| Tire, Size | UTQGL | Speed/Load | Rim Width Range " | Meas. Rim Width " | Section Width " | Tread Width " |
| Firestone Indy 500 Firehawk, 215/65/15 | 500AB | 95S | 6.0-7.5 | 6.5 | 8.566 | ?? (can't find spec) |
| Tire, Size | UTQGL | Speed/Load | Rim Width Range " | Meas. Rim Width " | Section Width " | Tread Width " |
| Cooper Cobra Radial T/A, 215/65/15 | 440AB | 95T | 6.0-7.5 | 6.5 | 8.4 | 6.3 |
That too may be a heat issue. I bought some new off brand tires from the local Goodyear dealer and used them for less than a year on my work car before removing. They were then stored in a hot attic for a few years. Later they were installed on the front of the Mustang and within a few weeks this happened:Spontaneous Combustion and rapid rubber deterioration
If you want decent 15 inch tires you might want to avoid the BFG Redlines from Coker. It's too bad because these are cool looking tires.
This is my friends Oldsmobile's 18 month old spare tire. We have no idea what happened here. The 4 tires on the car seem fine.
Never seen anything like this except for one other time. The external spare on my friends 95 Bronco exploded in the patking lot while eating lunch inside a diner in Texas summer heat.
Uh, pictures please…
pictures if the Vitour tires..One of my older threads kind of started in with this, and I thought it better to move to a new thread since the old thread was actually supposed to be about 17" wheels.
So here it is - a thread dedicated to people giving input on the BEST 15" TIRES STILL AVAILABLE AS OF NOW IN 2022.
Let's face it, 15" tires are getting pretty scarce, especially the good ones. Almost every tire is fine for just putt-putting around, but very few are truly good for bailing you out in a hairy situation, and the number is dwindling. So, let's talk about them.
This is not a place for "well they haven't blown up yet, and they are fine for getting ice cream five times a year at 35 MPH or less" tires. This is not a place for "well ten years ago they made these amazing tires and I'm still running them even though they've been discontinued for 10 years" tires. This is a place for us to compare tires that are truly good for driving (street or mild track, wet/dry weather, corner carving, etc.) - or, weigh in if you've tried some absolutely awful tires that you need to warn people away from!
I will start with my data. My car, Jane, a 1966 Fastback. I have tried three tires. I will list their relevant specs, and what I thought of them.
Wheels: 15x6" Wheel Vintiques Styled Steel Wheels, 4.25 backspacing
Tires:
1) BFG Radial T/A. Absolutely the worst and I'm not even going to put its specs here because no one should have these tires unless they are truly only putt-putting around in low-traffic areas.
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2) Firestone Indy 500 Firehawk. Used 2011-2022. DISCONTINUED (which is why I've got this thread going now, actually)
Tire, Size UTQGL Speed/Load Rim Width Range " Meas. Rim Width " Section Width " Tread Width " Firestone Indy 500 Firehawk, 215/65/15 500AB 95S 6.0-7.5 6.5 8.566 ?? (can't find spec)
Feedback: I truly loved these tires. They were very comfortable rides, always confidence-inspiring. They would get a little squeaky on sharp corners but never let go. Never darted or followed imperfections in the road. Wore surprisingly quickly, and got about 40,000 miles out of them, which I didn't really consider to be that bad. Pretty decent in the rain although they would skate in very deep puddles. I took them through the worst monsoons I've ever driven through and they didn't let me down so I have to say I was happy with them. Cosmetically, they were also great, nice donut shape on the narrower wheel (how I prefer it), RWL were great. But alas, they are discontinued. Therefore, they are only included here for a comparison point as a tire that I was happy with.
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3) Cooper Cobra Radial T/As. Used 2022-present.
