Vette/Berlina-coupe
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2002
- Messages
- 284
- Location
- southern california
- Corvette
- C3-coupe/MercedesBenz-540K replica! Racing-SB-V8!
Rear 255-70R tire-size clearance on C3...
A.) -just installed a pair of 255-70R's on my factory 8"x15"steel/rally-wheels (really some heafty meat i would like to stay with rather than 235-75R's), and while the outer-sidewall clearance at the wheel-arch is just enough to slip your finger-tips through, -the inner-sidewall clearance seems problematically terribly close relative to the chassis particularly at the aftward half of the tire-sidewall... -thus would appreciate any first-hand advise about this situation or how to possibly alleviate any rubbing at the mentioned tight region...
~Bob vH
;help
B.) Joe/MaineShark: -with my driveway my '80Vette needs the added 1-inch ground-clearance, and don't want to install airlift-shocks; -so this is why i am seeking out someone specifically having experience using the above 70's. And thanks for the reminder, --as now at an indicated 70-mph she will be doing an approximate actual 74mph; --so will need to keep it down to say 66-mph(indicated) to avoid confrontation with CHiPs!!
C.) Have finally had a chance to look under (was going by hand-feel previously) from both the forward as well as aftward visual aspects of the new-tires, and found that the major interference-condition is aft of the axle, where a flexible fiberglass/splash-panel needs to be either pulled-inboard away from the tire-sidewall (or probably simply trimmed-away entirely in the interference region). The tire-sidewall is a good 1/2"-away from the immediately adjacent antisway-bar (which is ample); --Inspecting forward of the axle one finds that there is at least 1/4"-clearance between the tire-sidewall and the parking-brake flex/cable-armature mooring-bracket (where the R&L/cables enter the backing-plates), --which is probably about all the 60's have as well since it is radially outward of the rim about an inch.
Funny, appears am answering my own quiry here, --but alas, am explaining all of this for anyone who may be contemplating likewise installing such rather heafty 255-70Rx15" -tires. CONCLUSION: -Visually, i rather like the larger size of these tires, which make the 60's appear kinda whimpy in comparison; --plus, with 60's up front one can achieve a slight nose-down look that imparts a more aggressive appearing stance; --although i grant you that they do raise the car's CG slightly, i do not fear this C3 is going to be toppling-over because of it...
A.) -just installed a pair of 255-70R's on my factory 8"x15"steel/rally-wheels (really some heafty meat i would like to stay with rather than 235-75R's), and while the outer-sidewall clearance at the wheel-arch is just enough to slip your finger-tips through, -the inner-sidewall clearance seems problematically terribly close relative to the chassis particularly at the aftward half of the tire-sidewall... -thus would appreciate any first-hand advise about this situation or how to possibly alleviate any rubbing at the mentioned tight region...
~Bob vH
;help
B.) Joe/MaineShark: -with my driveway my '80Vette needs the added 1-inch ground-clearance, and don't want to install airlift-shocks; -so this is why i am seeking out someone specifically having experience using the above 70's. And thanks for the reminder, --as now at an indicated 70-mph she will be doing an approximate actual 74mph; --so will need to keep it down to say 66-mph(indicated) to avoid confrontation with CHiPs!!
C.) Have finally had a chance to look under (was going by hand-feel previously) from both the forward as well as aftward visual aspects of the new-tires, and found that the major interference-condition is aft of the axle, where a flexible fiberglass/splash-panel needs to be either pulled-inboard away from the tire-sidewall (or probably simply trimmed-away entirely in the interference region). The tire-sidewall is a good 1/2"-away from the immediately adjacent antisway-bar (which is ample); --Inspecting forward of the axle one finds that there is at least 1/4"-clearance between the tire-sidewall and the parking-brake flex/cable-armature mooring-bracket (where the R&L/cables enter the backing-plates), --which is probably about all the 60's have as well since it is radially outward of the rim about an inch.
Funny, appears am answering my own quiry here, --but alas, am explaining all of this for anyone who may be contemplating likewise installing such rather heafty 255-70Rx15" -tires. CONCLUSION: -Visually, i rather like the larger size of these tires, which make the 60's appear kinda whimpy in comparison; --plus, with 60's up front one can achieve a slight nose-down look that imparts a more aggressive appearing stance; --although i grant you that they do raise the car's CG slightly, i do not fear this C3 is going to be toppling-over because of it...