1997 Chevrolet Corvette Owner's Manual - Page 281

If you ever replace your tires with those not having a TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size, load range,speed rating and construction type(bias, bias-belted or radial) as your original tires. Uniform Tire QualityGrading The following information relates to the system developed by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.) The grades aremolded on the sidewalls of most passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or tosome limited-production tires. While the tires available on General Motors passenger cars and light trucks may vary withrespect to these grades, they must also conform to Federal safety requirements and additional General Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) standards. I \ CAJTION: Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while driving. If you mix tires of different sizes (other than those originally installed on your Corvette) or types (radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle may not handle properly, and you could havea crash. Using tires of different sizes (other than those originally installedon your Corvette) may also cause damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use the correct size and type tires on all four wheels. If you feel that winter tires are needed, see "Extended Mobility Tires" in the Index.