Ok my 87 notchback needs new tires , last year I lost one of the originals . I want to try to keep the original look with the white letters. that being said no one I can find makes it in a 195/70r14. so Cooper and BF Goodrich make a white letter tire in 14 inch but in only a couple sizes. first Cooper Cobra Radial G/T Tire Size Service Description , UTQG , Load Range , Sidewall , Approved Rim Width , Measured Rim Width , Section Width , Overall Diameter , Tread Width , Max Load , Tread Depth P235/60R14 96T 440 A B STD RWL 6.5 - 8.5 7 9.1 25.08 7.6 1565 11
P185/60R14 82T 440 A B STD BLK 5 - 6.5 5.5 7.2 22.8 5.98 1047 11
P215/70R14 96T 440 A B STD RWL 5.5 - 7 6.5 8.7 25.75 7.01 1554 11
BFG Radial T/A
P215/60R14 91 S 400 A B RWL 6" - 7.5" 8.7" on 6.5" 24.2 1345@35 11
P215/70R14 96 S 400 A B RWL 5.5" - 7 8.7" on 6.5" 25.9 1554@35 12
I have been told when you change tire size it throws off your speedometer so 195/70r14 - 60mph stock 235/60r14 - 61mph 185/60r14 - 55.1mph 215/60r14 - 58.8mph 215/70r14 - 62.9mph Will any of these fit my stock steel rims ? and any opinions welcome on brand and size?
Look on Tirebuyer.com, I got 195/70-14 tires from them for a very good price with free shipping. I put them on my 85 2M4 SE and they are working great. Haven't even had to add balance weights because there's no vibration, I am impressed with the Chinese tires so far. There site also tells you what width rim each tire is suited for.
Unless you change tire size drasticlly, the error for a non stock tire is pretty minor. If your looking for a completely stock looking tire, werent the original tires Goodyear white letter ? If you dont drive it much, you could get Goodyears and hand paint the letters. They make a special stick 'paint pen', or you can use model enamel with a bit of talcum powder added to make it dry on rubber, and a small modeler paint brush . Neither are very durable, but OK if it gets limited use. The letters are all imprinted on the black sidewalls to fill in.
I had thought about painting the letters but did not know how well it would stick, still considering . check price and size of some of the tires and it went like this BF Goodrich 215/60r14 price $ 620 affect on mph Cooper 215/70r14 price $470 affect on mph semi Cooper 235/60r14 price 520 effect on mph I throw in the effect on the miles per hour just so I don't get pulled over . In reviews most people say the bf Goodrich hydroplane, the Coopers have better traction but don't last as long. but with limited driving ( at least from the past ) that should not matter much.
I painted the letters on the Firestone motorcycle tire on my old Triumph. It's lasted two full riding seasons (about 5k miles) and gets oil coated daily. I wiped the letters down with lacquer thinner before and after scuffing them a little with fine grit sand paper, then hand painted them with model paint.
Thanks if my wife insists on cheaper tires , at least I will now how to paint them. any way I go can someone tell me how wide a stock steel rim is ? that way I will know what does and does not fit width wise on the rim. Edit to add I found this in the archives The stock wheel sizes are: 14 X 6 for 85 GT's 84 thru 87 SE's and 84 Indy's 15 X 7 for 86/87 GT's 15 X 6 Front and 15 X 7 Rear on 88 GT's and Formula's On 6" wheels you can go out to a 235 but the recommended max width is 225 I am considering the 235/60r14 so is that the width of 14" rims 6 " and can take up to a 235? because they state 235 tires go from 6.5 to 8" width
[This message has been edited by kendallville (edited 03-26-2014).]
I ran through a set of 235/60 R14 BF Goodrich Radial T/As on my '84 SE with the stock 14 x 6 Hi Tech Turbo wheels. They just cleared the inner fender well liners at sharp turning angles. I thought they were a little wide looking as well so the last couple of sets have been 225/60 R14.
[This message has been edited by David Hambleton (edited 03-26-2014).]
I ran through a set of 235/60 R14 BF Goodrich Radial T/As on my '84 SE with the stock 14 x 6 Hi Tech Turbo wheels. They just cleared the inner fender well liners at sharp turning angles. I thought they were a little wide looking as well so the last couple of sets have been 225/60 R14.
