but you're pretty much out-of-luck on that. Goodyear no longer manufactures the original GS-C EMT tires in the sizes required for your car. In fact, these have been out-of-production for quite some time now.

If you want to at least stick with a Goodyear tire, the only option you have available is the Eagle GS-D3. While a very good tire, this tire has a tread pattern that's about as far from the original tread pattern as any tire could be. But, it's a Goodyear so I think you would get judging credit for it being the original brand.

Otherwise, you'd need to check out eBay, Craig's List or similar sources for NOS tires.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1996 Tire Question

I think these are your OEM replacement tires, Joe:

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/tir...0965&fpc=30963

Peter-----

I don't think that Goodyear has manufactured these tires in quite some time. However, it's possible that some of the larger tire retailers like Tire Rack or Discount tire might have some in stock somewhere. If not, I don't think they'll be able to get any from Goodyear. I'll be very interested to learn what Joe finds out if he calls.

[Peter M.]

Re: 1996 Tire Question

Peter-----

I don't think that Goodyear has manufactured these tires in quite some time. However, it's possible that some of the larger tire retailers like Tire Rack or Discount tire might have some in stock somewhere. If not, I don't think they'll be able to get any from Goodyear. I'll be very interested to learn what Joe finds out if he calls.

Don't know. They told me that they can get them in 3-4 days. Joe will have to call the vendor & check it out.

[Floyd B.]

Re: 1996 Tire Question

So now my next question. Can anyone recommend a source for the correct tires for my car. Right now the car has non-OEM tires.

Thanks.

First a question: Do you want these tires for every day driving or do you want them for judging or both?

I was able to score a set of original date correct tires with about half their tread life. One of the up sides of restoring late C4's is that every part is still available in its original form via the salvage market. I got my tires from a low mileage car and the owner was not interested in judging - Corvette Forum C4 Parts section. The seller knew he could get enough money out of the old tires to buy a brand new set of modern rubber. However, would I drive on this tires? NOT ON MY LIFE! (literally). I reconditioned my original saw-blades and mounted the original rubber on them. These wheels are for judging only. I then bought a set of reproduction A-molds painted black (i.e. grand sport repops) and mounted modern Goodyear Eagle F1's on them. These are my "driver" wheels and they look fantastic on my red/black LT-4 vert.

[Peter M.]

Re: 1996 Tire Question

First a question: Do you want these tires for every day driving or do you want them for judging or both?

I was able to score a set of original date correct tires with about half their tread life. One of the up sides of restoring late C4's is that every part is still available in its original form via the salvage market. I got my tires from a low mileage car and the owner was not interested in judging - Corvette Forum C4 Parts section. The seller knew he could get enough money out of the old tires to buy a brand new set of modern rubber. However, would I drive on this tires? NOT ON MY LIFE! (literally). I reconditioned my original saw-blades and mounted the original rubber on them. These wheels are for judging only. I then bought a set of reproduction A-molds painted black (i.e. grand sport repops) and mounted modern Goodyear Eagle F1's on them. These are my "driver" wheels and they look fantastic on my red/black LT-4 vert.

I'd love to see some photos of your 96 LT4, Floyd. How about posting a few for us.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1996 Tire Question

Don't know. They told me that they can get them in 3-4 days. Joe will have to call the vendor & check it out.

Peter-----


I have found that the major retailers are often way behind on their informational resources. Awhile back I was looking for a particular Goodrich tire that had a tread pattern very similar to the original 275-40-17 Goodyear GS-C tires used on 1992 Corvettes. The Tire Rack and Discount Tire web-sites showed that they could get them in 3-4 days. When I contacted America's Tire (the brick-and-mortar division of Discount Tire), they told me they could get them in 3-4 days. Later, they found out they could not. Turned out that Goodrich had not manufactured that tire in that size in YEARS and had no plans to make any more. However, the tire remained on the Tire Rack, Discount Tire, and America's Tire web-sites for many months longer as being available in "3-4 days".

[Joe C.]

Re: 1996 Tire Question

I drive the car about 1,000 miles a year. The tires on the car today have about 3-4,000 miles on them. I'm thinking that I would like to use them for everyday driving (although limited) and judging. I could probably get a few bucks for the tires on my car selling them Corvette Forum or E-Bay. I tired to order the tire at Tire Rack which had decent prices (about the same as Discount Tire) and they are on back order which means who knows when they might have them to ship. Also tried Mid America and got the Temporary Shortage message. I'll try the Corvette Forum too.

I'm going to be traveling over the next two weeks and will keep up the search.