Looking for Tires for an 85 C4 corvette. The original tires were 255/50 16’s, but the only tires made in that size now are R comps. I’m thinking of 235 55 16’s as a replacement. This is my father in laws car, he’s had it since new and he’s 78, ultra high performance is not a requirement. In reality the considerations are 1. Price 2. Wet weather performance 3 cold weather, light snow performance and 4 NVH. Do you think 235 55’s are a good compromise, the radius is almost exactly the same in theory, but would they be too stretched on an 8.5” wide rim?
thx as usual for your opinions
Adrian
Cooper Cobra G/T. They are the correct size even. I used them on an '87 Firebird daily driver and was very happy. Those 235's will be way to small.
Tire wholesaler on 14mile has them, Most of the local small tire stores should be able to order them in. Discount tire may deal with them too. Shouldn't be too expensive, retail shouldn't be over $145, but that's a total guess.
In reply to Gearheadotaku:
It never occurred to me to look beyond tire rack for availability of the size I'm looking for. Off to check, thanks.
Well searching has only found a drag radial from Cooper so that doesn't work. But, poking around on Corvetteforum.com (ugh, it's really bad over there). There was a post a few weeks ago from a Tirerack employee stating that BFG are launching a 255/50 16 G-Force Sport Comp2 in late March so I guess we'll have to wait for that.
i have 235/55 on 17x8 mustang wheels - they're stock size for the rim so it might not stretch too bad another 1/2".
discount tire direct has some nice looking falkens for $110ea. normally i'd support tire rack but sometimes they just don't have what i need. i used to run some of the falkens on my turbo grand prix and they worked pretty well in the rain and had pretty good dry traction in a 300+hp FWD with a manual trans.
Corvetteforum was a nice place years ago, then someone bought it and the place went downhill, fast. All the good C4 guys went to corvetteguru or c4guru, something like that.
Cobra G/T from the cooper site:
http://us.coopertire.com/Tires/Passenger/COBRA-RADIAL-G-T.aspx
I think its great that a 78yo is driving a 'vette. Maybe he can handle the R-comps. Nobody ever told Yoda that he was too old for his lightsaber.
245/50/16 isn't much smaller and there are still a few different companies that make tires that size. honestly, other than looking a little smaller you won't notice the difference and the speedo probably won't even get thrown off..
novaderrik wrote:
245/50/16 isn't much smaller and there are still a few different companies that make tires that size. honestly, other than looking a little smaller you won't notice the difference and the speedo probably won't even get thrown off..
IIRC, that's what I ran on my C4 Corvette when I had it.