I like the fact there almost the same size as my 195/70r14 that makes the speedometer almost the same. however my wife will kill me at $139 each plus installation or about $620 for 4 and Cooper doesn't make that size. Thanks for the info 235 sound like it could be a mistake. now I am down to 215/70r14 I hate tires
BF Goodrich 215/60r14 price $ 620 Cooper 215/70r14 price $470 Cooper 235/60r14 price 520
That's a shitload of cash for really mediocre tires.
I just bought Direzza Z2 autocross rubber for less than that shipped to my door this week.
You could have RS3, R888, Z2, BFG Rival, Azenis RT615Ks, or any number of other GOOD tires for the coin you're looking at shelling out.
I'm not just blowing smoke up your ass either, I currently have a set of Cooper Cobras AND set of BFGs both in white letter for my Fiero, and having owned both these... and good tires, I'm telling you paying $600+ for a set of 14" BFGs is throwing your money away.
You'd be much happier on a set of good tires (unless you use the car primarily for car shows, and don't drive it)
Edit because I forgot to tell you that the Coopers were so crappy, two of the first four couldn't be road-force balanced. They were egg-shaped, and considerably worse than the BFGs.
[This message has been edited by KurtAKX (edited 03-27-2014).]
" I just bought Direzza Z2 autocross rubber for less than that shipped to my door this week.
You could have RS3, R888, Z2, BFG Rival, Azenis RT615Ks, or any number of other GOOD tires for the coin you're looking at shelling out."
I checked dunlops website they don't show the Direzza Z2 in a 14 inch. The RS3 is a Cooper tire, Toyo R888 only comes in two sizes for 14 inch 205/55R14 , 225/50R14 both very small compared to stock225/50r14 x4 $ 660 plus tax plus install . I could go thru them all but you can see the problems I am getting on 14 inch rims, I would like good tires but can't find them. At least the prices include installation, tax all out the door not just on the door step. but thanks for the info, always welcome to get reviews. edit to add yes mostly driven to shows , and only 200 miles last year.
[This message has been edited by kendallville (edited 03-28-2014).]
Yup the Cooper cobra does not have the white letters in all sizes. I found that out the hard way. The guy at the Tirerack thought otherwise, now I have 2 white ltr and 2 without.
Yup the Cooper cobra does not have the white letters in all sizes. I found that out the hard way. The guy at the Tirerack thought otherwise, now I have 2 white ltr and 2 without.
T
Thanks can I ask what size you got , so I know to avoid them?
So I am still looking , no one makes a good 14 inch tire . some seem to think they are all cr-p. So can some one tell me if a 215/ 70 r 14 will fit my stock rim ?
width looks good at least as far as fitting on the rim , but they are an inch bigger in diameter and an inch wider aprox . will it rub in the fender well? trying to keep to a stock look is proving hard , trying to make it a good tire well
[This message has been edited by kendallville (edited 03-30-2014).]
" I just bought Direzza Z2 autocross rubber for less than that shipped to my door this week.
You could have RS3, R888, Z2, BFG Rival, Azenis RT615Ks, or any number of other GOOD tires for the coin you're looking at shelling out."
I checked dunlops website they don't show the Direzza Z2 in a 14 inch. The RS3 is a Cooper tire, Toyo R888 only comes in two sizes for 14 inch 205/55R14 , 225/50R14 both very small compared to stock225/50r14 x4 $ 660 plus tax plus install . I could go thru them all but you can see the problems I am getting on 14 inch rims, I would like good tires but can't find them. At least the prices include installation, tax all out the door not just on the door step. but thanks for the info, always welcome to get reviews. edit to add yes mostly driven to shows , and only 200 miles last year.
I suppose I should've articulated that better. I've got 15" sizes, because in general, I found I could get better quality tires with higher performance for less money.
If I had to choose a tire for showing as opposed to driving, with the requirements: -Raised White Letter (RWL) -14" diameter ...I'd take the BFG over the Cobra.
[This message has been edited by KurtAKX (edited 04-01-2014).]
Problem with those autocross tires is the tread ware numbers. They don't last that long The R888 are under 120 I believe.
Yes and no. He only drove his car 200 miles last year. Pretty much no matter what you get, it'll be dry-rotted before it wears out at 2000 miles/decade.
Even if you decide not to go "whole hog" street performance, there's lots of other 15" options one notch down the ladder that last longer and also absolutely destroy a Cooper Cobra or Radial T/A. Examples include the Yokohama S.Drive, Direzza DZ101/102, Falken ZX512/912, and so on.
price $ 620 
affect on mph 
effect on mph 
