BF Goodrich Radial TA

[nevermind65]

I have Dunlop GT Qualifier. They are pretty decent tires. Had them balanced and were not out-of-round at all.

[jwd]

Originally Posted by clayfoushee

One possible reason some have no issues with BFG R TAs is that it is possible to get 4 round ones on the car. A high performance tire guy told me "you just need to buy 10 to find 4 that are round."

I should have bought a lottery ticket the day I bought the tires. I got 4 out of 4 that were round and they balanced perfectly.

[RallySnake]

I've run through lots of tires in the 20 years I've been driving my Arntz. The Goodrich TA's are undoubtedly the worst followed closely by the "Gatorback" tires they used to make. The rubber compound is very hard and is really well suited for heavy vehicles like pickup trucks.

Yes, they're cheap and yes, they're easy to get in the right sizes. But, if you value your Cobra, please get something better. The first time someone pulls out in front of you and you can't stop, the value of the tires will be very apparent. I shop for wrecked cars to rebuild and have seen lots of smashed up replica Cobras and they usually have TA's on them.

Tires-easy.com still have Yokohama Avid S/Ts in stock and so does Summitracing.com. I suggest 255/60/15 in the front and 275/60/15 in the rear. Get them quick before they're gone. I just ordered mine. These are the best, "affordable" tire I have ever used on the Cobra. The Hoosiers give much better grip (in the dry) but wear out in a few thousand miles. The Yokohama's rubber compound is about perfect for maximum grip in dry or wet conditions and long wear. Toyo Proxy S/T tires are good too for very long wear and stopping, but the lateral grip is not in the same ball park.

If you need a better reason to get the Yoko's, Dennis Altoff and Doug Reed took first place in class and fourth place overall on the One Lap of America with these tires on their Cobra. Some of those tracks were wet. That's good enough for me.

Paul

[RallySnake]

What's this noise about Avon tires? I just check their website and they don't make a 15" tire that will fit.

Paul

[jwd]

The sky is falling, the sky is falling. Everyone run for cover and get rid of your BFGoodrich tires. Sorry, I've run alot of different brand tires in my life and "on the street", they are all pretty much equal. To state that alot of wrecked Cobra's have BFG's on them is laughable since the vast majority of Cobras run them.

[Stentor]

Originally Posted by RallySnake

What's this noise about Avon tires? I just check their website and they don't make a 15" tire that will fit.

Paul

The 15" Avons are highlighted on the following site, as well as another site mentioned earlier in this thread.

http://www.rogerkrausracing.com/Cobra/

The Avons are really good--finally a nice high-performance 15" radial tire for Cobras.

Incidentally, Dennis Olthoff now uses/recommends the Avons.

[clayfoushee]

Originally Posted by jwd

The sky is falling, the sky is falling. Everyone run for cover and get rid of your BFGoodrich tires. Sorry, I've run alot of different brand tires in my life and "on the street", they are all pretty much equal. To state that alot of wrecked Cobra's have BFG's on them is laughable since the vast majority of Cobras run them.

Congrats......it's really OK if you're happy with BFG Radial TAs. However, you are in a distinct minority.

[SantaFe66]

The argument against the BFG Radial T/A's sounds a lot like the "defense" most Harley drivers give for why they have loud pipes and ride without helmets. Duh...."Loud pipes save lives", "Don't need no stinkin' helmet".

The BFG's work fine for many that only drive their cars a little and don't run on a track. If you follow too close or do stupid things on the roads, you might need really sticky rubber, fast reflexes, and brake pads that don't need to be heated to stop effectively. I don't drive like a looney and don't need sticky tires. Yes, they have forward looking radar where I live so I don't get crazy unless the road is clear. Don't have any tickets either, so my insurance is somewhat reasonable.

I agree about not running old rubber. That philosophy also applies to the motorcycles I ride on the street as well as the one I ride on the track. Generally, I change my race bike rubber several times a season and my sport bike rubber once every two, depending on miles and type of riding done. The BFG T/A's are just fine for my Cobra. When I can't get them anymore, I'll probably switch to the Yoko's.

Just my opinion.

Paul

[TButtrick]

Rats! When did they stop making the Yoko Avid STs?

[SPF1061]

Paul,
If you're thinking of switching to Yoko Avids you better do it NOW. Actually, yesterday would have been better.

[Dan Stryffeler]

I've been running BFG Radial T/A's now for 5 years with no problems. I don't autocross or do any track time, and I'm guessing my car with these tires will out perform 90% of what else is on the road.

I guess that on the other hand, I don't know how crummy my tires are until I put better ones on.

Never been worried about me not being able to stop - more worried about the Soccer-Mom-Mini-Van that tailgates me while chatting on the cell phone. It would go right through me in a panic stop.

Dan

[Frank Messina]

Okay, here's another strong vote for Dunlop GT Qualifiers. Outstanding grip in all directions and they look good (too me anyway). It's not clear to me why so many people walk past these tires looking for .......... ??? I don't know what. I'm not going to knock what somebody else likes, but I will say the Dunlops are excellent 15" tires. I run 235-60 F and 295-50 R.

Frank

[BFBurk]

Thanks J. Wheaton, My tires are really 18 years old. They look fine, no weatherchecking and good tread. I never thought about them being too old. These tires may have gotten hard and out of round from only being used about 100-200 miles a year. Thanks for the info on old tires.

I think it is about time for me to get new tires.

[SD5805]

Hi guys I'm gonna throw a monkey wrench in this. What about the vintage good year cobra racing tires (Bias Ply) I like the way they look but not sure how they would perform at the track or out on the road.

PS I did take my cobra to the track with the BFG tires and they did fairly well except toward the end when they got a bit slippery. Over all though it was not too bad. In fairness I haven't tried any others.

Keep in mine though I must have lost approx 2 years of normal tread wear at the track with the bfs

[RallySnake]

Those Avons look GOOD! Very original. Expensive though. How do they stick and last?

Paul

[RallySnake]

When I had BFGs on my Cobra in 1987, I got a chance to run a couple of laps around the old Riverside Track. I had my friend record the event on a video camera. When I watch the tape, I laugh, because going around off camber turn seven the tires are sliding all over the place and I'm saying, "I gotta get better tires!"

Paul

[WildBill3]

SD5805 if your refering to the GoodYear billboards I here they are exellent on track but some preffer not to run them on the street because of tire wear.while others dont seem to mind i think if your not driving on them alot it wont be a problem, we are on Dot Hoosiers on 18 inch wheels and ill tell ya its settled this Monster down a bunch if you wait till the spring the previous years left overs go on sale for about half price, I even saw 305 30 18s rains go for 65 a tire wow missed those tread wear 40 so these will get burnt up pretty quick on the street if you drive alot but the traction is ausome..great thred..WB3