Went for a spin......

[MOTORHEAD]

Literally !! Got my reg and plates last tues, so on thurs went to get gas. Came up to a roundabout with a truck towing a boat in front of me. I knew the exit I wanted was single lane, so unless I wanted to follow this truck/trailer combo for miles, I needed to pass him in the circle in the outboard lane.Did that, no problem, turned rt into the exit and gave it some throttle headed straight. Wham! Snap spun, hit the right side curb, up and over into the dirt without flipping ! I was not hurt, got out and checked the car, no obvious damage. Carefully drove out of dirt, back over curb, went on my way.
Rear tires are old bfg's, so this is not totally unexpected, but I think it was more the LS rear, and the fact that this section of road is in the middle of many acres of farmland with loose sand topsoil which was blowing over the road surface at the time due to high winds at the time.
more on this later.

[Dwight]

BFG T/A's have spun more Cobra than anyone could count. And Old T/A's!

Buy better tires. I have run T/A and hate them. But they are a good looking tire.
I like BFG G-Force and M/T's.
Good to hear you did not damage your car.

Cobras need the best tires and brake you can buy. Then HP.
Dwight

[ERA Chas]

Do or get an alignment check ASAP. And check the ball joints and all the rear joints.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by Dwight

BFG T/A's have spun more Cobra than anyone could count. And Old T/A's!

Buy better tires. I have run T/A and hate them. But they are a good looking tire.
I like BFG G-Force and M/T's.
Good to hear you did not damage your car.

Cobras need the best tires and brake you can buy. Then HP.
Dwight

Ditto what Dwight said about the BFG's. Suicide with these cars. Like driving on ice.

[MOTORHEAD]

I've got the car on the lift, giving it a through inspection.
Unfortunately I did not come out unscathed ! Left rear lower A arm is bent, still have to check other side and fronts.
Anybody got one of these in their pocket?

[Bernica]

Mickmate (Nick) should be able to help.

[ERA Chas]

Add wheel bearings to the check list I posted.
And you are real lucky it didn't snap.

[cobrakiwi]

I have a lower left steel Kirkham control arm in stock.
PM if still looking

[MOTORHEAD]

Cobrakiwi; you have a pm.

[FatBoy]

I really don't get it. There is a similar thread on the UK Cobra Club website. People are happy to spend small fortunes on go-faster goodies, paint, chrome etc. but are happy to put the lives of themselves and others on the line by fitting junk tyres. Why?

Paul

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by FatBoy

I really don't get it. There is a similar thread on the UK Cobra Club website. People are happy to spend small fortunes on go-faster goodies, paint, chrome etc. but are happy to put the lives of themselves and others on the line by fitting junk tyres. Why?

Paul

I wonder the same, in the 15 inch size with a 295 rear, the ONLY 3 tires that should be used are the Avons, Blue Streak Goodyears or Billboard Goodyears, anything else is just plain dangerous and should only be used for vans, trucks or trailers (BFG's, Eagle Goodyear, etc). I know their are a few others in the 15 inch some people use, Mickey Thompsons and Hoosiers but they don't have the 295 rear size. People get rid or your crap radials and put on some decent tires... I've heard people on here claim the BFG hook great and are an awesome ride, LMFAO... Basically if a place like Roger Kraus Racing doesn't sell them DON'T USE THEM...

[Mdman352]

So....you buy the best car money can buy and put the ****tiest tire on it money can buy. You are a fool.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

I wonder the same, in the 15 inch size with a 295 rear, the ONLY 3 tires that should be used are the Avons, Blue Streak Goodyears or Billboard Goodyears, anything else is just plain dangerous and should only be used for vans, trucks or trailers (BFG's, Eagle Goodyear, etc). I know their are a few others in the 15 inch some people use, Mickey Thompsons and Hoosiers but they don't have the 295 rear size. People get rid or your crap radials and put on some decent tires... I've heard people on here claim the BFG hook great and are an awesome ride, LMFAO... Basically if a place like Roger Kraus Racing doesn't sell them DON'T USE THEM...

Actually Mickey Thompson DOES have the 295/50x15 in the "S/T" tire line and and an equal size in the "S/R" series. The Avons are the best but the Goodyears are NOT DOT approved and there may be issues with insurance, etc.

[lippy]

I'm putting Avons on my car for this very reason. But I've still heard stories and seen videos on YouTube of guys driving cobras: (1) accelerating too hard and swinging the rear out, and (2) letting off, further snapping the rear around and hitting the curb. Is it really *that easy* for these cars to spin out of control, even with Avons or Billboards? I'm a careful driver, but I wonder if these accidents are just the nature of the cars, or people driving like fools.

[rodneym]

Originally Posted by lippy

... I wonder if these accidents are just the nature of the cars, or people driving like fools.

A little bit, or A LOT, of both.

Be careful, MOTORHEAD.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by lippy

Is it really *that easy* for these cars to spin out of control, even with Avons or Billboards?

It's pretty easy. When you get your car running, take it to the parking lot of a stadium, arena, or such where you can practice "dumbness" with no danger whatsoever of hitting anything and you'll see what we mean. At any given time, you're just a "toe-poke" away from losing it.

[Bernica]

Agree with Lippy. These cars will kill you. It's like a gun.... Never take it out if you are mad. Never, ever take it out if you have been drinking, and never listen to your buddy who wants to see what it can do.
The tires are a huge deal, but they don't give you super powers. Still need to respect the car. My 2 cents.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Bernica

Agree with Lippy. These cars will kill you. It's like a gun.... Never take it out if you are mad. Never, ever take it out if you have been drinking, and never listen to your buddy who wants to see what it can do.
The tires are a huge deal, but they don't give you super powers. Still need to respect the car. My 2 cents.

OK, so then RodKnock, after getting in to a knock-down, drag-out with his wife, should not suck down a half-bottle of Jack, and then show his friends just how fast that little baby can go while he holds the bottle between his knees during the high speed 360s down the turnpike?

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by patrickt

OK, so then RodKnock, after getting in to a knock-down, drag-out with his wife, should not suck down a half-bottle of Jack, and then show his friends just how fast that little baby can go while he holds the bottle between his knees during the high speed 360s down the turnpike?

RodKnock either has those Super Powers or a death wish! "Life is short, leave a good-looking corpse.", and don't let the wife find out about the blonde in the passenger seat

[madmaxx]

Easy solution. Sell me your kirkham and get a car with traction control.