Got new tires today...

[Edmond]

Firestone SZ50's on all fours. Wow, what a improvement over what I had. They're so smooth and quiet; with the way I drive, I expect them to last 4-5 years!

Called up the Firestone place this morning and asked them how much it was to install, they said $79. Got there, talked to the guy and he asked me what kind of car and says, "Oh, the Corvette is a different price." I wasn't pleased, but did it any way because I didn't want to haul 4 huge tires for 15 miles on a spare.

Paid $186 for each tire from the Rack and $120 for installation.

 

[JT ZR-Won]

Cool Edmond! I'd like to do a little tire upgrade myself. Hopefully next year. New tires make a difference

Jay

 

[6 Shooter]

Cool !

U going 2 look @ that C4 then tonight?

 

[Edmond]

Cool !

U going 2 look @ that C4 then tonight?

Talked to Tom on the telephone yesterday and it looks like they're having a small problem that they want to take care of before Tom wants me to make the trip. I told him to leave me a message and I'll check it out.

 

[Springer's LT4]

Good choice on tires... one of the few that I'll run on my vette and I've had them on my 86, 95 and 96.

 

[6 Shooter]

Talked to Tom on the telephone yesterday and it looks like they're having a small problem that they want to take care of before Tom wants me to make the trip. I told him to leave me a message and I'll check it out.

Great !

I'm sure u r Glad 2 b back on da road n ur Vette !

 

[Edmond]

You LT4 guys have bigger tires in the rear right? So I guess there is no rotating for you guys? That kind of stinks.

Yeah, I'm glad to be back on the road. Unfortunately, we're in mid-November and pretty soon the scary white stuff is going to be falling from the sky.:cry Winter isn't really that bad because it give's you an opportunity to do work that you probably wouldn't do if you could drive the car year round. I did some nice things last winter and the ride quality improved by 100%. Just little things like:

Bosch +4's
new A/C Delco wires
exhaust manifold
front y-pipe
alternator
Flowmaster cat-back
tranny fluid change

This winter it should be:

coolant change
clean out the radiator
I'd like to do the weather strip, but that's $$$
front/rear brakes

All in all, not bad for a daily cruiser!

 

[Vettelt193]

not all LT4's... Those of us with Z51 have matching wheels and tires... 275/40/17's on all four corners. Without Z51 you get 285/40/17 rear, 255/45/17 front... that is the same for all non Z51, non ZR1, non GS from 1993-1996

 

[Springer's LT4]

94 (if i recall) and up the changes from 17 x 9.5 all the way around to 17 x 8.5's in the front and 9.5's in the rear unless you got the Z51 or Z07 option. I myself run aftermarket wheels with 285/40/17's all the way around... I'd love to go 315's on the back, but I like to be able to rotate the tires! Saves a lot of rubber in the long run.

 

[6 Shooter]

You LT4 guys have bigger tires in the rear right? So I guess there is no rotating for you guys? That kind of stinks.

Edmond,

I have the Z51 suspension pkg. on my LT4 which has 275's on all 4 corners with the UJ6 option (Low Tire Pressure) that supposedly has a different type sensor mounted in the driver's side front wheel which will make rotations a bit of a challenge.

6 Shooter

 

[British Bob]

New Tyres!!!

Hi,

Just put new tyres on mine, rears are 315 / 35 / 17's at £260 + vat each !!!!

Expencive hobby this but I love It, Have 5 spoke Borbett alloys all round which I keep well away from the kerb side as couldnt afford to replace.

Cheers

British Bob

 

[69MyWay]

I went from BFG tires to Firestone SO2 (now I guess they are up to SO3(?),,,,anyway, the difference is out of this world. With my modified engine I would slide the tail of the car all over the road pulling into the street, or taking second with part throttle, and it was a white knuckle ride at full throttle.

The minute I pulled onto the road with the new tires and punched the gas, I thought sombody had I had lost 50 hp because it did not slip and spin, then I realized it was like I gained 100 hp because the car just locked on target and accelerated like a missle. What a difference the rubbber compound can make. The softer newer tires won't last as long, but they are amazing. I can't imagine how much better the newest design is.

I bought mine for like $145 each or something like that on a clearance sale.

 

[Eagle85C4]

This summer I put new SZ-50's on mine and they are great in the rain as well as dry...but WARNING...they change dramatically when the weather gets cold...you have to be carefull because they will become loose in a heartbeat. They are a great late spring, summer and early fall tire. Not meant for the winter as they become hard and unforgiving...

 

[vms4evr]

I agree with you Eagle. I mentioned that to Edmond when I recommended the SZ50s. I drive mine year round here in NC. And while winters aren't abusive I do end up driving the highway in 20-40deg weather. When they are stone cold they do handle different. Not sure that I find them dangerous though.
Your 85 with the Z51 has stiffer suspension than my 92 with standard suspension. So mine is more fogiving on bumps and uneven surface. That may play into the equation.
After 25K miles over a 20 month period though I still like the tires. Now I'm on that second layer they talk about that is supposed to help keep the handling up to par. I beleive it is a harder compound than the surface layer. So this winter might be worse than last year. We'll see...

Hope you enjoy those tires Edmond!

Graham

 

[Eagle85C4]

Well I will say this....when the lottery check arrives in May I am going for the ZR-1 chrome 17" rims and will be going with.....275-40-17 SZ-50's I really like the way they handle regardless of the cold problem. Guess I should light them up prior to leaving in the morning....wonder what the neighbors would think? I could always weave like the NASCAR boy's do on the track....way to meet the neighborhood cops....
I will be in Nags Head in June...and a side trip down to Jacksonville to see the old stomping grounds at New River Air Station....ooorah

 

[larryfs]

SZ50's turns to rocks at 35 degrees and become very slick. mine spin at every traffic light with very light throttle. I won't buy them again for that kind of money.

I just ordered $108 kumho's. these seem to also harden up in the cold, but not nearly as bad.

is anybody able to get into the corvetteforum sections? I can't get past the main page.