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Old Mar 4, 2012 | 09:53 PM
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Default Tires

I'm in the market for new tires for my '79. I'm running 255/60-15 B F Goodrich Radial T/A's. I've had them for more years than I care to admit, but I've been very happy with them. The only tires I can find in the 255 size are the BFG's and Firestone Firehawks. I'd like to hear from anyone with any experience with either, or preferably both of these tires. I would be happy with the BFG's again, but are the Firestone's better?
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Old Mar 4, 2012 | 10:12 PM
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i am running Cooper Cobras. They are great tires, i like them.
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Old Mar 4, 2012 | 10:13 PM
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I've got the BFG T/As on my '69. For street use they keep the frame from rubbing on the ground as well as any other tire.

For autocross or track use, the requirements are a bit more demanding, and you'll have to look at completely different tires.
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Old Mar 4, 2012 | 10:13 PM
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I didn't have BFG's on my 80 before putting on the Firehawks, so I can't compare the two. The Firehawks are a decent tire. If there weren't so many other things to fix on it at the time, I probably would of looked for larger rims to expand my tire choices. If you do a search, I am sure there are numerous posts on wheel selections.
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Old Mar 5, 2012 | 02:50 PM
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Default Stones on the 76

Running 255/60/15 stones...No complaints,even in the rain they have good grip.Wanted to keep the stock look with the slotted wheels and these fit the bill perfect.For a stock street tire they are performing great!The price was also a big plus....
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
Good Luck ......
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Old Mar 5, 2012 | 03:04 PM
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WOW i like the color of your car man. That Purple is kinda cool.
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Old Mar 5, 2012 | 03:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Grumpy 427
WOW i like the color of your car man. That Purple is kinda cool.
AND he get's to live in Hawaii !!
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Old Mar 6, 2012 | 09:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Grumpy 427
i am running Cooper Cobras. They are great tires, i like them.
Ditto on the Coopers. 295-50-15 on the rear.
Was using the BFG Radials but they dropped the ball... can't get the 295's anymore. BFG Lost me as a customer... and I have 9 cars to shoe. Tsk Tsk
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Old Mar 6, 2012 | 10:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Tom454
Ditto on the Coopers. 295-50-15 on the rear.
Was using the BFG Radials but they dropped the ball... can't get the 295's anymore. BFG Lost me as a customer... and I have 9 cars to shoe. Tsk Tsk
Coker tire bought the moulds for the 295's from BFG. You can still get them, but they're pretty proud of them now. It would be less expensive to put 17's on.
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Old Mar 6, 2012 | 10:15 AM
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The Firestone indy 500 are supposed to be very good. But they are going to stop making them so if you want them get them soon.

The are ranked #1 at Tirerack for all season performance tire. Not many tires fall into that group, and I don't think cooper is sold by tirerack, anymore so not sure how it rates to other tires in the UHP groups now.


I am replacing my wheels so I can run 17" tires as 15" is just about dead. 17 and 18 are the new 14 and 15 from back in the day. Heck a new Chevy Cruze comes with 16" and a option for 18" now.
A 15" Indy 500 cost the same as a 245/45-17 I am going to move to.
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Old Mar 6, 2012 | 12:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Ben Lurkin
Coker tire bought the moulds for the 295's from BFG. You can still get them, but they're pretty proud of them now. It would be less expensive to put 17's on.
You also have to consider the cost of the 17" wheels... $$$

If you could.... please explain how I can still get BFG 295-50-15 BFG's ?? Been trying for 5 years.
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Old Mar 6, 2012 | 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Marlin
The Firestone indy 500 are supposed to be very good. But they are going to stop making them so if you want them get them soon.

The are ranked #1 at Tirerack for all season performance tire. Not many tires fall into that group, and I don't think cooper is sold by tirerack, anymore so not sure how it rates to other tires in the UHP groups now.


I am replacing my wheels so I can run 17" tires as 15" is just about dead. 17 and 18 are the new 14 and 15 from back in the day. Heck a new Chevy Cruze comes with 16" and a option for 18" now.
A 15" Indy 500 cost the same as a 245/45-17 I am going to move to.
Your comments about 15 inch tire availability is pretty much the tale of the tape-There pretty much has not been a performance 15 inch tire for about 10-12 years offered. All the 15 inch tires offered for sale in the last number of years (BFG, Firestone, Cooper etc) are S/T rated standard passenger car tires with no real performance. As stated to really take advantage of any true ultra high performance tire today, you must have at least 17 inch rims. I finally switched to SLP 17 inch rims which fit the C3 with zero issues about 3 years ago after waiting for years for someone to offer a C3 Aluminum OEM type rim in a 17 inch size. I run 255/45/17 ZR (168 MPH rated tires-the speed rating is not really relevant since the car can only do 130 MPH redlined but it does indicate the strength of the tire carcass/sidewall as well as the traction rating AA which indicates grip) ultra high performance Summer only Kuhmo's-$119 a tire at the time. The difference between these tires and the BFG T/A and the Goodyear Eagles GT's 255/60/15's which I had before is incomparable!

