Tire selection

woodman · #1 (**permalink**) 08-31-2003, 08:54 AM

My pre-1990 Contemporay I purchased in Georgia came equiped with fifteen inch pin drive Halibrands (or a very impressive copies)
I had a blowout recently on the freeway and was forced to replace the tires without much research. My intention was to replace them after the summer with better tires for the others were very old. The tires I purchased really suck. Now with winter approaching I want to find a better tire to replace these. The rim widths are seven and nine inch. My problem is finding replacement tires that are a performance tire in fifteen inch size. I am open for any suggestions.
Mike

Cracker · #2 (**permalink**) 08-31-2003, 09:36 AM

This is what I wrote yesterday on another thread about tires:

"Just a note regarding the BIG "Goodyear" I mean "GOODYEAR" tires which are now sold via Shelby Enterprises as the authentic "COBRA" tire. First, these tires for years were produced in Chile with apparantly very poor quality control standards with a wide range of weighting variances. Second, the price of $800 "for authencity" is just not true. This tire is the best tire I have ever had when it comes to harnessing the power and giving a predictable feedback at it's limits. The best thing I have done with my car (and like most of you that means alot) is put these tires on. It immediatly made my car 10 times safer and more predcictable to drive and accelerates like never before! I used to spin my tires in 1-3rd when pushing it - now I get just a little spin in 1st and the rest is hook-up.

As for painting the letters I used a paint pen that is water proof from the arts store Michael's and it has held up well minus it turning a little yellow/brown on me. Best wishes!"

woodman · #3 (**permalink**) 08-31-2003, 02:58 PM

Tony
The tires I currently am running are 235/60/15 front and 295/50/15 rear( I duplicated what was on the car when I purchased it) What size tires and width rims are you running?
Also who is the contact for the tires?
thanks for the info
mike
a guy with a small penis but very large balls

Cracker · #4 (**permalink**) 08-31-2003, 06:46 PM

Mike,

The contact is Shelby Enterprises in Carson, CA.
19021 S Figueroa St
Gardena, CA 90248-4510
Phone

310)538-2914

Ask for racing tires when calling.

Your tire size is the same as what I was running with the street tires. These are virtually the same but since they are racing tires don't use the same descriptions. I think they are: Front 7 in tread width & rear 10.5 in tread width. When you see them off the wheel they look huge but when mounted the sidewalls get sucked in and grow dissapointinly smaller!

ps. Sorry to hear about the penis - as the old fishing joke goes - it's not how big your worm is but rather how you wiggle it the matters!

woodman · #5 (**permalink**) 09-01-2003, 07:05 AM

Tony
thanks for the advice, I'll put it to good use
mike
from the land of snow and ice

Cracker · #6 (**permalink**) 09-01-2003, 07:57 AM

Mike,

I forgot to mention that they are absolutly no good in the wet. Since they are race tires the grooves/tread funnel straight and therefore do not allow water to exit - this means hydroplane. I don't drive in the rain, however I was caught recently in a 3 minute downpoor and I just slowed up to 25 mph and was fine. Best wishes!

woodman · #7 (**permalink**) 09-01-2003, 08:32 AM

Tony
I also refrain from driving in the rain, I haven't any top and I intend on keeping it that way. I am in the process of trying locate someone to make a tonneau for nights I'm on the road.
I'd like to talk to you sometime about the handling of your car.
mike

terry lee · #8 (**permalink**) 09-01-2003, 09:20 AM

Mike,
I got my Big Letter GoodYear slicks from Rodger Kraus Racing for less than $500. for a set of 4 (not incl. shipping). They also have treaded tires with the same letters, which cost slightly more.
They are BIG

Their web site: www.rodgerkrausracing.com
Phone: 1-800-510-7223

I also have a set of Dunlop GT Qualifiers for the street.

Hope this helps,
TL

decooney · #9 (**permalink**) 09-01-2003, 09:32 AM

Caution - if this is a concern to you... the big letter GoodYear grooved tires from Shelby or Krause pick up and throw lots of rocks from the road. Especially when these tires are new and soft. Small pebbles will project forward from the tires and right back at your nice paint job, fenders. Expect to receive CHIPS CHIPS CHIPS. Also, the rocks get thrown back at other cars and break windshields of other people's cars and Cobras behind you! Your friends won't be following close for long.

I have these tires on my ERA, and I love them for driving except they hunt a little and have created several chips on my paint. I chose to take function over looks so I'll be keeping them for now. When I repaint my car again, I'll be choosing other tires down the road. Just so you know about what to expect... See Ya.

Cracker · #10 (**permalink**) 09-01-2003, 11:59 AM

dconney,

I was just in Lake of the Pines last week up the road from you! Isn't Folsom just north of Sac.? Let me know and I'll take you to dinner and talk cars - I'm in Sac on a fairly regular basis.

800-895-7531 x101

decooney · #11 (**permalink**) 09-01-2003, 12:45 PM

Hey Tony,
I have friends in LOTP. I'm about 45min from there... Just send me a mail. If you come in on a Wednesday evening, we have a local show/get-together that we attend sometimes too. See Ya.
Send me an email via ClubCobra.

48 IDA · #12 (**permalink**) 09-01-2003, 12:57 PM

Mike,
Last year I gave up on any real high performance street tires in 15". Found that Cooper Cobra makes a large selection of 15" tires. Check then out and see what you think. I purchased 265 50 15 for the fronts, and 295 50 15 for the rears. These were mounted on 7 1/2" front, 9 1/2" rear Halibrand knock offs. They fit just fine. NO rubbing. My car is an early contemporary I built in 1982. Hope this helps.

Don

Bumpster · #13 (**permalink**) 09-01-2003, 08:21 PM

terry lee - The web site you gave for Rodger Kraus Racing came up empty. Did you post it correctly? I'd like to see what they have.

Bumpster

shaps · #14 (**permalink**) 09-01-2003, 08:31 PM

try this one

www.rogerkrausracing.com

Shaps

terry lee · #15 (**permalink**) 09-02-2003, 06:01 AM

Bumpster and others,
There is no "d" in rogerkrausracing.com - dummy me
Also try another link: www.rogerkraus.com/GYVintage.html - samething, different format (easier to understand).

Bumpster,
Are you aware of the Key West Cruise and Poker Run on Oct. 11, 12,&13th. Jerry and Pam Miller from your area are planning on coming down for it. If you can make it, we would love to have you join in. Most info to date on DSCC forum. Or email me direct: tml427@bellsouth.net

TL

woodman · #16 (**permalink**) 09-02-2003, 03:57 PM

Don
Who did you purchase your tires from? I also need to question
you about your car.
Mike

rdorman · #17 (**permalink**) 09-03-2003, 02:59 PM

Before you buy the big letter Goodyears be warned that they are not DOT approved. My insurance company and the local law enforcement don't seem to care. Be sure your don't.

For 15" tires: I would put my vote for the yokohama avid s/t for the best cruising tire. Hoosier street TDs for the best performance tire. The TDs have a lot of trade offs, low miles, no wet grip, bias ply so they hunt, usually have to order one to get them, pick up a lot of rocks. But man do they grip!

Rick

48 IDA · #18 (**permalink**) 09-03-2003, 05:09 PM

Mike,
check your e-mail.

Don