neuroclast

As the title states, I'm trying to figure out the widest tire I can put on my stocker 79 rims. I know 255/60 will fit, but I was wondering if you could go any wider or would it not fit on the rim?

Also, I don't plan on going big on the front (probably 225) but on the rear would I need to modify anything to fit wider than 255/60?

And finally, any tire suggestions for the sizes you recommend?

Thanks!

TheSkunkWorks

You can put 275/60's on an 8x15 out back, but bear in mind that the wider than rim width is the tread the less stable will be the sidewall, not to mention they look a bit like balloons. IMHO, the 255's (all around) are about the optimum here.

mrvette

Skunk is right, which is why I finally went 17x9.5 C4 vette rims with the VBP 2.5" adaptors....can't get true performance rubber in 15" 17+ is only way these daze.....well unless your last name is Hoozier/Goodyear.....

jb78L-82

I agree that if you are going to stick with the OEM 15 in rims 255/60/15 is the best. Any wider with the junk tires available in the 15 in rim size and the handling will actually deteriorate more than it already is with 15's and will look like balloons on the rims. I finally got fed up with the poor tires available in the 15's this Fall and went with SLP's ZR-1 style 17 in rims for the C3 ( no spacers required, just put them on) with 255/45/17 ZR's in front and 255/50/17 ZR's in the rear. What a difference compared to the 255/60/15 BFG Radial T/A's. Incredible! My 78 rides, steers, and handles like a modern sports car now. You may want to reconsider!

corvette744

295-50-15 bfg the only thing you have to do is remove or relocate the parking brake bracket-i dont think they look like ballons.

WESCH

Hi

This is a great looking Vette with this scoop and the hood gauges.

I have stolen your pic to show it in the German forum as somebody was asking about scoops there.

I hope you don't mind. If yes, pls let me know and I will remove it again from there.

Happy new year. Günther

corvette744

Sure no problem...

Glass Act

Running 295/50/15 on the rear, 265/50/15 on the front with 15X8.5 rims on our 79. Cleared the emerg cables and brackets with no rubbing issues at all front or back.

71coupe454

you do not want to put anything larger than 255/60r15 on your stock wheels! not only will it look bad, sidewalls bulged out, it will be unsafe as it will deform the angle that the bead seats to the rim, if the tire gets just a little low on air the bead will be prone to becoming unseated from the rim, especialy around curves, and a rapid loss of air will accur.. not good.. while its not in thier extreme performance catagory, Goodyear stills makes thier Eagle GTII with white letters.. they look good on these old vettes, handle well and can last 40,000-50,000 miles.. if wider tires and extreme performance is what your after, get some new 18's and your tire selection will be many sizes and types.

OldCorvetteKid

I've drag raced my '81 with 275x15 BFG street tires with only 18 lbs. of air on 8" Torque Thrust wheels(and no spacers needed). Never had a problem holding air. The wheelspin was the problem. Do slicks or drag radials look like baloons? yea, I guess a little bit...lol...depends on the look or type of performance you want. I have 255x15's on the front 8" TT's and its a tight fit, wouldn't want anything wider. The 275's on the rear are 27.9 inches high and when she squats off the line(stock rear suspension) it does look a little close from the pics I have.

TheSkunkWorks

Having been thru my share of 14x32W's in my time I can assure anyone that drag slicks, by design, have anything but stable sidewalls. I've also spent enough time pounding around road courses and street circuits to know that sidewall stability is crucial for serious cornering. My own opinion of how 275's look on 8x15's aside, one simply cannot apply observations of what works best from the former to the latter, as drag racing does not subject [drive axle] tires to the same conditions as does any type of driving which features cornering. As a general rule, the closer to one end of this "spectrum" a tire falls, the more compromised will its performance capability be when used for the other purpose.

Bottom line; oversized tires for a given wheel may or may not offer a slight edge at the strip due to their having a slightly larger footprint and less stable sidewall, but IMHO achieving optimum handling with such is very unlikely. Worth keeping in mind before going overboard here. FWIW, BFG's and Firestone Indy 500's rate above the Goodyears by all accounts.

54inches

Totally agree. I plan on dragging my 74 and so 295s will go in the back but probably something closer to stock.

Bills17n72