Last edited by jb78L-82; Mar 6, 2012 at 05:52 PM.
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Old Mar 6, 2012 | 07:10 PM
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Bummers about the stones being discontinued.I really like the old school look with the white letter tires and the slotted wheels.Those Firehawk's are a good performing tire for the price.I wouldn't hesitate to buy another set for sure..JB78L-82 got any pics of those SLP wheels and tires on your Vette.Most of the C3's with 17-18 inch wheels that I've seen kinda make the wheel openings look much larger and the tires look too small.Did you lower your car ? Aloha's

Last edited by iokepakai; Mar 6, 2012 at 07:20 PM.
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Old Mar 6, 2012 | 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom454
You also have to consider the cost of the 17" wheels... $$$

If you could.... please explain how I can still get BFG 295-50-15 BFG's ?? Been trying for 5 years.
I had a Goodyear Franchise until a few years ago and could still buy from a wholesaler until about a year ago. Like I said, Coker started making them a few years after BGF discontinued them, but they were something like $380/tire the last time I checked which was last summer. Perhaps my info is outdated now.

There's 20 of them on Feebay right now:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/160697159707

Last edited by Ben Lurkin; Mar 7, 2012 at 12:49 PM. Reason: fixed link
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Old Mar 7, 2012 | 07:50 AM
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Both tires are 295-50-15
The tire on the left is a Cooper Cobra mounted
The tire on the right is a BFG Radial TA un-mounted

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Old Mar 7, 2012 | 08:57 AM
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Originally Posted by iokepakai
Bummers about the stones being discontinued.I really like the old school look with the white letter tires and the slotted wheels.Those Firehawk's are a good performing tire for the price.I wouldn't hesitate to buy another set for sure..JB78L-82 got any pics of those SLP wheels and tires on your Vette.Most of the C3's with 17-18 inch wheels that I've seen kinda make the wheel openings look much larger and the tires look too small.Did you lower your car ? Aloha's
Car has 1 inch lower than stock 550 front springs with a 360 monospring in the rear!

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Old Mar 7, 2012 | 09:02 AM
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Originally Posted by iokepakai
Bummers about the stones being discontinued.I really like the old school look with the white letter tires and the slotted wheels.Those Firehawk's are a good performing tire for the price.I wouldn't hesitate to buy another set for sure..JB78L-82 got any pics of those SLP wheels and tires on your Vette.Most of the C3's with 17-18 inch wheels that I've seen kinda make the wheel openings look much larger and the tires look too small.Did you lower your car ? Aloha's
Car has 1 inch lower than stock 550 front springs with a 360 monospring in the rear! 255/4517 ZR in front and 255/50/17 Zr's in the rear. I love the lowered look and needed to keep the same diameter rears as the 255/60/15 BFG since I have 3.70 gears with the 4 speed.

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Old Mar 7, 2012 | 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by iokepakai
Bummers about the stones being discontinued.I really like the old school look with the white letter tires and the slotted wheels.Those Firehawk's are a good performing tire for the price.I wouldn't hesitate to buy another set for sure..JB78L-82 got any pics of those SLP wheels and tires on your Vette.Most of the C3's with 17-18 inch wheels that I've seen kinda make the wheel openings look much larger and the tires look too small.Did you lower your car ? Aloha's
A 255/50-17 tire is the exact same height and width as a 255/60-15. 27" high and 10.03" wide. The sidewall is shorter (lower profile) so they fit the wheelwell just like stockers. A lot of guys go with the 245/45-17 for a little wider tire, and loose a little in height, plus it affects your speedometer reading. Also the backspace is also a consideration. But I digress, there are a ton of threads on the subject already.
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Old Mar 7, 2012 | 01:52 PM
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Nice looking,really balanced! Next project lower car & 17 inch wheels and tires,when the Firestones wear out.Just when you think your happy with your Vette something else catches your eye....That's why we name our cars after women I guess....Aloha's
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