1982 Tire Size

[minifridge1138]

Hey everyone,

I was looking online for tires, and searching for the tire size returned 2 results for 1982:
255/60-15
225/70-15

Is one tire size for the Collector's Edition wheel and the other is for the "normal" wheel?
Or is one for the front tire and one for the back tire?

Thanks everyone!

 

[duke94]

My "Corvette restoration guide 1968-1982" says P225/70R15 Blackwalls were "standard" same size with raised white letters was optional and an extra cost option was P255/60R15 and only with raised white letters. The option was available on any model.

 

[Tuna]

The "Black Book" shows that over 19,000 '82 were sold with the optional 255/60/15 tires. The RPO is QXH. Standard tires RPO is QGR.

 

[Phill]

does anybody have a combination of both these sizes on there vette.
225-70-15 up front and 255-60-15 on back.

 

[99 HRDTP]

My Dad's Collector's edition came with 255/60/15's, All '82's came with the same size on the front and back. I ran 255/60's on the front of my '77 and 295/50's on the rear. This was on the factory alum. wheels. Fit well, looked great and handled alot better.

 

[dstrouts]

The 225 is about an inch narrower than the 255. Does anyone know if the 225 was available on the optional aluminum rim or only on a standard rim with hubcap? Or were all the rims the same width?

 

[TJay]

I run 255x60x15 all around on the 72 with stock rims, and run 295x50x15 on the 79. I have no issues with these tire sizes as far as clearance or fit. They all clear my stock trailing arms and emergency brake cables etc. But have read others who have issues, guess I'm lucky.

Hope this helps you, knowing what may work for you.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

does anybody have a combination of both these sizes on there vette.
225-70-15 up front and 255-60-15 on back.

Don't do that. It will look like it's driving uphill all the time.

 

[petes74ttop]

Hi Minifridge1138,
The tire size for the 82 collector edition with aluminum wheels was p255/60r/15 front and rear.
Steel wheel tires were p225/70r/15 front and rear.
Both of these sizes a have a 27.1 diameter.
265/50z/r15 are 25.4 inches in diameter, a reduction in diameter will make your car sit 1 inch lower, which gives you 1 inch less ground clearance and more importantly that messes up your speedo numbers.
On my 74 I have 235/70/r15 on the front and 265/60/r15 in the rear mounted on 15x 10 Western aluminum wheels. I bought the tires thru Goodyear and the all have the same raised white letters, they all have 30,000 thousand miles on them and have plenty of threads left on them. Hope this helps, PG.

 

[Phill]

The tire size for the 82 collector edition with aluminum wheels was p255/60r/15 front and rear.
Steel wheel tires were p225/70r/15 front and rear.
Both of these sizes a have a 27.1 diameter.

Thats what i came up with also same outside diameter. just wondering how a fat and skinny would look with those sizes. i have no clearance issues but the tire sure comes close to the fender when its turned al the way.

 

[minifridge1138]

Currently I have 225-60-15 on all 4 tires.
It is not the Collector's Edition and I'm using the stock wheels.
As near as I can tell, the speedometer is accurate.

I have Firehawk Indy 500 tires.

Clearance is good.
Look is good.
Handling is GREAT!

Thanks for all of the information!

 

[Daryllawman]

Go with 255/60/15 with white letters all the way around.

 

[Hib Halverson]

82 CEs all had the aluminum wheel with 255/60R15s.

I believe that other 82s could be ordered with the larger tire. There were a number of non CE82 ordered with the N90 aluminum wheel option, which was NOT the same wheel which came on CEs and probably mounted either of the two sizes.