Tires Best to Worst

[saturnkk]

Ok,

So I have read through a lot of threads and I can't rememberor find where this type of info was (or even if it was on this threwad) so here it is:

Rating tires for a 15" wheell on the Cobra (all around performance, looks and price with performance being the greatest measure) where do various available brands fall in this continuim?

1. Avon?
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. BF Goodrich T/A


e.g. Michelin Pilots, Goodyear, Mickey Thompsons, etc...


It is fairly clear Avon is the best by most accounts but what is the drop off in performance/quality to the concensus #2 or #3?!?


Thanks!!!

[vatdevil]

NT555Rs will closely match the Avons performance. They are big and will fill the wheel well better, if you can fit them 275 is 27.75 tall and 325 is 28 tall. And a lot less $$$$$.

[SPF1061]

Always hopeful of finding Avon performance at a more reasonable price, I did a search on the NT555R. This is a drag radial tire. Are you suggesting putting these on all 4 corners?
Drag tires, especially sidewall characteristics, are a completely different design than road race tires. I would not not be at all comfortable running drag tires all the way 'round, especially if I was planning on pushing the envelope.

[vatdevil]

I wouldn't all out road race with the NT555Rs but they are very suitable for street use. They are commonly used on Vettes and Stangs locally with great results and our cars weigh much less.

[apvkt]

Hi all,
How can we check the tyre whether it is good or bad?? What are the factors to be considered while buying a tyre??

[jhv48]

Go to the tire rack website. They rate all the tires they carry.

[lippy]

I went through the same thing and didn't want to spend the dough on the Avons. But in the end I will be putting a lot of power down in a light car and didn't want to be shortsighted. So I went with the Avons.

[Got the Bug]

I think it's going to be a pretty short list.

[saturnkk]

Mickey Thompson?

[dcdoug]

GY Billboards and Hoosiers would have to be on that list.

[KevinW]

Originally Posted by dcdoug

GY Billboards and Hoosiers would have to be on that list.

.... but where abouts? (interested on where the Billboards stack up).

[GBowman]

Is there an Avon tire that is a road race or drag radial? The Nitto NT01's were superb on the street. Be gentle but how can a tire with so much tread (Avon) be the best tire for a car that wont see the rain (hopefully) as I dont see one that would offer better dry handling/straight line performance as the NT01?

Maybe the compound? I ask because I need to decide on tires for the new car that I'm having built now.

[1985 CCX]

My thoughts:
1-10
Dunlop CR series
Avon
Goodyear Billboards
Goodyear G7's
Hoosier DT's
Hoosier ST-TD, HO-TD
Hoosier Radials for Cobra's
Goodyear II
Mickey's
Nitto's

I suggest whitling wood tires before BFG's

[MaSnaka]

I have had the BF Goodrich, Goodyear Billboards and the Mickey Thompson ET Street Drag Radials. Yes on all 4 corners and I am very happy with the ET's. Street miles only.

The Billboards had terrible manners, were never pleasant and not DOT approved.

Lots of tires I have not tried so I cannot comment on those.

The Avons are 3-4 times more expensive than most which I feel does count for something in a negative way.

Sometimes you need to balance price with performance. Since the driving needs vary among us, the best tire for one is not necessarily the best tire for all.

John

[1985 CCX]

John

Maybe it was your set up my Billboards are great, even in the rain

[dcdoug]

The Billboards look GREAT (no other tire even comes close), provide good traction at the track, but exhibit a lot more hunting and tramlining on the street, especially if the roads aren't smooth. You get used to the hunting on the street, but some hate it. They also throw a lot more stones that most other tires. Some people hate that too.

I love the look, but will probably switch to Avons when I wear my BB's out and use the old school AVON stencil to capture some of the look of the BB's.

[Mark IV]

To rate these correctly you need to split into "DOT" approved and "Non-DOT" classes.

Of course a race tire will stick better than a street tire but add in rain or stones or curbs and the equation changes. Any choice is a compromise of performance/cost/lifespan and the use (street cruising, show, track, etc.) must weight the final choice.

The insurance risk of running non-DOT tires must be taken into account. You are not likely to be ticketed for running Goodyear BBs unless the cop sees the "Not for Highway Use" moulded into the sidewall and of course slicks are going to attract a "bald tire" ticket and further investigation. To purchase tires solely on "looks" seems to me to be counterintuitive to the purpose of a "Cobra" where peformance is a key attribute.

Best for me may not be best for you.................

[saturnkk]

So what are the top 3 - 5 DOT tires? What is the "drop-off" between each?

[rodneym]

My experience with some of the more popular tires: BF/TA's on my old SPF, BB's and Avons on my KMP and even GY Gatorbacks on my old Autokraft. The Avons are by far the best of those but most folks place the BB's and the Avons very close on lists but there's quite a performance differential between the two. I know a run a bit more power than most but when I have the BB's on it reminds my of my SPF with BF/TA's. I step up the caution even more than usual, like I'm driving in the rain.
The BB's just look so damn good.

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by MaSnaka

I have had the BF Goodrich, Goodyear Billboards and the Mickey Thompson ET Street Drag Radials. Yes on all 4 corners and I am very happy with the ET's. Street miles only.

The Billboards had terrible manners, were never pleasant and not DOT approved.

Lots of tires I have not tried so I cannot comment on those.

The Avons are 3-4 times more expensive than most which I feel does count for something in a negative way.

Sometimes you need to balance price with performance. Since the driving needs vary among us, the best tire for one is not necessarily the best tire for all.

John

You may have mentioned it in another thread, but what's your overall driving impression of the ET Drag Slicks? They look awesome on a Cobra (closest you'll get to a Goodyear Blue Streak tire), but the only downside is that you better not hit ANY moisture on the road or you'll be toast.