Firestone Firehawk Indy 500

patrickt · #1 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 11:43 AM

My Cobra doesn't need tires and I don't plan on buying any in the near future. But, I have read the reviews in the past on the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500, and I just read some more, and everyone that buys them, even for high performance driving, keeps saying they're phenomenal dry tires. Yeah, I know... they're Firestone. And they come in all the right 15 sizes. Does anybody around here actually use them? Are all of those review really just a crock of shi*? Or can they actually stand up to the Avons that cost almost four times as much?

convincor · #2 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 12:40 PM

I've seen a lot of guy's go with them and havn't heard any negitive comments.
Running them on mine and I like them a lot. Not easy to get them to break loose, but then I'm just a 390.

They handle great. No road noise that I can hear.

Seems they only ones that have negitive things to say are people who have never owned them. Like you said, there Firestones, but I'd buy them again before I bought GY or BFG's.
There was a guy going around to get durameter reading from different brands. Any one recall who that was??

Dangerous Doug · #3 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 01:53 PM

I'm running them, but I don't have anything to compare it to. They've been fine for me, but I'm not driving on the edge. Never had them on a track to push them beyond aggressive street driving.

DD

patrickt · #4 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dangerous Doug

I'm running them, but I don't have anything to compare it to. They've been fine for me, but I'm not driving on the edge. Never had them on a track to push them beyond aggressive street driving.

DD

I think it's the name -- I haven't heard anyone blast them that has actually purchased them, and so far the people that have actually purchased them only have positive comments (I'm speaking of other car enthusiast forums). Now that I think about it, I actually prefer the name "Firestone" over "Yokohama" on a Cobra....

If only they hadn't had that blowout and recall trouble of eight or nine years ago, they might be on a lot of our cars now....

JCoop · #5 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 04:17 PM

I'm in the market for new 17" tires as I ran one tire semi-flat and messed up the sidewall. (Supercar size and no longer available) I think I'll look into the Firestones. I was considering Sumitomos as they are supposed to be the best value bang for the buck.

Mr. Harvey Firestone DID develop modern rubber tire technology with his buddy Tom Edison in the late 1800s at Mr. Edison's home in Ft. Myers, FL. He was friends with Mr. Edison and Henry Ford, the trio taking extended road and camping trips around the country. He established the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in 1902 and got his first huge order for tires from Ford in 1906. It pays to have friends in high places.

http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articl...-Harvey-S.html

Dirty Harry · #6 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 05:01 PM

I've had these tires as the last two sets of tires on our family car. Our '97 T-bird has nearly 200,000 miles and most have been on this tire. I like them. I think they're a very good tire for the money. I'll probably get them again when I need tires. I hadn't given any thought of putting them on the Cobra, but I'd certainly consider it.

raclaims · #7 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 07:29 PM

I've got them on mine and they have been fine...no issues to date.

rokndad · #8 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

My Cobra doesn't need tires and I don't plan on buying any in the near future. But, I have read the reviews in the past on the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500, and I just read some more, and everyone that buys them, even for high performance driving, keeps saying they're phenomenal dry tires. Yeah, I know... they're Firestone. And they come in all the right 15 sizes. Does anybody around here actually use them? Are all of those review really just a crock of shi*? Or can they actually stand up to the Avons that cost almost four times as much?

I don't know if this will help, but I just drove Car4Jim's Kirkham last weekend and he has the Firestone Indy 500 tires on it and I thought it handled really well with them. The ride is a little stiffer than my car with the Billboards, and I attribute that to the relatively lower air pressure for the Goodyears (22-25 psi vs 30-32 for the Firestones). I felt the turning was a little easier with the Firestones, again most likely due to a slightly harder compound and stiffer sidewalls. I wouldn't hesitate to get them if you're not after the big lettering the Goodyears offer. I liked them.

csx4910 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 09:31 PM

What tire sizes are you running front/rear with the Firestone's?
Ron

convincor · #10 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 09:49 PM

F 235/60-15
r 295/50-15

Bxx1 · #11 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 03:09 PM

FYI:

Firestone is owned by Bridgestone...

patrickt · #12 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 05:28 PM

Well I'm just surprised that no one has written "I had them and they just wouldn't grip in the corners, etc." I don't think that's going to happen. In fact, one review on another forum said they're "one step away from drag slicks" when it comes to stickiness.

decooney · #13 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

... In fact, one review on another forum said they're "one step away from drag slicks" when it comes to stickiness.

If that were true, you'd also be hearing those same folks indicating "they pick up small pebbles" and "my paint job is getting little chips in it from flying pebbles projected forwards and backwards", ???. I have yet to hear that issue about the Firestone Indy 500s, but know a few in NorCal who run them and seem to like them.

patrickt · #14 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by decooney

If that were true, you'd also be hearing those same folks indicating "they pick up small pebbles" and "my paint job is getting little chips in it from flying pebbles projected forwards and backwards", ???. I have yet to hear that issue about the Firestone Indy 500s, but know a few in NorCal who run them and seem to like them.

Agreed. What I'd really like to read is one of the Kirkham bros. post a message starting with "We had nothing to do today so we decided to compare a set of Firestone Indy 500's against the Avons on a closed track...."

cdnus · #15 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 08:00 PM

I had a quick look @ tire rack & the BFG T/A's are rated @ 400 wear factor & the Indy 500's are rated @ 500.
This would indicate that they are made out of ??granite???? & I believe the new M/T sportsman S/T are 420. All of the above would seem too be too hard for our very light cars according to the wear factor. I am running Yoko's now & would like a little more forward bite but cannot seem to find a tire that will be much better without a bailout loan for the Avons.

Craig

Craig

patrickt · #16 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 08:16 PM

I don't believe any of the high marks they received either. Unfortunately, I can't give you a reason for not believing them other than the fact that I don't believe a "cheap Firestone tire could really be that good."

Tim Brewer · #17 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 08:34 PM

I can tell you this..... it's a good looking tire that would work well for the older, light-footed, timid crowd. But if you like to stretch you Cobra's legs and stand on it from time to time, you'll spin your car out and possible wrap it around a tree with those tires.

convincor · #18 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Brewer

I can tell you this..... it's a good looking tire that would work well for the older, light-footed, timid crowd. But if you like to stretch you Cobra's legs and stand on it from time to time, you'll spin your car out and possible wrap it around a tree with those tires.

This is based on personal experience? You've had them on your car?

patrickt · #19 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Brewer

I can tell you this..... it's a good looking tire that would work well for the older, light-footed, timid crowd. But if you like to stretch you Cobra's legs and stand on it from time to time, you'll spin your car out and possible wrap it around a tree with those tires.

Tim, that's what I was hoping someone with first hand experience would write. Please tell me more.

car4jim · #20 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 09:29 AM

I want to explore Tim Brewers feedback a bit more. I'm curious what tire doesn't break loose when you stand on it to wrap a 600 HP car around a tree? is there a tire design or compound that helps an amateur driver keep a car in control after the tires break loose. Maybe the answer is the friction factor at the tire to road interface associated with the dynamic friction factor of a spinning tire? What is the first order factor contributing to in control vs out of control once the tire breaks loose?