[Excaliber]

..and the number one thing that is likely to get a new owner in trouble is:

Low first gear ratio and sub standard TRACTION tires. A fine example would be, big horse power, a 3.5 rear gear, a 5 speed trans (for that LOW first gear) and Gooodrich T/A tires.

The above combination is a recipe for disaster and is actually quite a common setup for a LOT of Cobras.

Solution? Besides giveing PLENTY of respect to your right foot is dumping the tires and getting some serious traction. I'd go with DOT approved auto X tires, as an example, they might not be good in the rain but then a new guy shouldn't be driving one of THESE cars in the rain anyway! Yokohama makes some nice Auto X tires with plenty traction for the street.

If you got 15" tires consider going with the BIG WHITE LETTERED original style bias ply tires like they ran back in the 60's. These are GREAT tires, wet or dry, they are "period" correct and have awesome traction. Which just may save your butt.

Tough to do much with the gearing (trans or rear) but you can have decent traction tires in a few days. The "cost" of the tires should not be a factor. To hell with those new tires that came with the car, dump 'em and get some serious traction, PLEASE.

Click on the camera icon next to my name to see pics of the BIG letter Goodyears. Best tires I've ever had on any of my Cobras. All though the Yoko's were really good too!