Which Wheel Wins?
#2
Administrator
Member Since: Jul 2000
Location: About 1100 miles from where I call home. Blue lives matter.
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The top, but in 15" like a Corvette is supposed to have.
#3
Race Director
Member Since: Apr 2007
Location: Henderson Nv-Rohnert Park/Sonoma C o. ca/born in NY Rockaway Beach.
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I have to agree, But, 15's are getting harder and harder to find in a nice tire, you have a better selection of tire with a 17..
I myself like the 15 org rim size like you... but i wouldnt mind a nice tread pattern...
But my vote is the top..
I myself like the 15 org rim size like you... but i wouldnt mind a nice tread pattern...
But my vote is the top..
#4
Safety Car
I like to see the color combination of the car against the rims. Some colors, or some cars, look better with chrome, others with the non chrome look.
If your car has chrome sidepipes, then you need the chrome. If it had black painted sidepipes, then I would go with the bottom one for example.
Other than this, I would prefer the top chrome one.
kdf
If your car has chrome sidepipes, then you need the chrome. If it had black painted sidepipes, then I would go with the bottom one for example.
Other than this, I would prefer the top chrome one.
kdf
#5
Race Director
Both great choices but for me it depends on the color of your Vette. As for size, I run 15" wheels on my 69 and love the way they look. However, if you're serious about performance you'll be far better off getting 17s. The tire selection and quality is limited at 15" but at 17" you'll have many excellent performance tires to choose from. When I changed from 15" to 17" on the Z28 in my avatar it truly transformed the car in terms of handling and was a major improvement in straight line traction too. After experiencing the difference there's no way I'd ever go back.
#6
Drifting
Thread Starter
Sorry, I didn't give you a link to my car. Here is a post I put up a few weeks ago. Hope this helps..
Because its so bright I am kinda leaning toward the gunmetal ones..
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...the-383-a.html
Because its so bright I am kinda leaning toward the gunmetal ones..
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...the-383-a.html
#7
Drifting
Member Since: Apr 2009
Location: Melbourne Australia
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#14
what I've found(and with help from other forum members here) is that there are only two 15" tires on the market that are rated above normal "S" passenger car...many of the top brands of 15" tire might only appear to be a "performance" tire with a sporty look, but they do not have the handling characteristics and speed ratings needed for any sort of "sports car"
Avon tires are from the UK and are a performance/race type of brand, and offer a "V" rated(149mph) tire CR6ZZ, which(IMHO) has a vintage look....they are said to have a very stiff sidewall to help with cornering side loads with the small rim to larger sidewall when using 15" diameter rims and 26"~27" diameter tires...however they are very high priced
http://www.sascosports.com/products/...php?type_id=39
$377 245/60R15 ~10" wide
$429 275/55R15 ~11" wide
$444 295/50R15 ~12" wide
(note that those prices are for one tire, where a set of four passenger car 15" tires or performance 17" tires might total close to that price)
the other tire option for a 15" rim is much more reasonable in price(about half the price as Avon, tho still slightly higher than what you might find in a performance 17" tire), and has a more modern looking directional tread pattern from Micky Thomson, a brand that is known for radical performance tires across many different types of vehicles/uses: strip/track/street/off-road ...the Sportsman S/R carries a "H"(130mph) speed rating
http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/s...em=SportsmanSR
$191 26X10.00R15LT
$210 26X12.00R15LT
(I have a set of these with the 10" wide tread on 15x8 Corvette YJ8 aluminum rims)
if you are not getting one of those two tires, I would not get 15" diameter wheels...as the other lower performing passenger car tires that you are limited to buying today have no business being on a higher demanding car like a Corvette
...anyway, I prefer the gunmetal or cast center finish over the shine in the wheels that are shown, as it has a more distinctive look and contrast(rim edge to center to cap/lugs)...where all polished gets 'alittle glossed over' and lost to me
Avon tires are from the UK and are a performance/race type of brand, and offer a "V" rated(149mph) tire CR6ZZ, which(IMHO) has a vintage look....they are said to have a very stiff sidewall to help with cornering side loads with the small rim to larger sidewall when using 15" diameter rims and 26"~27" diameter tires...however they are very high priced
http://www.sascosports.com/products/...php?type_id=39
$377 245/60R15 ~10" wide
$429 275/55R15 ~11" wide
$444 295/50R15 ~12" wide
(note that those prices are for one tire, where a set of four passenger car 15" tires or performance 17" tires might total close to that price)
the other tire option for a 15" rim is much more reasonable in price(about half the price as Avon, tho still slightly higher than what you might find in a performance 17" tire), and has a more modern looking directional tread pattern from Micky Thomson, a brand that is known for radical performance tires across many different types of vehicles/uses: strip/track/street/off-road ...the Sportsman S/R carries a "H"(130mph) speed rating
http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/s...em=SportsmanSR
$191 26X10.00R15LT
$210 26X12.00R15LT
(I have a set of these with the 10" wide tread on 15x8 Corvette YJ8 aluminum rims)
if you are not getting one of those two tires, I would not get 15" diameter wheels...as the other lower performing passenger car tires that you are limited to buying today have no business being on a higher demanding car like a Corvette
...anyway, I prefer the gunmetal or cast center finish over the shine in the wheels that are shown, as it has a more distinctive look and contrast(rim edge to center to cap/lugs)...where all polished gets 'alittle glossed over' and lost to me
Last edited by T Rush; 03-15-2011 at 11:18 AM.
#18
Terrorizing Orange Cones
FWIW, I chose grey-spoked wheels and mounted yellow coated calipers also. Other than wiring or a hose, it's the only visible yellow on the car.
They're not for everyone (18x8 and 18x9.5) and they do get a lot of positive comments. Mostly... I like them.
They're not for everyone (18x8 and 18x9.5) and they do get a lot of positive comments. Mostly... I like them.
#19
Burning Brakes
They just fit the era better ...and I'm nostalgic I guess
BTW...nice work on the resto ...
Bob G