15" Performance Tires
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,240
Likes: 1,013
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
The TD-S is actually D.O.T legal it looks like.
http://www.bobwoodmantires.com/road-...dirt-stockers/
http://www.bobwoodmantires.com/road-...dirt-stockers/
Last edited by 69ttop502; Dec 12, 2018 at 08:35 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 459
From: Lititz PA
The TD-S is actually D.O.T legal it looks like.
http://www.bobwoodmantires.com/road-...dirt-stockers/
http://www.bobwoodmantires.com/road-...dirt-stockers/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,326
Likes: 523
From: home
my bad. I looked up these: https://www.hoosiermidatlantic.com/p...m?InvKey=30498 and saw this: WARNING: D.O.T. labeled Hoosier Racing Tires meet Department of Transportation requirements for marking and performance only and are NOT INTENDED FOR HIGHWAY USE. It is unsafe to operate any Hoosier Racing Tire including DOT tires on public roads. The prohibited use of Hoosier Racing Tires on public roadways may result in loss of traction, unexpected loss of vehicle control, or sudden loss of tire pressure, resulting in a vehicle crash and possible injury or death
Last edited by 3X2; Dec 12, 2018 at 11:11 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,240
Likes: 1,013
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Gotcha, but I would think as long as you had the D.O.T. labeling there you are ok legally. If you read the Cobra forums, a ton of those guys run the Goodyear Billboards on the street and they love them. And they are bias ply as well, but not DOT legal. I am like you, I would not run a non DOT legal tire either. That’s why i am running the Avon’s. Yes they are expensive, but not so bad when you factor in the cost of new wheels to get the more widely available high performance tires in 18 and 19 inch sizes.
Last edited by 69ttop502; Dec 13, 2018 at 07:53 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,240
Likes: 1,013
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Here are a couple pictures of the Avon. This is a 275 55 15 which I am running on the back. It is 26.95 inches in diameter. Kind of the vintage race look tread pattern. Guys are getting 10000 miles out of them on the Cobra forums. I may even put a Goodyear stencil on them but don’t tell lol. These are DOT legal radials and man are they sticky.
Last edited by 69ttop502; Dec 13, 2018 at 07:58 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,375
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
my bad. I looked up these: https://www.hoosiermidatlantic.com/p...m?InvKey=30498 and saw this: WARNING: D.O.T. labeled Hoosier Racing Tires meet Department of Transportation requirements for marking and performance only and are NOT INTENDED FOR HIGHWAY USE. It is unsafe to operate any Hoosier Racing Tire including DOT tires on public roads. The prohibited use of Hoosier Racing Tires on public roadways may result in loss of traction, unexpected loss of vehicle control, or sudden loss of tire pressure, resulting in a vehicle crash and possible injury or death
Years ago, in an effort to keep oval track costs relatively low, promoters and sanctioning organizations came up with the "DOT legal tire rule", HOPING that it would restrict the racers to a low cost, relatively hard compound, street legal tire. Their intent was twofold: A) inexpensive, longer lasting tires; and B) with a tire of limited traction, exotic engines weren't necessary. In response to the racer's pleas, racing tire company Hoosier started making a "DOT legal" (wink, wink) tire. What it has, is a street style tread pattern, with a fairly soft rubber compound (but not as soft as a true race tire), and more importantly, NO impact resistance built into the carcass, to protect the tire from being damaged by debris on the road, like a street tire has.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,326
Likes: 523
From: home
To add to leadfoot's comment, just because it says DOT with a number, does not make it a street legal tire. The sidewall probably also has "not intended for street use" or "for racing purposes only". A Hoosier A8 is labeled DOT but I wouldn't use it on the street.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,052
Likes: 389
From: Woodinville WA
... Here are a couple pictures of the Avon. This is a 275 55 15 which I am running on the back. It is 26.95 inches in diameter. Kind of the vintage race look tread pattern. Guys are getting 10000 miles out of them on the Cobra forums. ...
FYI, an Avon salesman also told me not to keep them longer than 6 years from their purchase date.
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: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 63
From: Tempe, Az
Fine by me and the only v-rated tire I could find easily and locally. Domestic manufacturers have had decades to provide an alternative and they have not.
If they blow up, or whatnot, I'll report it. Don't really see how they could be any worse than those crappy S-rated, and T-rated garbage 15s otherwise available. On my pickup I've been buying the cheapest tires for decades and they last just fine.
If they blow up, or whatnot, I'll report it. Don't really see how they could be any worse than those crappy S-rated, and T-rated garbage 15s otherwise available. On my pickup I've been buying the cheapest tires for decades and they last just fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,743
Likes: 1,385
About the same. I took a 120 mile drive today, all freeway, but they ride smooth. The pressure on the sidewall is for 44 psig, I run them at 40 psig. My BF Goodrich tires in the back I run 35 per sidewall. I'll probably replace the rears early next year, but just because they're old... they still look good.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 11,305
Likes: 2,096
From: Grapevine Tx
2018 C3 of Year Finalist
2016 C3 of the Year Finalist
About the same. I took a 120 mile drive today, all freeway, but they ride smooth. The pressure on the sidewall is for 44 psig, I run them at 40 psig. My BF Goodrich tires in the back I run 35 per sidewall. I'll probably replace the rears early next year, but just because they're old... they still look good.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 420
Likes: 139
From: Indianapolis IN
I have raced for 20 years on Hoosier Street TDs. Incredible race tire for driving at the edge of adhesion. But I wouldn’t use them on a street car.
1. Harsh ride. I want feel every part of the track, but not every tar strip on the road.
2. Not very puncture resistant.
3. Need to be warmed up to stick. If you get it on before they are warm, fair chance you’ll find yourself in the weeds.
4. Terrible even if a tiny bit damp unless really heated up, and even then iffy.
Just my two cents,
Marc in Indy
79 Honda Civic SCCA GT5, now vintage race car
1. Harsh ride. I want feel every part of the track, but not every tar strip on the road.
2. Not very puncture resistant.
3. Need to be warmed up to stick. If you get it on before they are warm, fair chance you’ll find yourself in the weeds.
4. Terrible even if a tiny bit damp unless really heated up, and even then iffy.
Just my two cents,
Marc in Indy
79 Honda Civic SCCA GT5, now vintage race car
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
Look for the manufacture date on the sidewall of the tire - it's a 4 digit number, the first two digits are the week and the second two digits are the year of manufacture. For instance "2705" means "the 27th week of 2005".
The "rule" is that you should not use tires for more than 6 years (i.e., no longer than 6 years after you install them on your vehicle) nor for any longer than 10 years after the date of manufacture, whichever comes first.
Last edited by VCuomo; Dec 30, 2018 at 02:18 AM.