245 50 16 zr gatorbacks

[autodynamics]

A buddy of mine has a new set of these tires
From what I'm told they are not dry rotted

I know gnx came with vr
But are the zr desirable ?
He looking at 800.00
Good buy or no ?

 

[Hot Air]

In my book, ZR is way better than VR. I would have thought GNX tires would have been ZR but I don't own one so I on't know for sure.
Conrad

 

[RatFink]

ZR rating came out after the GNX years I think. Like 1989 or 90 I think was the first year for the ZR rating.

 

[GNX243]

Sorry but he does not have a new set of gatorbacks. What he probably has is an unused set of gatorbacks...I believe the gatorback tires for our cars were discontinued about 8 years ago. Regardless tire companies will tell you the tire life is about 6-10 years (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=138) Not talking about dry rot. They apparently just disintegrate internally. Two children from a neighboring community...Newtown, PA, were killed when their "new" tires purchased at a corner gas station disintegrated (there was a CBS evening news report on this about 5 years ago). Since the mid 90's the date of manufacture has been on the sidewall so check it out. I have early 90's zr's on my car but when I drive to a show I am very careful as I do not want to loose my life or my car. Even though the tires have no dry rot, I'm not willing to take a chance (zr's are rated for 150 mph). So if you install and ride on old tires as I have done, be advised as to their limitations. Rich

 

[autodynamics]

Understood but are they worth the asking price

?

 

[GNRick]

You will have to decide if it is worth the price compared to new tires. I would think improvements have been made in tires over the years. If you don't want them for points in a car show I think new tires would be the way to go. Unless you think they are better engineered, kind of like folks who think old Macintosh tube amps sound better than current amps. Here is more info on old tires:
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3088188/

 

[GNX243]

Looking for a 400 point car? If so, then they are VR's. A friend who is in the restoration business and heavily into antique cars when questioned as to changing a part due to safety (i.e. the black brake switch) said you could use the gray switch but have the black switch in your hand when the judges come around. So I guess if you have other than VR's on your car, you should have them nearby (I shall have to check this with him as you may be able to get by with current identical repros). Other than that, I think $200 for each unused ZR in good condition which has been properly stored is reasonable and probably what I paid (for some reason my rears-255's-only wore out in the center of the tread...must have been a manufacturing defect!).

Rich

 

[autodynamics]

im certainly not asking if i would do a 300 mile trip on a set, if indeed goodyear came out with a set of "new" gatorbacks i would jump all over them as no tire looks like a gatorback especially on gnx tta iroc and cars of that generation.

i think a set of nice tread goodyear vr are still nice to have

 

[RatFink]

I read on a forum somewhere at sometime, that a tire comany (forget the name) was thinking about doing exact reproductions for 80's cars, giving the gatorback as an example of what tire they would likely reproduce.

 

[87gninpa]

Goodyear is reproducing the ZR45's now that came on late 90's/early 00's Mustangs. They are 245/45/17. Maybe they will start doing other sizes at some point. Theyre also making the Eagle GT's in 215/65/15.

 

[autodynamics]

When did they release the 17"?

 

[87gninpa]

Sometime last fall if I remember correctly. Bought a set from TireRack for my 01 Bullitt Mustang, thats what came on the car when new. If they do end up making the 245/50/16 ZR's and theyre comparable in price, I dont think Id pay that for old stock tires. Unless you need them for a show car of course.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...5ZR7ZR45&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

 

[87gninpa]

Also, unless you want them for originality's sake or like the look of them (I love the look), theyre really not a great tire. You can get something much better performing, smoother riding, and more comfortable for less money.

 

[autodynamics]

Look yes....performance......no

But I still love the look of the gatorback with its square sidewalks which makes the tire look wider,

Hopefully they remake those tires after all they were found on f bodies and gnx


Maybe someone is listening

 

[87gninpa]

Yea, Id love to have a st of them for my GNX rims. Not really liking the look of the G-Forces (only thing available in both 245 & 255).

Would also love a set of the Goodyear repro Eagle GT's in the stock GN size, but @ $375 each they can keep them.

 

[autodynamics]

Yea, Id love to have a st of them for my GNX rims. Not really liking the look of the G-Forces (only thing available in both 245 & 255).

Would also love a set of the Goodyear repro Eagle GT's in the stock GN size, but @ $375 each they can keep them.

X2