LT4 What kind of tires are on your LT4

[jeffnoa]

I bought a 96LT-4 convertible two years ago with what must have been a NOS set of Goodyear GSCs. They look almost brand new and had the tread depth of brand new tires. So the other day I was curious of their age and found out that the tires were all manufactured between 1996 and 1998. So now I need a set of new tires. I live in FL and only drive the car on weekends. I've only put about 6,000 miles on them in two year. No rain, no racing.

 

[Hib Halverson]

If you want a replacement of the GS-Cs, the Goodyear F1 GS-D3 is the tire to use. I've used them on both my 95, my 04 and on my 01 Camaro and they're great tires.

 

[radar1]

C-4 Tires

I have Vredestein on my 1996 LT-4 ..It is driven hard sometimes rain and dry..Cheeper that The F-1s look cool the Vett goies were I point it. I don't know alot about life of the tire .Work great on my Vette.. The Germans put them on High end German autos..Give them a look...

 

[Tuna]

If you want a replacement of the GS-Cs, the Goodyear F1 GS-D3 is the tire to use. I've used them on both my 95, my 04 and on my 01 Camaro and they're great tires.

D3's get my vote also.

 

[Fick]

D3's get my vote also.

D3's here also. Replaced the Pilot Sports and like the D3's more.

 

[Kevin Doyle]

NiItto 555s here,Kevin.

 

[rmonty]

I had to replace my tires last summer, tried to get the Goodyear D3's but kept getting told by various tire shops that they were on back order with no expected date for production. I ended up buying a set of Kuhmo ECSTA ASX's all around. They have been great tires, good ride and traction and look OK too.

 

[j3rd]

BF Goodrich All the Way

BF Goodrich TA-KDW v2 (or newer if they revised them again)
- Most likely you won't see the v2 unless they happen to still have the old ones in stock. Bought mine last year so I doubt it.
Hands down the best tire you can get. Although I have wheels from a 06' Z06 so not sure if they come in stock sizing. I'm running 18x10" up front and 19x10.5" in the rear. Paid $306/ea for fronts and $360/ea for rears. Amazing wet/dry traction. They tend to turn hard and lose some grip when used in cold weather though. And by cold I mean below 45 degrees ish. Shouldn't be a problem for most people. From what I've read they should be good for about 20,000 miles if driven normally. Much better than the 12,000 miles (if your lucky) from the stock GoodYear tires. I'm at 5000 miles now and drive a mix of normal and aggressive driving. They are easily less than 25% worn.

 

[aligator]

Goodyear Eagle Fi GS-D3

 

[Hib Halverson]

BF Goodrich TA-KDW v2 (or newer if they revised them again)
- Most likely you won't see the v2 unless they happen to still have the old ones in stock. Bought mine last year so I doubt it.
Hands down the best tire you can get. Although I have wheels from a 06' Z06 so not sure if they come in stock sizing. I'm running 18x10" up front and 19x10.5" in the rear. Paid $306/ea for fronts and $360/ea for rears. Amazing wet/dry traction. They tend to turn hard and lose some grip when used in cold weather though. And by cold I mean below 45 degrees ish. Shouldn't be a problem for most people. From what I've read they should be good for about 20,000 miles if driven normally. Much better than the 12,000 miles (if your lucky) from the stock GoodYear tires. I'm at 5000 miles now and drive a mix of normal and aggressive driving. They are easily less than 25% worn.

View attachment 3034

The OP is asking about stock tires sizes. Does Goodrich have the KDWv2 in 255/45ZR17 and 285/40ZR17?

 

[j3rd]

