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Tires?

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Old 05-05-2008, 01:10 AM
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Car: 1983 Z28 White/T-tops
Engine: LG4 5.0
Tires?

I have an 83 Z28 LG4, wanted to know what tires came with the car from the factory. I'm trying to keep my car as close to factory condition as possible, I have the tire size from the owners manual but unsure as to the manufacturer.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Old 05-05-2008, 06:44 AM
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Re: Tires?

I think Eagle GT+4

They don't make them anymore. Could be white letter or totally black side wall I think as well.
Old 05-05-2008, 09:53 AM
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Re: Tires?

Because you do not have an RPO sheet it will be more difficult to tell what you originally had...

You MIGHT find some Old stock but I would be really cautious about using them on the road as tires tend to rot afer a few years. I know some people buy NEW tires and rims and then when they get to a show they put on the originals... OR you might look at some of the tire web sites and see what has replaced them. tirerack shows a Goodyear Eagle GT-HR which is probably the closest you will find to the +4 http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....nSpeedRating=S
Old 05-05-2008, 08:41 PM
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Re: Tires?

In 1983, the tires were GoodYear Eagle GTs at 215/65-15. The +4 Eagles were a later replacement tire not used on the Camaro in 1983.
Old 05-05-2008, 11:39 PM
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Car: 1983 Z28 White/T-tops
Engine: LG4 5.0
Re: Tires?

Thanks for the info guys. I did see the Eagle GT's on the brochure for that year but was hoping maybe it was an upgrade/option.
From the looks of it they seem similar to the GT II no?
I have the GTII's on my 98 Firebird and I like those.

This is what I have right now from previous owner,
I guess I can try and hunt down a set of GT's. Wonder if the GTII's came in that size
Old 05-06-2008, 12:10 AM
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Re: Tires?

Originally Posted by scottmoyer
In 1983, the tires were GoodYear Eagle GTs at 215/65-15. The +4 Eagles were a later replacement tire not used on the Camaro in 1983.


Also, the letters weren't solid white. They were only outlined in white.
Old 05-06-2008, 02:21 AM
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Car: Red 87 IROC-Z28 T-Top
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Re: Tires?

SM is correct on early Z28 tire models. This is probably the closest thing but in the wrong size of course: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....l=Eagle+GT%2B4 Or maybe these: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....el=Eagle+GT+II Okfoz's link has the only ones that come in the stock size.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....e+ZR+Gatorback

Of course not in the stock IROC-Z size but same name heheh. I wish Coker would come out with originals for our cars. There really isn't many good performance tires for the IROC-Z guys anymore either.
Old 05-06-2008, 06:22 AM
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Re: Tires?

I wouldn't waste my time looking for a set of original GTs. Tire rubber has a lifespan of about 8 years. Anything after that and they could pose a hazzard. Replacement tires are always accepted at shows as long as they are the same size. It's best to have the same manufacturer's replacement tire but again most shows look the other way. My car has been juded many times and I have never been docked for the tires. I am running Dunlop tires and the originals were Gatorbacks. Goodyear just charges too much for tires that don't last. I need new tires now since the Dunlops are 8 years old. Better safe than sorry.
Old 05-06-2008, 10:38 AM
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Car: 1983 Z28 White/T-tops
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Re: Tires?

WOW!! Thanks so much for all the info guys.

I think in the end I'll just wait a bit and buy a nice set of 16 or 17 replica Iroc wheels and a nice set of tires for those so I can use to cruise around town and slap these back on for the show.

The history/restoration board is quickly becoming my favorite, I spent almost two hours here just last night. Thanks again for all the info.
Old 05-08-2008, 03:27 AM
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Re: Tires?

To add a little more to the excellent information above is that some late run '83 Z28s came with black letter Eagle GT's(RPO-QYZ I think).It is a shame Coker hasn't come out with a repro of these tires since they were used on many cars during the early '80s.
Old 05-08-2008, 06:28 PM
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Re: Tires?

On a Z28 in 1983 you got P215-65R-15s Eagle GTs Raised Outline Letter. Much like these:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....+White+Letters

For a $92 credit you could get the same tire in Blackwall. The Blackwall version gained popularity in 1984.

btw, contrary to what was said before the Goodyear Eagle GTs were excellent performance tire for the day. The Z28 achieved .82 on the skid pad which was tops for its class. The corvette achieve only .86 with much wider tires. In addition the tire would only last about 25000 miles. The rubber was fairly soft.
Old 05-08-2008, 06:38 PM
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Car: Red 87 IROC-Z28 T-Top
Engine: 5.7 Tuned Port Injection
Transmission: 700R4 Auto
Axle/Gears: BW 9-Bolt 3.27
Re: Tires?

Those are very close to the originals but are only available in 17's with the outline like stock, of course. The IROC-Z's tires were pretty good performance tires as they helped them get outstanding performance numbers from the extra suspension work they had over Z28's, but still not great compared to todays stuff. I wonder what the numbers would have been if they had todays tire tech and rims sizes and all at the time heheh. Probably a decent amount higher on already great stats.
Old 05-11-2008, 11:09 PM
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Re: Tires?

From what I remember in '84 the LG4 cars got the outlined raised white letter
Goodyear Eagle GT's (RPO QYH) and the L69 Z28's got the raised black letter
Eagle GT's (RPO QYZ) which were H speed rated. Both sized 215/65/15.
Old 05-12-2008, 07:28 AM
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Car: 83 Z28
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Re: Tires?

Originally Posted by David M
From what I remember in '84 the LG4 cars got the outlined raised white letter
Goodyear Eagle GT's (RPO QYH) and the L69 Z28's got the raised black letter
Eagle GT's (RPO QYZ) which were H speed rated. Both sized 215/65/15.

that is correct.
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