What tires are closest to OEM?

[Ssg Ken]

I am considering this tire. I will not put a lot of miles on it.


COBRA RADIAL G/T
P235/60R15 COBRA GT 98T
Your classic muscle car or pick-up deserves no less than the Cooper Cobra Radial G/T. The blackwall options give you the look you want in a performance tire.
$70.00


other choices here

P235 60 R15 - Compare Prices, Reviews and Buy at NexTag - Price - Review

 

[1quick6]

The Cobra is a nice tire. A 235/60 on a 15" rim is almost identical to a 215/65 in terms of height. Both are very close to 26" tall, so your speedo will be fine. If you want to get all technical and stuff, if you are going 60mph on stock tires, you will be going 59.7mph on 235/60 tires.

I ran Cooper Cobras in 235/60 for years on the Regal and I liked them. I have BFG Radial T/A right now, 235/60 in front and 275/50 in back on Weld ProStars. I ran both sets with the blackwalls out since it isn't the 80's anymore. Everyone has their opinions.

On a side note, I remember actually painting the letters on my tires white back in the late 80's to be cool. That good old black Chevette was my baby as a teen. haha

 

[BASS]

I would rather go with the BFG Radial T/A than the Coopers..

 

[Ssg Ken]

We have an orphan size

I would rather go with the BFG Radial T/A than the Coopers..

I have had a few problems getting a tire that is close to 235/65 R15. I cannot find in in a BFG. Do you have them and what size are they? The ones I am considering are $70x3 with one free on sale. It seems too cheap to be good but why pay more?

 

[87gninpa]

I have had a few problems getting a tire that is close to 235/65 R15. I cannot find in in a BFG. Do you have them and what size are they? The ones I am considering are $70x3 with one free on sale. It seems too cheap to be good but why pay more?

You dont want 235 65 15 you want 235 60 15 If you really want to be as close to OEM as possible in that size, go with the Goodyear Eagle GT II's. They are available in 235 60 15 and look pretty close to stock. If you dont want to spend the cash for them, get the BFG's at least, Coopers are cheap and look like crap.

 

[Turbo6inKY]

I would rather go with the BFG Radial T/A than the Coopers..

The radial T/A is an old tire. Old tread design, old compound. Almost everything out there is going to be better. They just don't say "BFG Radial T/A" on the side in big white letters.

 

[BASS]

Coopers are junk, and the only available selection you have if you want to go with 235/60/15 are either the BFG Radial T/As, the Goodyear Eagle GTIIs, the Firestone Firehawks, and the Pirelli P600s. The Firestones I wouldnt trust, and the Pirelli P600s are pricey ($215 each)...

That leaves you with either the BFGs Radial TAs or the Eagle GTIIs, which are both pretty similar...

 

[1quick6]

I have had a few problems getting a tire that is close to 235/65 R15. I cannot find in in a BFG. Do you have them and what size are they? The ones I am considering are $70x3 with one free on sale. It seems too cheap to be good but why pay more?

As noted, you don't want 235/65, you want 235/60. Not only is 235/65 an odd size, it is too tall. You'd be over an inch taller and 3mph off on your speedo. Get the brand you like ... everyone has their opinions as seen here.

 

[wheelin]

Which of those has best dry performace?

 

[Bruce Urie]

Summit Racing has BFGoodrich tires in 235-60-15R size that's the same diameter as the GN stock tire..26 inches. They won't throw off your speedometer. Good prices. They ship them to your door. Look them up. I have them on my '87 Grand National. They have a long tread wear life.

Bruce '87 Grand National

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Pirelli P6 Four Seasons National&autoModClar=

This is the size you need. The REAL OEM size; 215/65-15's. the only one worth a dam in this size, is the pirellis. And they're only 73 each. Otherwise, the FACTORY tires were the goodyear eagle gt's. And now, they brought back the gt's, but not in our size lol. So you get one or the other. Personally, if I cared about oem, I'd go for for size, not brand.
For traction with these tires, you could try a pinion snubber, a set of adjustable upper control arms painted so they're hidden, rebuild the posi unit with stiff springs and more clutches, a thicker rear sway, bilstein heavy duty rear shocks, painted black (part #F4-B46-0929-H0) box the control arms, and utilize stiffer rate springs, that are of factory ride height.