From BFgoodrich.com

205/40zr16/xl
 
205/45zr16/xl
 
205/50zr16
 
205/55zr16
 
215/40zr16/xl
 
225/45zr16
 
225/50zr16
 
225/55zr16
 
205/40zr17/xl
 
205/45zr17/xl
 
205/50r17/xl
 
215/40zr17/xl
 
215/45r17/xl
 
215/50zr17
 
225/45zr17
 
225/50zr17
 
235/40zr17/xl
 
235/45zr17
 
235/50zr17
 
235/55zr17
 
245/40zr17
 
245/45zr17
 
255/40zr17
 
275/40zr17
 
215/35zr18/xl
 
215/40zr18
 
225/35r18/xl
 
225/40r18/xl
 
225/45zr18
 
235/35zr18/xl
 
235/40zr18/xl
 
235/50zr18
 
245/35zr18
 
245/40zr18
 
245/45zr18
 
255/35zr18/xl
 
255/40zr18
 
255/45zr18
 
265/35zr18
 
275/35zr18
 
275/40zr18
 
285/30zr18/xl
 
285/60r18/xl
 
295/35zr18
 
335/30zr18
 
215/35zr19/xl
 
225/35zr19/xl
 
235/35zr19/xl
 
245/35r19/xl
 
245/40zr19/xl
 
255/35zr19/xl
 
265/30zr19/xl
 
275/35zr19
 
285/35zr19
 
295/35zr19
 
225/30zr20/xl
 
225/35zr20/xl
 
245/30zr20/xl
 
245/35zr20/xl
 
245/40zr20
 
255/30zr20/xl
 
255/35zr20/xl
 
265/30zr20/xl
 
265/35zr20/xl
 
265/50r20/xl
 
275/35zr20
 
285/30zr20/xl
 
285/55r20/xl
 
295/40zr20
 
295/45r20/xl
 
285/35zr22/xl
 
305/40zr22/xl
 
lt325/55r22/d
 
305/35r24/xl

 

[lqueral]

tires

I replaced my OEM Goodyear GS-C runflats with Firestone Firehawk Wide Ovals (non runflats) in the OEM sizes and am AMAZED at how much nicer my car is to drive. Quieter and sooo much softer over bumps. I might not want to go Sunday racing with these tires (I might consider it), but I'm very satisfied in the performance vs cost factor. Paid around $185 per tire. I don't drive in cold weather (below 50) or in the rain.

 

[Roadster Guy]

Put new Pilot Sports on last summer....very happy with them.

 

[boomer]

I got Firestone Wide Ovals last spring and like them much better than the Pilot Sports I had previously. I don't do any hard-core driving, but they handle just as nice, and, as lqueral mentioned, seem to be quieter and even alittle smoother riding.

 

[Idaho Slim]

If you want a replacement of the GS-Cs, the Goodyear F1 GS-D3 is the tire to use. I've used them on both my 95, my 04 and on my 01 Camaro and they're great tires.

I only see the size available as 285/40ZR17, what about the fronts?:confused

 

[LT4man]

I only see the size available as 285/40ZR17, what about the fronts?:confused

Fronts are being built now. They were not being made for over a year.

I bought fronts for mine about a month ago.

The Goodyear F1 GS D3s are awesome.

Personally tested in torrential downpours in the Florida panhandle.

After buying you D3s, please be sure to SAVE the WAVE!

 

[Tuna]

I only see the size available as 285/40ZR17, what about the fronts?:confused

tirerack.com shows D3s in 255/45/17 and 285/40/17 in stock but not many.

tirerack.com also shows the D3 in 275/40/17.

If you put a 9.5 wide wheel on the front you can use the 275 or 285 on all 4 corners like the 92 and earlier model Vettes used.

 

[nearone]

Kuhmo vs Goodyear

I thought I wanted more miles for my dollars and put a set of Kuhmo tires on my 96 LT4 Convertible. They claimed 40K would probably be the number.
I was definitely disappointed. I didn't want to pull them off till they were worn, but the handling changed dramatically. I spend a lot of time on freeways at 80 to 100 and the Kuhmo tires are just too hard. The ride was not satisfying. The anti-skid light comes on too often on acceleration also.

I took 3 months to find a set of F1's but what a difference. over 80 the handling is so different. It is like being on the road again. They are so comfortable being a softer tire they feel great at speed. You never feel out of control, even on bumpy surfaces like expansion strips. I feel stuck on the road again. They don't let go on hard acceleration from stops.

I don't expect to get more than 20-25K miles on this set and I paid $600 more for the set than the Kuhmo's, but I feel much safer and in control.
I have 209,000 miles on my car and I will never go off the Goodyears again.

Make sure you plan ahead for the F1's. They are a limited production tire in the Corvette sizes. They just had a run in March 2011 and may not produce them again until 2012. BMW's are using the same sizes and dwindling our supply of the 255/45 ZR17 front set. The 285/40 ZR17 rear set seems to be available everywhere though.

I know I accelerate too hard and drive too fast, but the engine sounds so fantastic over 3500 rpm. Isn't that what Vettes are for?

 

[Tuna]

I know I accelerate too hard and drive too fast, but the engine sounds so fantastic over 3500 rpm. Isn't that what Vettes are for?

AMEN!

 

[LT4CE]

I know I accelerate too hard and drive too fast, but the engine sounds so fantastic over 3500 rpm. Isn't that what Vettes are for?

I hear ya! The LT4 comes alive ABSOLUTELY at high rpm! I love the way I feel it take off at around 4000 rpm. Tough to do in 3rd or 4th gear, if you want to obey any posted speed limits, but well worth it all the same!