Tire recommendations Mk II

[MICOBRA]

Hi Gang - I was fortunate last year to purchase a pre built Roadster. The car was finished in about 2001 and only has ~7k miles on it, but I am concerned that the tires are over 20 years old, and wanted your expert opinion should I replace the tires before the season starts? and if so, what would be a good tire - I am mainly going to be spirited road driving and maybe an odd track day.
The current tires are BF Goodrich Radial TA 235 60 15 & 275 60 15.
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks Mark

[Jeff Kleiner]

Definitely replace them! Choices are limited in 15"; pretty much Cooper Cobra Radial GT, BF Goodrich Radial T/A and Mickey Thompson Sportsman ST. They're all "street cruiser" type tires and not track tires.

Jeff

[MICOBRA]

Thanks Jeff for the fast response. I had thought the tires should be changed, but just wanted conformation!
Thanks for the suggestions also - I can now take a look at the suggestions.

[ptstew]

Unless things have changed I was unable find the 275x60R15 size for the rears. I ended up going with 295x50R 15 from Cooper Cobra. They are 2cm wider than 275’s. When installing I reversed the quad shocks on my Mustang solid axle so that the thick end was toward the front giving me a bit more clearance on the inside of the tire. Even with that I get a bit a outside fender rub when going over a bump with a full tank of gas.

[mrmustang]

Hi Gang - I was fortunate last year to purchase a pre built Roadster. The car was finished in about 2001 and only has ~7k miles on it, but I am concerned that the tires are over 20 years old, and wanted your expert opinion should I replace the tires before the season starts? and if so, what would be a good tire - I am mainly going to be spirited road driving and maybe an odd track day.
The current tires are BF Goodrich Radial TA 235 60 15 & 275 60 15.
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks Mark

I recommend the Cooper Cobras over the BFG's these days. Have them on the 289 FIA and my 70 GT 350 Shelby convertible.

Bill S.

[MICOBRA]

Thanks mr mustang - that is good to know. When I checked out our local big box tire store the BF tires had a customer rating of 7.5/10 and the Cooper's had 5/10 - obviously the website ratings are over a wide selection of vehicles/uses, but I will now consider the Cooper's as you have direct experience of using these tires on a cobra.

[mrmustang]

Thanks mr mustang - that is good to know. When I checked out our local big box tire store the BF tires had a customer rating of 7.5/10 and the Cooper's had 5/10 - obviously the website ratings are over a wide selection of vehicles/uses, but I will now consider the Cooper's as you have direct experience of using these tires on a cobra.

Forget the big box store reviews, do a side by side comparison on Tire Rack (click below):

235/60/15 (https://www.tirerack.com/tires/CompareTires.jsp?width=235/&ratio=60&diameter=15&frontWidth=&frontRatio=&frontDiameter=&rearWidth=275/&rearRatio=60&rearDiameter=15&sortCode=null&rearSortCode=&tireIndex=null)

275/60/15 (https://www.tirerack.com/tires/CompareTires.jsp?width=275/&ratio=60&diameter=15&frontWidth=&frontRatio=&frontDiameter=&rearWidth=255/&rearRatio=40&rearDiameter=17&sortCode=null&rearSortCode=&tireIndex=null)

Then make your decisions from there.

Bill S.

[MPersanis]

so people are happy with the coopers?

[Jeff Kleiner]

so people are happy with the coopers?

I’ve built 3 roadsters using Coopers for customers. They’ve all been happy with them keeping in mind that they are strictly a cruiser and not an especially high performance or track tire.

Jeff

[rich grsc]

They are a good street tire, marginal, at best on the track unless you just want to have fun and not push too hard.

[MPersanis]

what sizes are people using? I cant find 235/60/15

[JMD]

Most people seem to prefer the Cooper tire over the BFG radial. I run 235/60-15 up front and 295/50-15 in rear on my MkIV. Not sure how that might be different from Mk II.

[MICOBRA]

Thanks everyone for your feedback & assistance. I went with the Cooper Cobra's. The local big box tire store had to special order for me, but they were still cover in one of their promotions. The tires have been on the car for a few weeks now and I am pleased with the performance and ride quality when street cruising.

[MikeHolt]

I see that you went with the Coopers. Just a bit late I suppose to offer up that I had the BF Goodrocks in 15”…Terrible tire for this car. Way too hard and slippery!
I replaced them with the Mickey T’s and have been very happy with them. I hope the Coopers work for you.

[Jeff Kleiner]

what sizes are people using? I cant find 235/60/15

Tire Rack has 'em

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Cooper&tireModel=Cobra+Radial+G%2FT&partnum=36TR5CRGTRWL&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

As does Summit:

https://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/tires/tire-size/235-60-15/product-line/cooper-cobra-g-t-tires?srsltid=AfmBOoqGxIaCBuCWVvbUzz1B_jn1k8er_YwJ QFTvPveMRGhgA2woLJlp

And others.

Jeff

[MPersanis]

got em! Mavis carried the tire but not that size? GOt them from Tire Rack, thank you