15" tires

[rdorman]

For a year now I have read every opinion, researched every tire in the world trying to keep the 15" look and get performance. I held hope for Kuhmo with the STX to only see them cancel production of the front size tires. I held my breath for the cooper take over. I followed and exhausted every little and last lead. I sent emails to tire companies and engineers. But no. No high performance 15" tires.

Today a new set of tires went on to replace the pathetic BFGs. Do the follow every little change in road crown. Yes. Do they pick up every little peice of gravel. Yes. Will they last only a year or two for the miles that I put on the car. Yes. Are they twice the price of tires that will last five times as long. Yes. Are major pot holes, curbs and other road hazards more a concern. Yes. If the first concern about your Cobra is the paint could these be a problem. Yes. Do they have a tendency to bleed down. Yes.

HAVE THEY LIBERATED THE COBRA LIKE THE PEOPLE IN IRAQ. YES!!!!

FREE AT LAST! THANK GOD ALMIGHTY I AM FREE AT LAST!!!

If you are strickly a waxer/cruiser, stick with the Yoko, BFGs, Goodyears and Dunlops. But fellows, let me tell you, if you want performance and can live with the above, RUN, don't walk, to the phone and order a set of Hoosier sports car DOT bias street tds. They will set you free!!!!!!!

Nothing short of amazing.

Rick

[casaleenie]

Rick,

I read the post but I'm confused as to what you replaced the BFG TA's with...??? I've got a problem with my front tires and need a replacement (BFG/TA's) Front are like new and need to be warranteed and replaced and the back tires are worn out from spinning them... My wifes gonna kill me....
What kind of money are we talking about on the Hoosiers?
By the way, I'm basically a waxer.

al

[agro1]

Yeah - they're called slicks...

[rdorman]

Argo more or less hit it. They are slicks, hard compound slicks wit grooves in them. Hoosier Sport Car DOT Bias Street TDs. I ordered them from up in your neck of the woods and they drop shipped them in less than two days. They have a "tread" depth of about 8/32. I love them! About 600 for four.
Rick

[bran3b]

What was the company that you ordered them from? Do they have a web site?

[Jamo]

What's the big deal? Ran those exclusively for years--but they're tough on the street. Talk about following grooves!

But, as soon as my Kirkham arrives--off go the BFGs until next winter, and on go the TDs.

[rdorman]

Our trendsetter. Should I say forefather

You where part of the reason I bought the things!

You can go to hoosiertire.com or Krause and Woodman sells them. I found the local dealer on the hoosier site. Hoosier tire Ohio Valley.

Love them tires!

Rick

[Jamo]

Assright.

[Andrew]

I am looking to switch back to 15"s and I am only doing this for the look. I am willing to sacrifice handling for the look. I have 17" ps engineering (17x9 17x11) with 255/40/17 -335/35/17 michelins. These tires and rims have proven to be perfect for everything but cold nights.
Any experts? Will I sacrifice traction on hard acceleration? I am concerned about this because if anything I would like more of a bite on straight hard acceleration.

Andrew

Any pic's of the hoosier tds on a cobra?anyone? anyone?

[rdorman]

Don't hear of many people swithing back to 15". Applause please! They certainly do have more of the vintage look to them. If you search around a number of guys run them I would imagine that there pictures will show that. They are just big, sticky black wall tires.

I have PSE wheels as well. You should have zero trouble selling them if you like.

Any one have some Goodyear tire stencils???? Replica Goodyears for my replica Cobra!

Rick

[Dave Crace]

Rick,
This is good to hear. I ordered a set of TD's last week from Roger Kraus, because they did not have any of the treaded Goodyears. It looks like the Goodyears will not be available for a while (they are moving the plant to the US). Also, I had mine grooved to help in wet traction.

DC

[rdorman]

I was originally going to go the Goodyear route as well but got impatient. Don't think you will be disappointed.
Rick

[Blake Olson]

Are they Dirt Track, Asphalt or Street tires?

this is interesting from hoosier tires:

NOT FOR HIGHWAY USE: All Hoosier Racing Tires including DOT labeled Hoosier Racing Tires are designed for racing purposes only on specified racing surfaces and are not to be operated on public roadways. DOT labeled Hoosier Racing Tires meet Department Of Transportation requirements for marking and performance only and are NOT INTENDED FOR HIGHWAY USE. It is unsafe to operate any Hoosier Racing Tire including DOT tires on public roads. The prohibited use of Hoosier Racing Tires on public roadways may result in loss of traction, unexpected loss of vehicle control, or sudden loss of tire pressure, resulting in a vehicle crash and possible injury or death.

[rdorman]

They are road racing tires. Yep I read the disclaimer from Hoosier. But after talking to a number of people that do run them on the street, I went for it anyways. They do have a DOT rating. They are very light weight and most of that weight come from the thickness of the rubber. Both in the 'tread' and side walls. So they are not very good at dealing with road hazards, curbs, etc. If you read between the lines in the information you posted from Hoosier, road hazard is really what they are talking about. I doubt I will ever go back.
Rick

[Blake Olson]

Awesome! can you get them with the hoosier letters painted white?! Looks like I can't get a 275/50/15. only 60 series. What sizes did you end up getting?


blake

[rdorman]

I beleive they have the 275/50 in the radial but I did not want to go with the 245/50 for the front so I went with the bias plys. It is my understanding that in the metric sizes the 245/60 and 275/60 are about as close as you can come to the original spec size. That coupled with Unique's recommendation of this size and the experience of others led me to these. I can't begin to descibe how much 'lighter' and nimble the car feels. If I recall correctly BFG told me that the 275/50's I had on the car weighs something like 38 pounds each. With these being in the low 20's (I think) you can just imagine the performance benefit. Once again if I remember correctly, for every pound or tire/wheel weight is equivelant to 100 pounds vehicle weight as far as your brakes are concerned. That coupled with about a 50% increase in the coeficient of friction, you can just imagine the increase in stopping ability. Of course I didn't think about measuring this before hand

But seat of the pants is telling me good things. I my mind, small as it may be , a tire that stops better is a safer tire. Trade off for the road hazard issue.

Don't know about the white lettering. I am looking at the possibility of painting the big Goodyear on them!

Rick

[Jamo]

Real life with the Hoosiers over a four year period...

Don't worry about side scuffs...your side pipes will hit the curb first.

I've had them plugged and patched for nails, etc.

Tubes are recommended, but only sissys do that.

Tough to balance...may have to rebalance after you rub some rubber off.

Don't use them in the rain.

[rdorman]

Dont paint Goodyear on the side of them

Rick

[Clois Harlan]

I bought a set last year before the Tulsa races and used them only on the track and I love them, The tires alone cut several seconds off my time in St. Louis at the Run and Gun (I came in Second in the Big Block Pro class).

A good grip is like a firm hand shake----you just seem to be a little more trusting....


Clois

[Blake Olson]

Sounds like I gotta have these!!!!!

found a place in Dallas that carries Hoosier tires.