Tire question

[Robert]

Hello everyone! I am new to the forum. I just purchased a 1984 Light Bronze Corvette. Reading this forum helped me make a decision to buy it.

It has 98,000 on it and I got it for $4000.00. I am not sure if I got a super deal...but truly think I got a good deal.

Anyway.....it has brand new 250/50R16 Grand Spirit Aqua Flow GTX's on the rear. Fronts are Goodyear 225/50R16's and worn. The sticker on the door says they should all be the same size and directional.

Problem is, Grand Spirit no longer makes 250's. I can get 245's so the tread will match. Then I will not be able to rotate front to back.

I really hate to dump brand new tires to get a complete matching set. I am asking then...should I just go with the 245's on the front.....let them all wear down and then get new tires......maybe years from now. I do not plan on driving the car very much at all.


Thank you all for your wonderful forum.

Robert

 

[craig0ry]

Get the 245's. I doubt the 10 mm difference will cause you to understeer, seeing as it doesn't appear you have plans to road race/autocross or even aggressively drive it on the street...

 

[Robert]

Thanks Craig. I kind of thought the same thing. I mean, I drove it home with the worn Goodyears and thought it drove great!!

You are right, I will never notice the difference and not many people looking at the car will realize the size difference, they will just see Aqua Flow GTX.

Thanks

 

[zog]

My 86 came with 255x50x16's....if you go with the 255 instead of the 245, then the tires are only 5mm different....plus, that is probably the size the car came with....good luck

 

[jdenn47]

Looking for a Tire match too

I just bought an 86 and it came with 2 new Dunlops, SP Sport 8000 on the rear and 2 fair tires on the front. They are Yokohamas, A-403 P255/50R16 99V.
The owner also had 1 new tire that is alo Yokohama A-403. I would like to use it when the others wear out, but can't find that type anywhere. Even looked on E-Bay. Any ideas or should I just buy 2 new Dunlops like the ones on the rear ?

 

[Robert]

jdenn, I don't really know. I would just go to some tire dealers and ask what they have. You may have to do what I am doing.

I am going tomorrow and getting a size smaller with the same tread pattern as the rear. The only thing they discontinued was the size.

Robert

 

[G Winter]

Robert.
If the car is in nice shape, I think you got a super buy. Around my area you wouldn't touch that for under 6k. [

 

[taegdh]

I'd do it in steps.
In your case where your back ones seem to be a tad small, I would buy a pair of KUMHO 255/50WR16's.
Rotate the rear ones to the front and put the new ones out back.
I've had the Kumho's on mine since DEC 01, good quality tire, I don't push the limits of my physical and mental capacity, nor the car's.

Good Luck!

 

[laborisfree]

I love my lt bronze 1984. It drives like it is on rails and starts and runs like a dream. I have about 6 k in mine but i have restored it and replaced several parts ( all minor or cosmetic) bought new tires, stereo, upgrades the suspention and painted it. So if your is in good shape at 4 k I'd say you did well.

 

[chevyaddict]

Congrats on the purchase and Welcome! I love my 84 as well. I don't have the same size tires all the way around. I can't recall off hand the tire size (car is at home) but I have 17 X 9.5 on the front and 17 X 11 rims on the rear (with the appropriate offset of course). Yes, it is true that not being able to rotate disallows long tire life. Otherwise there really is no reason in keeping them the same. Just my thoughts.....

 

[Robert]

Well, I am back to square one.

All Grand Spirits have been discontinued. I have been to 4 dealers and no one has any of any size.

My brother has Kumhos on his '53 Ford truck and says they are a good tire at a great deal.....so if I want the tread to match (and I am a stickler for matching tread) I will have to get 4 new tires.

Robert

 

[Hib Halverson]

Hello everyone! I am new to the forum. I just purchased a 1984 Light Bronze Corvette. Reading this forum helped me make a decision to buy it.

It has 98,000 on it and I got it for $4000.00. I am not sure if I got a super deal...but truly think I got a good deal.

Anyway.....it has brand new 250/50R16 Grand Spirit Aqua Flow GTX's on the rear. Fronts are Goodyear 225/50R16's and worn. The sticker on the door says they should all be the same size and directional.

Problem is, Grand Spirit no longer makes 250's. I can get 245's so the tread will match. Then I will not be able to rotate front to back.

I really hate to dump brand new tires to get a complete matching set. I am asking then...should I just go with the 245's on the front.....let them all wear down and then get new tires......maybe years from now. I do not plan on driving the car very much at all.


Thank you all for your wonderful forum.

Robert

Check your tires on the rear again, they are probably 255/50VR16s and that is the OE size for 1984. A car with 225/50VR16s or 245s on the front will not handle quite as well as it should.

If "Grand Spirit" no longer makes the tires you need, try Goodyear's F1 GS. I believe it is still available in 255/50-16. The F1 GS is a very good tire for that size, though the price is fairly high. If price is more important than performance, the aforementioned Kumhos and perhaps other Korean or Japanese companies might make tires in that size.

 

[Robert]

Thank you Hib.


Price is not a consideration....well to a point it isn't!!

I will check out the tires you recommend.

Robert