need tires ?

[Jinx]

need tires ? I have BF comp 265 15s on the front 295 15s on the rear would like to stay with the same size tires but need a tire that will grip the road and get atlest 10.000 miles on them. Any help out there? my car will be completed in the next month money permitting . I bought a older cobra needed a little work turned into a lot of work plus too much dough. I like the look of goodyears older rain slicks p7s I think but there not dot tires any help would be great thanxs jinxs

[Jack21]

You may not like this answer, but here goes.

Faced the same dilemma putting car on street. All the Cobra people were telling me which 15" tire to use, and don't even think 17's, because they look too out-of-place on a Cobra. All the tire people were telling me don't even think 15's on any kind of a performance car. The 17's are the way to go to get the performance I was looking for.

Rolled the dice, and sprung for the 17's. After day 1, never looked back. Only regrets that I didn't equip the car with brakes that would fill up the 17" wheel cavity.

Although there are perhaps a dozen comparible tires, I used a set of Falken FK451's; 235/45ZR's in front (could have used 245's), and 275/40ZR's in back (could have used 285's).

Everything I couldn't get in a 15" tire, I got in Spades in the 17".

Traction - dry. These things have an "AA" traction rating. You can't steer the car with the throttle anymore. In fact you have th get on them really hard to break them loose at all. These things just chirp, and go.

Traction - wet. No hockey puck in the rain anymore. Most Cobras, the best theing to do when it starts raining is park the car. Not anymore.

Wear. Have nearly 10,000 miles on these things now, and there's hardly any sign of wear. And that's with some alignment problems in front (now solved). Have no idea what the life expectancy in mileage is going to be, but replacement looks to be a few years off.

Cornering and braking. The car is a virtual roller coaster. No squealing in tight turns, no screeching on hard braking. Car just goes where you point it without a single complaint.

Ride harshness. Expected my teeth to rattle with these. They didn't. Firmer, but not harsher. Adjust your shocks a click or two softer if need be.

Cost. Bought the Falkens on-line from vulcantires.com. $495 including shipping. Not a typo. 4 tires for under $500. For wheels, I used TeamIII's for $300 each. A lower cost option would be Centerline Style 13 in a 17" for about half the above from Summit.

Looks? It looks like a factory setup. Everything tucks neatly under the car, and gives it an "All Business" like appearance. Rubber where you need it - horizontally. (The rears are nearly a foot wide!) Have yet to be told, "It doesn't look original". I have been told, "It looks better than original".

[cobrashoch]

Jack21 - Wow! Your presentation just converted me to 17 inch wheels.
cobrashock

[klayfish]

I second the 17" tire thought. I wasn't concerned that the originals had 15", and the 17s look different. My car isn't original anyway, so I had no problems with modern looking wheels. I have Centerline 17" rims, and love the look. It's not too big, like a wagon wheel. I get lots of compliments on the wheels. My tires are Firestone Firehawk SZ 50 EPs. Also have the AA traction rating. Just ran them at Pocono Raceway on Saturday. For a street tire, they have lots of grip. The car sticks well. Does well on autocross too. Tire wear so far has been incredible. I thought they'd chunk up badly with the kind of use I give them, but so far, so good. The ride is stiff, but it isn't supposed to be soft. You'll love the 17" wheels.

Steve

[Dominik]

jack,

if it wasn't a Cobra I would defenitely go 17" after reading your words.
very well spoken, but I am a nostalgic guy an dmy car looks original all over, apart from the aluminum not shining through the paint.

for the best 15" tire contact Roger Krause(?). he has been mentioned a lot of times before.

dominik

[Jack21]

Nostalga of the original.

Here in Washington is the National Air and Space Museum. They have restored aircraft from WWI, WWII, and in between. All perfectly restored to the condition they were in when they were originally flown. But, these aircraft are never flown.

Several airshows in the area feature WWII vintage aircraft from the Confederate Air Force in Harlingen, TX. These aircraft, although restored and maintained, are anything but original inside. They feature modern avionics, controls, hydraulics, electrics, etc. They Keep-'em-Flying that way.

That's the call we each have to make when building one of these based on what we want the car to be when finished.