Tires for a 87 Z52

[SoLow]

Does anyone have any suggestions as to a replacement tire to replace the 255 /50/VR16 that came on my coupe? Goodyear only has the HP in this size and I don't want to put HP's on it. They aren't the same as what came on it. It also has the BBS 10" wheels. This car has the B1X, B2B, FG3 and Z52 options.

Thanks for any assistance that you may have.

Ed

 

[jsinga]

I have about worn out a set of Firestone SZ50's. The only reason I won't go with the same again is Kumho's are lot cheaper and I have heard good remarks about them.
Look at tirerack.com

JS

 

[Vettelt193]

I have the kumhos and would suggest them to anyone that wants a good deal, and drives their car regularly.... If you don't put that many miles on it, they aren't that great because they tend to get flat spots on the tires when the car sits (they come out after driving a few miles though). My vette is a daily driver... i will order another pair of the kumhos next week to replace the goodyear "bald eagles" that are on there now. I have had Kumhos on the front for a bit less than 10k miles now.

 

[c4cruiser]

Go to www.tirerack.com and use the tire search function. Select Chevrolet, 1987, Corvette and from the list of types of tires, select "Max Performance Summer", "Ultra High Performance Summer" and "Ultra High Performance All-Season". You should get a page something like this:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1.jsp?startIndex=0&vehicleSearch=true&width=255%2F&ratio=50&diameter=16&sortCode=46700&minSpeedRating=V&ratio=50&width=255%2F&diameter=16&minLoad=S&search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemark=1&performance=MP&performance=UHP&performance=UHPAS&speed_rating=VR&speed_rating=WR&speed_rating=YR&speed_rating=ZR&x=17&y=6

The Firestone SZ50EP is supposed to be going away so that's why it's on clearance. The Michlein Pilot Sport is a very good tire but pricey. The Goodyears HP's are fairly decent and much better than the earlier Goodyear tires ever were.

The Kumho 712 is really an entry-level tire and whiel cheap, they probably don't have the handling characteristics of the Michlien or Firestone. I don't know a lot about Dunlops but look at the SP800 not the 5000.

Also read the "Survey Results" as it has comparisons of the tire's performance in wet and dry conditions and overall wear. I don't like to read the purchaser's reviews as they really don't compare to how you drive your car or what specific purpose the tires are for.

 

[fast.asleep]

I know they don't seem to be popular on this board but I use BFG ZR's. As with everything else there is a downside. They are very soft tires so if you like burnout's they won't last long.

But if you want to take those on/offramps 10 - 15 mph faster with almost no body roll look into a set of urethane bushings and the BFG's.
(Yes, Urethane squeaks a little when going over bumps but the handling trade off is more than worth it. I will never go back to rubber )

Will

 

[SoLow]

Thanks for your input...I just ordered the HP's and will let you know how they work. Do you know why there are wires going to the front spindles? I don't think it has the low tire pressure option. I just bought this car and am really excited to whip it back into shape as the previous owner didn't know how to care or respect this kind of auto.

Again thanks for your input....Ed

 

[c4cruiser]

The wires going to the front spindles are for wheel speed sensors. It's part of the ABS system.

The LPTWS system uses a device strapped to the inside of the wheel that sends a radio signal containg pressure information to a receiver in the car. No wires there.

 

[WhalePirot]

Kumho is a Korean tire. I have never found a product from Korea of quality and I have bought all sorts, over the years of travelling there. We call it the "Land of Almost Right", parodying the "Land of Morning Calm" slogan.

There is only one, Goodyear, American tire company. I have had very good luck with my Gatorbacks, the worst trait being increased noise with wear.

While running BFGs now, they have become very slippery with age.

I read the TireRack reviews carefully and try to understand which reviewer drives as I do, with similar expectations. BTW, locally, it is very difficult to find a mounter of tires bought elsewhere and not be ripped, pricewise. TireRack has been very good to me, but the mounting question is still open.