That should get you a little more traction with the narrow tires.

 

[Ssg Ken]

tires too big?

So now the local tire store recommends a Firestone 275/60 R15 Indy. These exact tires were made early this year by the date code 0310 which he was happy to show when I asked. About $477 vs $425 for the Chinese el cheapo. If I give the old tires to a TR collector, I save a recycling fee x4.

This sounds too wide for the fender clearances but the traction would be awesome!

What do you think?

 

[1quick6]

I think those would be too wide for a 15x7 wheel. Some people get away with it and some don't. You are right on the ragged edge there because there is even variance between brands for the same tire size. Some brands even state that this tire should be on an 8" wide wheel.

 

[Ssg Ken]

thank you.

I think those would be too wide for a 15x7 wheel. Some people get away with it and some don't. You are right on the ragged edge there because there is even variance between brands for the same tire size. Some brands even state that this tire should be on an 8" wide wheel.

I have the factory wheels. His computer was down so that was what he had. Sounds like just another salesman

 

[mr go fast]

I installed Coopers when I first purchased my GN two years ago. They have an older tread design which is has a great following (I was never satisfied with the looks of the tire). I sold those tires and then installed the Firestone Firehawks. The side wall of the Firehaws (on the black wall side) to seems to look better than most. I would do either the Firestones or Goodyears. Good luck.

 

[Ssg Ken]

thank you

I installed Coopers when I first purchased my GN two years ago. They have an older tread design which is has a great following (I was never satisfied with the looks of the tire). I sold those tires and then installed the Firestone Firehawks. The side wall of the Firehaws (on the black wall side) to seems to look better than most. I would do either the Firestones or Goodyears. Good luck.

I would like Goodyear Eagles but .....Firestone Firehawks in a 245 or 255 60 might work.

 

[Monte231SS]

275/60 is a pretty big tire. i dont like the look at all especially if its just a standard radial tire. I run 215/65/15 BFG Traction TA on the front of my car and love them. I went with the BFG traction TA instead of the BFG radial TA. I have 255/60/15 MT Drag radials on back. (still a little too big for the look i was going for) X2 on the Coopers looking like crap! Id go with some sort of BFG. Mickey Thompson has a real nice looking street radial tire out too! Summit has them.

 

[novaderrik]

So now the local tire store recommends a Firestone 275/60 R15 Indy. These exact tires were made early this year by the date code 0310 which he was happy to show when I asked. About $477 vs $425 for the Chinese el cheapo. If I give the old tires to a TR collector, I save a recycling fee x4.

This sounds too wide for the fender clearances but the traction would be awesome!

What do you think?

a 275/60 looks too big on a stock G body, and it's too big to look right on a 7" rim regardless of what car it's on.
plus it would throw your speedo way off going from your stock 26" tires to a 28" tire- 55 on the speedo would be something like 65mph road speed.

of all the choices i've seen thrown out in this thread, i'd go for the 235/60/15 Firestone Firehawk Indy's. i had a set of those on my Nova- 255/60/15 rear and 235/60/15 fronts- and they got good traction on dry, wet, or sandy pavement. and they looked good, too.

 

[Gnx6]

235/60/15 is a good size but hard to come by. Not many make it anymore. I am not a firestone fan but the indy firehawk tires drive really nice and are quiet. I am running Mickey Thompson Et street radials on the back. Another buddy has them on all 4's and they are good. Rear traction is not so great if you have mods, but no tire is.

 

[bmackinnon]

I would like Goodyear Eagles but .....Firestone Firehawks in a 245 or 255 60 might work.

I have 245/60's all the way around on stock t-type rims... with my TIRED, sagging front springs, they rub a tiny bit on the front with the wheels turned hard and I hit a bump, like backing out of a driveway, but otherwise I love them. I don't think they will rub at all when I replace the front springs. They fit the 7 inch rims great, and look/perform much better than the 235s. Plus, with equal sizing, they can be rotated frt to rear, which is handy because the rears wear so much faster than the fronts...:biggrin: