Radial T/A tread copied
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 285
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From: Pennsylvania
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
BFG needs to re-engineer the T/A with a higher speed rating (stronger sidewall=better handling) and fix the raised brown letter problem once and for all, or I'm not buying another set, or at least not unless they lower the price, which has gotten ridiculous for what you get.
I wouldn't chance the 'Gripmax", for various reasons. Just wanted to let people know about it, because I found it interesting that the tread design was so blatantly copied, and the higher speed rating.
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Pennsylvania
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
I think there are a lot of forum threads debating that topic.
Le Mans Master
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From: Omaha NE
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2016
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From: Port Coquitlam BC
very serious! I thought I heard on one of the BJ or Mecum broadcasts that Coker bright the molds, amd was reproducing them.
And no, I am actually old enough where I was buying them , when they first came to the market...
And no, I am actually old enough where I was buying them , when they first came to the market...
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Melting Slicks
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Pennsylvania
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
QIK59
Yeah, my 8 year old T/A's letters are bright white too...it's never been an issue. The problem with the leaching of brown into the letters started around 2018, and looking at reviews, continues today, but it's maybe not as prevalent as it was.
Yeah, my 8 year old T/A's letters are bright white too...it's never been an issue. The problem with the leaching of brown into the letters started around 2018, and looking at reviews, continues today, but it's maybe not as prevalent as it was.
Team Owner
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From: Western NY
Le Mans Master
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Does anyone else remember the original 50 series radial T/A, the one I wish Coker would make again?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
Another tire that I remember, from that era, was the Firestone S/S radial. I had 2-3 sets of those, back then, and really liked them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2011
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I believe the old T'A's I have are 60's - 50's were just to low unless you got the L50's which were way to wide for most cars back then
Instructor
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From: Port Coquitlam BC
Rob
Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: North Mankato MN
I just don't think I could put the white letters out saying "GRIPMAX CLASSIC RADIAL" on the side of my car. I'm going to have a hard enough time with "Cooper Cobra" now that Goodyear is out of the game and no guarantee that BFGs won't turn brown.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2011
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I hear you there just as far as "advertizing" that you are running some Mickey Mouse brand tires - if it ain't BFG , Firestone or Goodyear I wouldn't be that "proud" LOL
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 285
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From: Pennsylvania
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
People are scrubbing the sh*t out their Radial T/A's that have this problem, and still complaining that the brown returns in 24 hours. Something in the rubber compound leaches back into the white letters from the inside.It's not dirt etc. getting on the letters from the outside that's causing the problem.
BFG has owned up to it and replaced a lot of tires, and now says the brown letters problem has been corrected. But I still see a lot of recent reviews of it happening.
Hasn't happened to my 8 year-old T/A's either, but they are worn down; need a new set.
I think we should be letting the tire companies that we need a good quality white-lettered tire with a higher speed rating than 112mph. Maybe they'll actually make them if enough of us let them know.
Criteria should be:
-No giant letters, but smaller letters like the original "Wide Ovals" or Goodyear Polyglas tires
-Minimum of H Speed Rating
-No graphics on the sidewalls whatsoever; just the white lettering and dot codes etc.
-Minimal tread on the outer edges of the sidewalls.
-Under $150/tire
BFG has owned up to it and replaced a lot of tires, and now says the brown letters problem has been corrected. But I still see a lot of recent reviews of it happening.
Hasn't happened to my 8 year-old T/A's either, but they are worn down; need a new set.
I think we should be letting the tire companies that we need a good quality white-lettered tire with a higher speed rating than 112mph. Maybe they'll actually make them if enough of us let them know.
Criteria should be:
-No giant letters, but smaller letters like the original "Wide Ovals" or Goodyear Polyglas tires
-Minimum of H Speed Rating
-No graphics on the sidewalls whatsoever; just the white lettering and dot codes etc.
-Minimal tread on the outer edges of the sidewalls.
-Under $150/tire
Last edited by Bally; Jan 26, 2025 at 11:35 PM.