Tire, Size UTQGL Speed/Load Rim Width Range " Meas. Rim Width " Section Width " Tread Width " Cooper Cobra Radial T/A, 215/65/15 440AB 95T 6.0-7.5 6.5 8.4 6.3
Feedback: I put these tires on in October 2022, and took them to Big Bend for a week (2000 mile round trip). They were... okay. They do not feel planted the way the Firehawks did, although they did seem to break in a little bit and were better on the drive home than the drive out. They may get better with wear but considering that the average vintage car owner rarely puts a thousand miles on their car in a year, it bothers me that these tires (which are geared towards classic cars) should need so much of a break-in period. They are bouncy feeling and tend to wander, especially over uneven surfaces or in high wind. No feedback on rain yet. I'm surprised because the treadwear rating should seem to indicate that they are stickier, but they really don't feel that way. They also run noticeably smaller than the Firehawks (although it might be that the Firehawks actually ran large). Still, they are probably the best for RWL tires that can be acquired at any of the major tire shops.
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Okay, so that's what I've got so far to contribute - not really that much considering one tire is hated, and one has been discontinued, leaving me with only one actual contribution! Lol. But that's where you guys come in.
Next post from me will be a list of interesting 15" tires I've found, and I'd really like to hear feedback from anyone who's tried them - or if you have other tires to throw into the fray, please do!
(I also know that Zray is going to chip in with a plug for the extraordinarily expensive Avons, and he should know that they are no longer listed for sale by Avon in the US)
Very interested to see how these perform on track, in wet, etc.pictures if the Vitour tires..
The General Altimax is likely a much better tire anyway. I wouldn't even second guess getting them instead.Very interested to see how these perform on track, in wet, etc.
Update for anyone interested - I tried to order Vitour Galaxy R1 G/T - 215/60/15 from Performance Plus Tire but they only had 2 left and had yet to get a bill of lading for what would be coming and when from Vitour. PPT said they normally carry >2,000 Vitour tires but have not gotten a shipment in over a year due to supply chain/ shortages/ labor. They are down to <200 loose tires from Vitour in stock.
I may have to get a 600 TW/ H rated A/S (General Altimax RT45) to hold me over if my car is running soon but would still like to try these 400 TW / V rated tires eventually.
I think it is really just the Radial TA and similar tires that are crappy and in need of redesigning. They should be able to update these tires and maintain a nostalgia appearance, but I guess since they are a low demand tire that is probably not at the top of their list.Wow, i gotta say after reading through this i definitely want to get rid of my BFG radial t/a on my mustang. i haven’t looked at the date but they’re OLD i’m very surprised to hear about them being bad tires.
on my 3/4 ton pickup i run BFG AT T/A and they’re my absolute favorite tires ever.
are all BFG’s just sh*t quality now?
i wanted to try out the look of some redline tires on my 66 with factory wheels and tire size. i was gonna go with BFGs… maybe not now. anyone have any good recommendations for a redline tire? i’m still throwing around the idea, don’t know how it would look.
if anyone got some pictures of redlined on a classic stang let me see em!
that’s good to hear, i guess it’s not that the BFGs are bad tires, just not as up to date of the competition of new tire advancements and technology. i’ve always loved the white lettering of BFGs. i’m no race car driver so who knows, maybe i’ll stick with the good ole BFGI think it is really just the Radial TA and similar tires that are crappy and in need of redesigning. They should be able to update these tires and maintain a nostalgia appearance, but I guess since they are a low demand tire that is probably not at the top of their list.
The BFG All Terrain is actually a great tire. It may not be necessarily the best at everything but is a really good tire overall. I ran them for years on my old F150s until getting Cooper Discoverer the last 2 times. I might go back to them next time depending on what is available when I need tires for the truck. My neighbor and I just put a new set of the BFG AT's on an 84 Bronco.
On our 1997 Cobra we used to always run Michelin Pilot Sports since that car was new and they are great. Got a good deal from a friend at NTB last time so decided to try BFG G-Force Comp 2 tires. He's a manager and runs them on his modern GTO. I'd say they have been good tires but not quite as good as the Michelins.
