I may be speaking out-of-turn here, and I apologize if I disagree with some of you here. But...as much as I like the looks of the Goodyear "Billboards", I must say they can cause a TON of damage to your car.
I had a set of billboards a couple of years ago and while I liked their looks...they picked up so many rocks and pebbles in normal driving they damn-near ruined my car. They sand blasted the area imeediately behind each fenderwell, and caused my side pipes untold damage. Looks like the area closest to the front wheels was pelted with steel-shot ...they actually sandblasted the ceramic coating from the areas around the bends in the pipes as they came out of the engine bay. Plus, when they're cold...since they're a bias-ply tire... they hunt for and follow every groove and channel in the roadway and they develop enormous flat spots in them. Enough so that I've had the steering wheel almost ripped out of my hand in just normal less-than-45 MPH driving.
Now, to be honest and fair...once they got warmed up and the flat spots leveled out, I like they way they gripped. But, I sure hated the damage they caused to the paint and ceramic coatings.
What finally blew it for me was that I couldn't keep the GOODYEAR and EAGLE paint stencils on the sidewalls looking good. I followed the instructions a Texas Cobra Club member posted a couple of years ago to use a spray vinyl paint to spray the letters on the sidewalls. This paint is similar in texture and properties to the vinyl dip that plier handles are dipped in. I figured, shoot, this would stay on and remain flexible. WRONG! In less than 10 miles after painstakingly masking and spraying the stenciled letters on the tires, they were lifting and starting to come off. And I did this TWICE, before I said the hell with it.
All in all...I love the look of the GY Billboards....but I hate they way they handle cold, and hate the way they destroy paint and ceramic coating.
My best suggestion...put 17" wheels on and enjoy the availablity of a much wider range of performance tires. I run 15's for my street tires and Goodyear GT II's front and rear. I don't like their performance on the street - true enough - but at least I don't sandblast my car with them. I run 15" rims with Hoosiers for track use, and just bought a set of 17" track wheels shod with BFG R1's. I figure I can get at least 2-3 more track sessions out of the R1's before I have to replace them.
Anyone wanna buy some 15" Trigos w/Hoosier track tires on them? They're good for at least 2-3 more track weekends, maybe more. Drop me a line...
...again...all this is just my opinion...your mileage may vary, and you're free to disagree with my eleven years of Cobra experience...I'll still buy a round...!