NHvette

A little premature, but I was looking at the price of tires.
I usually get BFG TAs for all my cars/trucks.
I was looking at Tire Rack, and the #1 rated tire in the size/class was
Firstone Firehawk INDY500s. They were, cheaper than the TAs, too.

I know some people out there have them. What is your impression ?

:seeya




[Modified by NHvette, 11:09 PM 4/5/2004]

LABulldog

I'm curious too. Seriously considering one of these tires for my car later this summer. :steering: & :seeya

1Bad69

are you talking about the cheap ol TA's?

they are garbage..
absolutely no traction..for me anyway...even on my T-Bird...they suck...if you are planning to drive in the rain..forgettaboutit

isosceles

I've got a set of BFG TA's on order. I'll let ya know. Anything is better than what has been on the car for the past 1.5 years (you dont wanna know)

NHvette

A - I will never plan to drive in the rain with the vette.
B - I have been driving TAs for many years and I am very happy with them.

I want to know if the Firehawks are so much better.

:seeya

Dalannex

I have the firehawk indy's on my 81'. Just put them on last Friday. I like them. I decided on them because I thought the tread pattern looked like it will grip on the dry asphalt better than the others I looked at. (I don't drive in the rain) I took the car out Sunday on our first official club cruise for the club I am starting and ran it pretty aggresively and was happy with the firehawks.


-Justin

Stewart's74

I like my Firehawks. My car is hardly stock but since it originally came with Firestones, I felt the old girl would want some new ones.

Master Ho

After the Firestone 500's(remember them?!!) and the SUV tires, I won't have anything to do with the 'stones :nono:

gkull

Back when I had 15 inch wheels I used The comp T/A's. I just went out to the Tire Rack and 15 inch sellection these days really sucks.

There is no such thing as performance tires in 15 inch. Slow speed ratings and all "B" tempeture. You would have blulges in the summer in the south west under your tread unless you use "A" temp rated.

Long lasting hard rubber is why you guys can't drive in the rain. 20 years ago I looped my Vette on a rainy day on cheap no traction tires. I said never again will I take a chance on Wasteing an expensive Vette over saving money on tires.

Over the years I have road raced in down pours and lap times don't really go down more than 10-15%

:beatdeadhorse: with staying with 15 inch wheels

79MakoL82

The problem is, if you're like me and like the look of RWL tires (especially on a black car), you can't find them in 16" or 17" tires. If there was a 17" with RWL, I'd buy 'em. So if you like the RWL's, you are pretty much stuck with 15" wheels. :rolleyes:

MN-Brent

I liked the Dunlop QT Qualifiers tread pattern better than the others. They have a redesigned tread compound and handle excellent so far in dry and wet roads (got caught coming home from a family reunion in the rain).

Im glad I bought 'em and they run very smooth compared to the Remingtons that came with the car.

Brent...

Wrecked82

I am not afraid to get my car out of the garage, much less in the rain. I DRIVE the car, not admire it in the garage. The Indy's are a great tire - even in rain and hail and sand and anything else the ROAD can let me encounter.

79-L-82

I'm with you Mako.
It's a shame someone doesn't still support 15" wheels for the old performance cars. . .
:cuss

MEAN72

I had the same debate with myself. I went with the Firehawk INDY 500. I don't have enough miles on them to provide a definitve answer but they seem to have better traction and handling. They should be a more modern tire design then the BFG. Tire Rack recommends them over the BFG. So far I'm satisfied. :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:

SAMMAN

I had a set back in the mid 70's on a 240Z, almost got killed when chunks of the tread started coming off while driving.

Fevre

:iagree: I like mine .

Super Stock

I had a 73' that came new from the factory with Firestones. It took about 6 months for the first one to come apart and rip the rear fender to peices. Replaced it with another just like it (STUPID) and a couple of months later the pass. side front came apart but I caught it in time. NO MORE FIRESTONES.

gdh

I think my next set will be the Kumho Ecsta STX "H" rated tire. They have great reviews and there was a guy with an 81 vette who loved them as well. The T/A's look nice but are very poor in all but the best weather.

1Bad69

greg...that tire is rated as a Street/Sport Truck All-Season radial...why would you put that on your Vette? or are you talking about the SUV?

gdh

nope, for the vette, that and a Pirelli SUV tire are the only speed rated tires, a few guys have gone with them and are very happy with the results.