Owners of some Chevy Corvette C7 models who require replacement rear tires may face delays due to low supply, GM Authority has learned.
Here’s what happened: all tire manufacturers were affected by factory shutdowns in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, tire supply worldwide fell to sub-optimal figures. Once production started back up, tire manufacturers began to focus on replenishing stocks at resellers and distributors.
As it stands, tire makers currently seem to be prioritizing refilling stocks of mainstream tire sizes, rather than the comparatively niche sizes used on the C7 Corvette. As a result, most tire companies that typically supply tires for the C7 are either not producing tires that would fill most variants, or have only recently started to do so.
Luckily, not all models of the Corvette C7 are impacted by the situation. For instance, the C7 Stingray and its 285-30-20 rear tires are not affected. However, supply of rear tires for all other C7 model variants – the C7 Z06, C7 Grand Sport and C7 ZR1, is minimal, if not non-existent. All three models run on 335-25-20 rears.
The problem here is that the 335-25-20 is a very unusual size when taking into account the auto industry. Understandably, the manufacturers have decided to focus on replenishing stocks of smaller, more popular tires which are in outstandingly greater demand.
As of this writing, the only rear tire suitable for Corvette C7 models other than the Stingray that’s not on back order appears to be the Michelin Pilot Sport AS3+, which has returned to production only within the last month. Other tires in this size made by Michelin, Bridgestone and Continental are simply not available at most, if not all, tire retailers and resellers around the United States.
“The issues are related to our spring shutdowns and higher than expected demand in the fall,” a spokesperson for Continental Tire told GM Authority in a statement.
Luckily, the situation should be changing very soon, as those familiar with the matter tell us that production of the 335-25-20 rear tires suitable for the Z06, Grand Sport and ZR1 could be restarted as soon as as mid-March, meaning owners will have to wait patiently for delivery.
As a reminder, the Corvette C7 was offered in four variants, starting the “base” Stingray powered by the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT1 engine rated at 455 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, or 460 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque with the optional performance exhaust system. Next came the C7 Z06 with its supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 engine rated at 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque.
The C7 Grand Sport came after that, powered by the same atmospheric LT1 as the Stingray, but making 460 horses and 465 pound-feet of torque, since it was equipped as standard with the performance exhaust. Last but certainly not least was the C7 ZR1, featuring the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT5 engine rated at 755 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of torque. All four variants were offered in two-door coupe (with a manually-removable roof panel) or the soft-top convertible.
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Comments
Aboslutely a problem, I’ve been babying my ’17 Z06 with it’s original tires still in place after 12,500 mile. The tread is good still but time is running out. I closely monitor tire pressure keeping it at 30 psig which seems to be greatly contributing to the life of the tires.
I’m in the same boat. In the process of switching to non run flats on my Z06 and have been waiting on the rears for 3 months already. Babying the original pilots super sports but they are getting bald.
Same, I only drive it on nice days so I have decided to run the fronts until the cords show…then film a good burny with what’s left of the rears…. Lookin’ at some Firestone’s but I will definitely miss the Pilots…..I bought my black on chrome with red ’19 Z06 new and it the best handling car I have ever driven, the term god level comes to mind.
Shout out to all my fellow Vette owners out there that keep’em slick and polished like they should be!!
This issue goes way back to late summer 2020; where have you been?
Mike,
Took the words from my mouth! Perhaps Mr. Finlay is also unaware that WWII ended back in ’45!
Montana Bob
Availability started to get substantially worse at the turn of the year, hence the report.
Bought my 2018 Z06 tires on Amazon! Michelin AS3+
I paid $450 each for the rear (stock size) and $285 each for the front (also stock size) in December 2020. It cost me another 800 to mount them, which included 4 new TPMS @ 100 each. Love there is no more chatter with cold turning out my driveway here in NJ. Mosty garaged in winter, but I will not have to worry about any temps at or below 40 degrees any more once the roads are salt free. Good luck finding any AS3+, I hear they are now discontinued. Stick with all-seasons if you are not tracking your Vette. I have a convertible – never been to the track.
