Topic: TIRE CHOICES FOR 1982
in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling
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Lifetime MemberIrving, TX - USA
Joined: 8/21/2004
Posts: 4273
Vette(s): #1 -1969 Corvette Coupe Riverside Gold, black interior,MN,A/C,350/350,PS,PB,window cranks.
#2 -2000 C5, black/black, 6 sp, Bose system & lots of buttons.
I have BFG Radial T/A's, so I agree with Gunslinger & Dave. 
I'm afraid of Firestone since the recall. 
I'm afraid of Firestone since the recall. 
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MICK - C3VR Lifetime Member #113
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Bladenboro, NC - USA
Joined: 1/22/2006
Posts: 1058
Vette(s): 1972 conv., sunfire yellow, blk interior, blk vinyl and convertible top. Off frame restoration with American Speed 383 stroker engine producing 500hp plus a 200hp NOS system. MSD ignition. Hooker super competition headers with chambered exhaust.
[QUOTE=greypoupon69]I have BFG Radial T/A's, so I agree with Gunslinger & Dave. I'm afraid of Firestone since the recall. [/QUOTE]
Mick, the chances of your husband murdering you is far more likely than being killed by a tire seperating.
The tires Firestone had the problems with was the P235/75R15. The tires were used on the Ford Explorer and studies have shown that the problem for those deaths were from roll-overs .
I'm afraid of Firestone since the recall. [/QUOTE] Mick, the chances of your husband murdering you is far more likely than being killed by a tire seperating.
The tires Firestone had the problems with was the P235/75R15. The tires were used on the Ford Explorer and studies have shown that the problem for those deaths were from roll-overs .
Lifetime MemberIrving, TX - USA
Joined: 8/21/2004
Posts: 4273
Vette(s): #1 -1969 Corvette Coupe Riverside Gold, black interior,MN,A/C,350/350,PS,PB,window cranks.
#2 -2000 C5, black/black, 6 sp, Bose system & lots of buttons.
[QUOTE=rearn2go72] [QUOTE=greypoupon69]I have BFG Radial T/A's, so I agree with Gunslinger & Dave. I'm afraid of Firestone since the recall. [/QUOTE]
Mick, the chances of your husband murdering you is far more likely than being killed by a tire seperating.
The tires Firestone had the problems with was the P235/75R15. The tires were used on the Ford Explorer and studies have shown that the problem for those deaths were from roll-overs .
[/QUOTE]
That's no joke rearn2go72, I just got CHEWED OUT a few minutes ago because I wanted to buy some seat protectors for my C5. 
I'm afraid of Firestone since the recall. [/QUOTE] Mick, the chances of your husband murdering you is far more likely than being killed by a tire seperating.
The tires Firestone had the problems with was the P235/75R15. The tires were used on the Ford Explorer and studies have shown that the problem for those deaths were from roll-overs .
[/QUOTE]
That's no joke rearn2go72, I just got CHEWED OUT a few minutes ago because I wanted to buy some seat protectors for my C5. Yeah, I know all that about those tires for the Ford Explorer, but I'm still chicken. I have some on my C5 and they are wearing out fast.............but I would never put those on my BABY C3! 
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MICK - C3VR Lifetime Member #113
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Frederick, MD - USA
Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 3398
Vette(s): 1969 convertible L71 427/435 4-speed black interior
The Firestone tire problems were traced to several causes. One was Ford was specifying tire pressure lower than Firestone recommended...they wanted a smoother ride for customers. The heat buildup wasn't good for the tires.
The tire failures were also traced to specific tire lines and sizes which came from a specific Firestone plant that was known for quality control problems. Combine tires with quality problems with too low a tire pressure in a vehicle with a high center of gravity (particularly the 2-door Explorers) and there's the recipe for disaster. It would get even worse when owners pay no attention to their tire pressure so the tires were likely even lower than Ford recommended increasing tire heat even more. The result was tire breakdown. Ford and Firestone pointed fingers at each other and a 100 year business relationship between the two suffered.
That being said, I still remember Firestone having recalls with tires back in the 1980's...remember the Firestone 721 debacle? That was a passenger car tire, not an SUV tire. It just didn't result in vehicle rollovers.
A lot of guys here are very happy about their Firestone Firehawks, and I trust their advice and experience, so I see no reason not to buy Firehawks. I can't think of any unhappy with them or any negative reports. I can think of almost no one who has been happy with Goodyears on their Corvette. These kind of good and bad testimonials should carry a lot of weight with us.
I'm perfectly happy with the BFG Radial T/A's on my '78 and the Coopers on my '69. I can recommend them to anyone. I have Coopers on my daily driver as well as my wife's car and we both think they're great.
If you don't feel comfortable with any brand, no matter how well recommended they come, you're going to find it difficult to be happy with them after buying them.
I say if you don't want the Firestone's, and BFG's are hard to come by due to backorder, just trot down to a local Cooper dealer and check out the Cobra's.
A side benefit to the Cooper Cobra is you can use them to tweak the Ford guys!
The tire failures were also traced to specific tire lines and sizes which came from a specific Firestone plant that was known for quality control problems. Combine tires with quality problems with too low a tire pressure in a vehicle with a high center of gravity (particularly the 2-door Explorers) and there's the recipe for disaster. It would get even worse when owners pay no attention to their tire pressure so the tires were likely even lower than Ford recommended increasing tire heat even more. The result was tire breakdown. Ford and Firestone pointed fingers at each other and a 100 year business relationship between the two suffered.
That being said, I still remember Firestone having recalls with tires back in the 1980's...remember the Firestone 721 debacle? That was a passenger car tire, not an SUV tire. It just didn't result in vehicle rollovers.
A lot of guys here are very happy about their Firestone Firehawks, and I trust their advice and experience, so I see no reason not to buy Firehawks. I can't think of any unhappy with them or any negative reports. I can think of almost no one who has been happy with Goodyears on their Corvette. These kind of good and bad testimonials should carry a lot of weight with us.
I'm perfectly happy with the BFG Radial T/A's on my '78 and the Coopers on my '69. I can recommend them to anyone. I have Coopers on my daily driver as well as my wife's car and we both think they're great.
If you don't feel comfortable with any brand, no matter how well recommended they come, you're going to find it difficult to be happy with them after buying them.
I say if you don't want the Firestone's, and BFG's are hard to come by due to backorder, just trot down to a local Cooper dealer and check out the Cobra's.
A side benefit to the Cooper Cobra is you can use them to tweak the Ford guys!
Really like 500's ride and handling.
thank you all very much for all your help
turns out BFG T/A are not available as most of you stated so off to tire rack for the firehawk indy 500 225/70/R15
this is a very helpful and friendly forum so i am now joining up
in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling
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