Jim Ingle on C3 (and C2) ride, handling and high-speed stability

[67HEAVEN]

From the Jan/Feb 1978 issue of VETTE Magazine, written by Roger Huntington...

 

[Roscobbc]

Interesting read - especially re. 60 section rubber. Back then in the late 70's I was driving around humble company repmobiles - usually a Ford Cortina - the stock tyre combo for these was something like a 155/165 80 section 13" tyre. The very first thing I would do when the tyres wore out was to replace with a 185/70 section alternative (later on a 205 60 section) still keeping the same rolling radius.
- this would both sharpen-up the handling and soften the ride slightly. Roll on 20 years and Vette owners were using 235 60 section tyres which always seemed too small in the wheel openings. Roll forward a further 15 years and I am using 40 and 45 section tyres on 18" rims (and keeping OEM tyre diameter!) The difference in traction and handling is amazing - it was almost like having a suspension transplant - 'setting ones self up' for cornering it was like being on rails comparatively - the increase in road noise on poor road surfaces perhaps less agreeable........

 

[CaptainK]

Roll forward a further 15 years and I am using 40 and 45 section tyres on 18" rims (and keeping OEM tyre diameter!) The difference in traction and handling is amazing - it was almost like having a suspension transplant - 'setting ones self up' for cornering it was like being on rails comparatively - the increase in road noise on poor road surfaces perhaps less agreeable........

I'm hoping that my new 17 inch wheels with lower profile tyres will be beneficial to mine too. Like you, I've stuck with the OEM tyre diameter size..... which is actually a little smaller than the tyres that came on my C3 when I bought it - and thus the speedo was out the WRONG way (i.e. actually speeding when you thought you were under the limit). I just have to wait for a few more things on my C3 to be done and then it'll be back on the road.