1995 With Original Tires - Looking for Opinions

[TBH94]

Hello All,

I have a '95 Admiral Blue/ Blk Interior ZR1 with 18k miles on it. I have owned it about a year now. From what I can tell, the car appears to be all original with the exception of the windshield that was replaced with a proper ZR1 windshield. Including the tires.

The question I have is, keep the original tires on the car? They are not dry or cracked but they are 30 years old! I plan to drive the car. Not a lot. Probably around 1k miles a year. For safety sake, I think I should replace them but I love the originality of the car. It was a one owner car.

If replacing, do you think it is worth it to keep the originals?

Thoughts and opinions?

Thanks in advance.

[bob@tradeshowconsulting.c]

I would keep the original tires.. for the future NCRS owner .
I have the original tires for my 93 ZR1 wrapped and stored for the future
owner(s) we dont live forever...but the cars have a chance

Awesome color .. you going to get Michelin Pilots ?

[TBH94]

That is what I am thinking unless someone says no, keep them on the car.

Michelins or Nitto's. Any experience with either?

Thank you for the compliment! Love the color combo. I looked for about 10 years for this combo. They come up for sale rarely. When it came up for sale, I jumped on it. Dream car. I smile ear to ear every time I see it sitting in my garage.

[Mikey]

Get the Michelins. Wrap the originals with black pallet wrap. Reduce air pressure to 10psi if leaving them mounted on wheels. Store on side.
If dismounting, then after you wrap the exterior with pallet wrap, put each one in 55gal heavy duty trash bags and use shop vac to suck the air out and seal it up.
This will significantly slow any further aging but still be very careful if putting back on for NCRS judging. I wouldn?t drive on them any faster or further than willing to be doing when a complete blowout occurs.

[zyal8r]

That's a beautiful car - I think it came from Lafontaine? I watched the video on it... love the blue. My '95 came with the original tires, too, but they were very hard (only had 5600 miles on it) when I bought it in 2021. A year after I bought it, I bought a set of well-used '94/'95 wheels, refinished them, bought an extra set of sensors, and put a new set of Michelins on them. Those are on the car now to drive (well, it'll be driven more shortly after it gets a new windshield). I kept the original wheels, sensors, and tires intact, they are now in plastic.

The Michelins are good tires... just wish they were a little more aggressive-looking like the GSCs. I truly wish Coker Tire or someone would remake the GSCs with modern day materials. There's nothing like the look of the GSCs, in my opinion. Closest thing were some BFGs years back, but now we have such a limited selection in stock sizes.

Good luck!

Mike

[efnfast]

Replace them!
I've been happy with the Michelin's, but have no experience with the Nitto's

[TBH94]

Originally Posted by zyal8r

That's a beautiful car - I think it came from Lafontaine? I watched the video on it... love the blue. My '95 came with the original tires, too, but they were very hard (only had 5600 miles on it) when I bought it in 2021. A year after I bought it, I bought a set of well-used '94/'95 wheels, refinished them, bought an extra set of sensors, and put a new set of Michelins on them. Those are on the car now to drive (well, it'll be driven more shortly after it gets a new windshield). I kept the original wheels, sensors, and tires intact, they are now in plastic.

The Michelins are good tires... just wish they were a little more aggressive-looking like the GSCs. I truly wish Coker Tire or someone would remake the GSCs with modern day materials. There's nothing like the look of the GSCs, in my opinion. Closest thing were some BFGs years back, but now we have such a limited selection in stock sizes.

Good luck!

Mike

Yes! This is the one from Lafontaine. The second it hit the internet I called. I tried to negotiate but quickly realized that I had been searching for this car forever and I was not about to let it go. Haha.

What you mention is another option I was contemplating. A completely different set of wheels and then keeping the originals mounted for shows. This may be the way to go. I just need to find a set.

Sounds like the Michelins are the favorite.

[WARP TEN]

I put Michelins on my '95 back in 2015 to replace the horrible Sumitomos. I got them at Costco and the price, installation and service were excellent. The Michelins were slightly wider (335s) than the stock 315s but they fit fine. I had a leaky valve a couple years later and they replaced it for free. --Bob