No, the BFG's are bad tires. Well the Radial TAs are the ones that are terrible not necessarly the rest of the BFG line of tires. They are both outdated which is most of the issue, but they were just kinda lousy to begin with. I'd say literally any tire or at least 90% them are better. I wish they would put just a little effort into them so they would at least actually have decent traction. Its a shame because they look awesome! And they have a cool history.that’s good to hear, i guess it’s not that the BFGs are bad tires, just not as up to date of the competition of new tire advancements and technology. i’ve always loved the white lettering of BFGs. i’m no race car driver so who knows, maybe i’ll stick with the good ole BFG
I wish I could say I uncovered a hidden gem of a miracle tire that last and has incredible grip and handles heat on the track, but no.. They were not super grippy, they do not have the performance of a modern all season tire, like comes on the late model Mustangs and other sport cars. We did get some rain and they were OK in the rain. To be fair, I did not go to alot of trouble to set these tires up, they could have used another degree or two of negative camber. I ran them for 2 20 minute sessions and could already feel a sawtooth wear pattern on the left front, so I swapped over to bias-ply slicks and finished the weekend. Wish I had a better report. They would be fine on the street and IMO they are on par with BFG TA's but not alot betterVery interested to see how these perform on track, in wet, etc.
Update for anyone interested - I tried to order Vitour Galaxy R1 G/T - 215/60/15 from Performance Plus Tire but they only had 2 left and had yet to get a bill of lading for what would be coming and when from Vitour. PPT said they normally carry >2,000 Vitour tires but have not gotten a shipment in over a year due to supply chain/ shortages/ labor. They are down to <200 loose tires from Vitour in stock.
I may have to get a 600 TW/ H rated A/S (General Altimax RT45) to hold me over if my car is running soon but would still like to try these 400 TW / V rated tires eventually.
Thanks for the feedback on track use and wet. The classic car street use reviews I've read put them better than the TA's so I was hoping for at least that level of 400AA TW and V-rated would up there performance beyond the BFG's. Everyone drives differently (just to a cruise in, sporty, twisties, autocross, etc.) so it's hard to classify a 'good' tire.I wish I could say I uncovered a hidden gem of a miracle tire that last and has incredible grip and handles heat on the track, but no... ..They would be fine on the street and IMO they are on par with BFG TA's but not alot better
I think it would be a fine street tire with the occasional spirited start or mountain road and I would much prefer them to a slick if there is any rain. It was nice to be confident there would still be air in the tires from day to day. Those who have run Hoosier bias ply slicks know what I am talking about, they leak air like crazy from the side walls. My test was just out of their intended use. I will change the camber and give them a shot at Carolina Motorsport Park in a couple of weeks.Thanks for the feedback on track use and wet. The classic car street use reviews I've read put them better than the TA's so I was hoping for at least that level of 400AA TW and V-rated would up there performance beyond the BFG's. Everyone drives differently (just to a cruise in, sporty, twisties, autocross, etc.) so it's hard to classify a 'good' tire.
As the Vitours are currently unobtanium I'll have to wait for a later chance to try them maybe, as I doubt they'll be back in stock by the time my car is running. Always good to have options in the shrinking 15" category.
Interesting the different sizes are made in different countries. I kinda like the looks of those tires also. Seen them on a few old cars.I recently replaced the BFG Radial T/A's on my 64 Falcon with General Altimax RT-45 tires. My primary motivation was to alleviate the rubbing issues in the rear wheel wells with 245/60R15 tires.
My set-up now is 205/60R15 front and 225/60R15 rear.
I did a weight comparison between the tires mounted on my American Racing Torque Thrust II wheels.
BFG 245 = 45 lbs, RT-45 225 = 37 lbs, difference = -8 lbs
BFG 205 = 37.5 lbs, RT-45 205 = 34.5 lbs, difference = -3 lbs
IMO the reduction in rear tire weight of 8 lbs is fairly significant and coupled with the reduced circumference I hope to see an improvement in acceleration.
I was a little apprehensive about the look of the tires in pictures but now that I have the real thing I like the look of them.
Interestingly the 225 tires were made in the USA but the 205's were made in Romania.
When I purchased the tires in early March the General Tire rep in Canada said inventories were limited and they didn't expect new inventory any time soon.
The weather is turning springlike in southern Ontario now so I will be able to get out soon and see how they perform. I will report back on my experience in a few days.
www.bfgoodrichtires.com
www.nittotire.com
