Quietest C3 tires?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles CA
Quietest C3 tires?
Hi. I'm looking to get some new tires for my 79 and I want to replace my current Cooper Cobras. My biggest concern is road noise and I would like to get something to reduce it.
My tire size is 225-70-R15.
I was thinking of going with Firestone Destination LE2's. I know it's a SUV tire and many people swear by the BFG Radial GT's but again I'm looking for a quiet ride. I'm not looking for something to take out on the track.
The LE2's have the best noise ratings on tire rack but then again that's mostly for people reviewing in on trucks and SUV's and it's subjective.
Does anyone have any experience with these tires and can maybe shed some insight?
Thanks!
My tire size is 225-70-R15.
I was thinking of going with Firestone Destination LE2's. I know it's a SUV tire and many people swear by the BFG Radial GT's but again I'm looking for a quiet ride. I'm not looking for something to take out on the track.
The LE2's have the best noise ratings on tire rack but then again that's mostly for people reviewing in on trucks and SUV's and it's subjective.
Does anyone have any experience with these tires and can maybe shed some insight?
Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,737
Likes: 2,583
None of the 15" tires for your car are intended for the track they are all either S or T rated. I would stay away from a tire intended for light trucks. Go for the BF Goodrich tire.
How old are the current Coopers, as a tire ages it can become stiffer and nosier.
How old are the current Coopers, as a tire ages it can become stiffer and nosier.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles CA
I'm not sure how old they are. They were on the car when I bought it 5 years ago. They are ready to go. The LE2 is a T rating but it does say light/ medium truck. I was just curious if anyone had tried them or not. They are cheaper and seem to have a longer tread life then the BFG.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles CA
Good to know. I can take a look later after work when I get it home. I'm not sure it matters anyway. Good ole Lincolns head is sticking out and I looked online at what those cooper treads should look like and I can't even see the design lines anymore in the center tread.
Is there anything dangerous or just bad about using an SUV tire? I realize it might not be the most atheistic choice but if it gives me the nice quiet and smooth ride I'd be ok with it. Not to mention they were like $50 less a tire.
Is there anything dangerous or just bad about using an SUV tire? I realize it might not be the most atheistic choice but if it gives me the nice quiet and smooth ride I'd be ok with it. Not to mention they were like $50 less a tire.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 55
Likes: 1
From: Woodland Park CO
Heads up, I work for Cooper although I have sold other brands in another life. A lot of the delema with these 15" tires for C3's is the technology isn't new or up to today's new car standards. The numbers just don't create any demand to invest and upgrade. The Firestone SUV tires will work just fine but I doubt you'll notice a big difference other than new tread and harmonics. Actually a new tire will most likely be a little noisier just because there's more tread unless your old tires had a wear pattern singing to you. Between the mufflers, engine and suspension on my 78 the fresh Cobra's are the least of my road noise worries.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles CA
I think I may go with the BFG Radial T/A's. I think I can get a decent deal though Costco. Still more expensive then the Firestone or Cooper tires but hopefully they will be worth it.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
I have Cooper touring tires on my '69 427/435 convertible and find them very good riding and not noisy at all. But then...with that 427, solid lifters and loud mufflers I probably couldn't hear the tires if they had snow chains on them.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,719
Likes: 95
From: Saskatchewan, Canada