This has been going on for some time, I’ve been dreading the day I had to replace them cause they tears especially are very difficult to change. I was a Super Car Saturday at a Lamborghini Dealer which they allowed us to walk around. I asked a mechanic if the changed tires on others cars as I noticed the $40K tire changing machine. He said of course and he asked me what kind of car, I stated a Z06. He said yeah, but they’re really tough, he then showed me a video of them putting either in the tire and then igniting it to pop the tire bead on the rim, crazy an explosion to mount your tire. COSTCO won’t mount them, according to their website. Now you can’t even get the tires.
Been mounting tires like that for years
The Michelin AS3 is a an excellent tire, if that’s your only option and it’s in stock, no tears.
One of the best-looking Corvettes ever created. The other might be the 81 C-3 Corvette. The new Corvettes might take some getting used too before it matures into something really good-looking. Right now it looks good.
Literally took me 5 seconds to find 335/25/20 in stock. First site I visited, simpletire.com, has them in stock. Yawn. At least make it hard for me.
Adam – try actually buying them. They’re simply not available. They might be listed as such, but there is literally no supply of them.
Tire Rack shows the original Pilot rears available 3/27/21. Fronts in stock.
It ain’t hard. Good god
https://simpletire.com/brands/michelin-tires/pilot-sport-a-s-3-plus#v=1&tireSize=335-25zr20&mpn=36994
Adam,
Go easy man! You’re only telling one half of the story!
Many of us want the Pilot Super Sports (PSS) the which been unavailable, every time that I’ve checked, since late spring of 2020. The availability of the A/S 3 +’s have been spotty during the same time frame. I speak mainly of the rears, Adam, lest you jump on me regarding the fronts; i.e., the 285’s, which have been available for most of that period.
As for me personally, I have two sets of wheels. On one set I have the Pilot Super Sports, which I run in the summer months. I run A/S 3+s’ on the second set the rest of the year. (I drive my car, a 2018 Z06/Z07, in the winter, providing the roads are dry and free of snow, hence the A/S 3+’s.) In my experience, I find the PSS’s to handle much better than the A/S 3+’s, as long as the the temps are above 70 or 75 and, of course, if the pavement is is dry.
Oh, almost forgot, SimpleTire shows ONLY the A/S 3+’s.
Montana Bob
Adam – as per my comment above, try actually buying those tires. They are not available, despite being listed as such. There is either very little or no supply, period.
The writer of this article needs to be properly informed that the information in the article is off, the C7 first produced in 2014 was the Stingray produced in 2 performance variants, the base and the Z51 which had upgraded brakes, exhaust, suspension and larger wheels and tires, the Z51 has specific spec tires designed for track use 245/35 R 19 and 285/30 R 20,, in 2015 the Z06, then 2017 the Grand Sport both have wider wheels and tires also designed for the track both have 285/30R 19 front and 335/25R 20 rear…2019 ZR1 carries the same….the C7 has five different performance packages; the Base Stingray, Z51 Stingray, Z06, Grand Sport and the ZR1…the spec Michelins designed for C7 have always been hard to find and are worthless in colder climates, the A3 works much better for daily driving and the newer A4 works better on the track, but not as sticky as the speced Pilot Super Sports…in my opinion.
“The writer of this article needs to be properly informed that the information in the article is off”
In what way is the information “off”, Bill?
Are you arguing that the Z51 is a variant? If so, you’re incorrect. The Z51 is a package added to the Stingray, in much the same way that the Z07 is a package that can be added to the Z06 or Grand Sport. Neither the Z51 nor the Z07 are variants, since both are packages.
Conclusion: the information in the article is actually SPOT ON. We’ll patiently await the retraction of your comment.
Last but certainly not LEAST……(sheesh).