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Wondering if those who are running Torq Thrust D wheels on their mid-years have a preference as to tires?
I'm looking for 215/70R15 to replace the Firehawks on my 1965 now, and it looks like a size that can be had in both the BFG T/A Radials or the Michelin Defenders. (I'm looking for stock blackwall tires, rather than red/yellow lines.)
Your might want to look at Mickey Thompson (from Cooper tire) STs also. From the Cobra Forum - Radial TAs have a real bad rep for being low traction and slippery anymore (take it with a grain of salt - some people hold them near and dear). I have some Mickey Thompson STs on my replica and they seem to perform very well and have as good reputation as anything before getting into some expensive stuff like Avons.
Another suggestion is BFG Advantage TA's. Its a little more aggressive looking tread than the Defender, but not as agressessive at the traditional Radial TA ... which tends to hit the front fenders on sharp turn going over a curb because the tread edge is so square.
I bought a set of them and had them shaved and blue streaked, but they are cheap on Tire Rack. Bill
If it helps---BF Goodrich is made by Michelin. Like oldpainter, I've been very happy with mine.
Started out not crazy about the white lettering but now I really like the look. 15 inch Torque Thrusts on both my cars with T/A's.
White lettering only on one side, right? You can do them black side out, too, if you like?
Originally Posted by 1969RAY
If it helps---BF Goodrich is made by Michelin. Like oldpainter, I've been very happy with mine.
Started out not crazy about the white lettering but now I really like the look. 15 inch Torque Thrusts on both my cars with T/A's.
I have the Michelin Defenders on my 64.
They ride hard and don't handle well on the autocross.
That's why they advertise a 90,000 mile life (like any of us would go that far.........)
I'm not real happy with them.
White lettering only on one side, right? You can do them black side out, too, if you like?
No doubt possible-but look closely at any car with tires mounted that way and you can see the lettering underneath. Looks like they got the tires mounted wrong!
Sadly, it seems the Firehawk is no longer available in 215/70R15, is it? I couldn't find that size when I looked around.
bummer, for it's a great tire, got mine for $72 a piece (net after a $25 per tire rebate) I know of no tire made at that price that compares to it's performance virtues.
If you don't care about white lettered tires...ther are several better than BFG's.
I am very thankful that there are decent/beautiful tires to be had like the BFG white letters , and I run them on all my nostalgia cars and early model pickups...BUT I run Michelins on everything else I can.
I'm a white wall fan too on older cars that came with them...and now Michelin doesn't have some tires in whitewalls. That has been a problem for us a couple of times lately.
BFG T/A's are a very hard compound meaning a long wearing tire, not really a performance sticky tire. UTQG of over 600. Your tire selection depends on how you use your car. They stand up to burn outs better than most, but not so good on hard cornering.
Doing a bit more checking I see that the "DEFENDER Standard Touring All-Season" has the UTQG of over 800! And lots of good feedback. I would look closely at those.
I know I've been bashing the BFG TA but I see it now has a 400 tread wear number. So maybe they're softer than the ones I had. You can mount white letters inside and use black shoe polish on the white letters so they don't show. Now that Michelin owns BFG maybe it's a better rubber compound.
11-30-2016, 01:28 PM
TTD tire? BFG T/A or Michelin Defender?
