Cooper Cobras good tires for ???

[69roadrunner>>>]

My '69 Satellite/RR has 500 hp and beefed up everything except it doesn't have frame connectors or snubber or tracs, It doesn't hook HARD yet...

But, It currently has Cooper Cobras with 275/60/r15's with 8.9 inches tread width on the back tires...

I have heard these tires have flimsey-ish sidewalls here and there, but will they hold up to a little street racing??? Some occasionally zipping around on a fast highway???

Or should I be concerned?

I like their look, but should I go bigger/modern? Is it that much better handling/safety-wise?

 

[Kern Dog]

They are decent tires. I am into the bigger diameter, shorter sidewall stuff for better handling but when it comes to the 15" wheel and tire selection, you don't have many choices. Coopers are no worse than the BF Goodrich in my opinion. A tall sidewall like these will never respond like a 40 or 35 series tire, but who cares if you are not into cornering or road courses.

 

[khryslerkid]

I bought mine for the cost factor and notice they do have a soft compound. They have a lot of tread, like a mud and snow tire. Maybe too much tread to hook well compared to something else with a straighter tread pattern. For road use, there have been a lot of positive reviews. I haven't had the opportunity to put them to the test yet but I don't think they will be a problem.

Just checking out the Suregrip

 

[Dennis H]

I like them for the street. Caught in rain on freeway, no problem. There is enough sidewall flex to have the 295's kiss the inside leaf when pushed hard. Solved with the addition of a spacer. I like the look and relatively low cost. Got about 500 at the crank, and they simply go to smoke. I usually launch in 2nd with the TKO. I recommend USCartool connectors. The windshield cracked low and all the way across on first romp with the new motor before the subframe connectors were installed. Feel as good at triple digits as 70 on highway. Nice straight, smooth ride.

I put Coopers on the modern Mopars too. CS3's on the new Charger and plan CS5's for the 09 Challenger.

 

[rumblefish360]

The Cooper Cobra tires are regular street tires. Don’t expect a lot from them. I like them a whole lot better than the old BFG’s.

What I have notice out of my Coopers is an overall excellent driver, good traction in normal driver conditions. Rain is OK. Snow is marginal for all rear wheel rides but these did OK for me. Better than the rest I have had.
They have always handled well on the street in reasonably spirted driving. Around turns and twisting unlevel roads, they were fine.

But let’s e reasonable with them and this discussion on tires.

Once I started putting some power behind them, they would give up in smoke.
If you want something better for stop light drags/spirted gas pedal hammerings on a 15’ wheel, you should be looking at drag radials.
Mickey Thompson has a good line. The flame threaded tires are what I went with. They did surprise me in how well they performed.
They also have a higher performing line as well.
Do some you tube searches on them.

After that, like Kerndog said, look into larger diameter wheels. Tires with less sidewall.

 

[biomedtechguy]

I replaced the stock 15" steel Rallye wheels with 17" 8s and 9s Aluminum Rallye wheels from Classic Industries. Took an educated guess with the 5" backspacing on the 9s (4.5" on the 8s for the front tires) and put 315/35/17 Toyo Proxes TQ Drag radials on the back. Perfectly centered between the stock leafs and inner fenderwells. I can't recall being caught in a heavy rain or really wet streets in the year that I've had them, but I know I haven't had any wet traction problems with them (like I could have been killed on Nitto 555 drag radials in the rain on another car I used to have) and their tread pattern is one reason why I wanted to try the TQs. I am satisfied with them enough to have got a pair for my wife's GTO. Much better grip on a no prep track than BF Goodrich Radial T/A or G-Force. As far as I'm concerned, I have found my "forever" choice of dual purpose rear tires in the Toyo Proxes TQ Drag radials.

 

[Dennis H]

I replaced the stock 15" steel Rallye wheels with 17" 8s and 9s Aluminum Rallye wheels from Classic Industries. Took an educated guess with the 5" backspacing on the 9s (4.5" on the 8s for the front tires) and put 315/35/17 Toyo Proxes TQ Drag radials on the back. Perfectly centered between the stock leafs and inner fenderwells. I can't recall being caught in a heavy rain or really wet streets in the year that I've had them, but I know I haven't had any wet traction problems with them (like I could have been killed on Nitto 555 drag radials in the rain on another car I used to have) and their tread pattern is one reason why I wanted to try the TQs. I am satisfied with them enough to have got a pair for my wife's GTO. Much better grip on a no prep track than BF Goodrich Radial T/A or G-Force. As far as I'm concerned, I have found my "forever" choice of dual purpose rear tires in the Toyo Proxes TQ Drag radials. View attachment 558962View attachment 558963

Not available in 15's.

 

[biomedtechguy]

Not available in 15's.

That's why I described the wheels too. Got 17" 8s and 9s Pontiac Rally II for the 65 GTO, and my wheels I described. Updated both cars at the same time! I'd NEVER go back. I may get dedicated slicks for both cars one day if I deem them necessary, but not there yet. Line lock for both cars coming soon (both are 3 pedal cars). Quick Performance is going to be my Ford 9" based posi rear axle assembly for the GTO, and I can't WAIT! 3k nicely optioned, 1k less than everyone else!

 

[YY1]

Hankook makes a modern compound tire in RWL in several sizes including 265 50 15.

IIRC they are even made in Akron OH.

 

[Mike67]

Aspect ratio dictates a lot of sidewall flex. The taller the sidewall the more leverage the wheel has to push against it..
One solution is to go a size or two larger wheel and run a same diameter tire with a shorter sidwall.

 

[68 HEMI GTS]

They’re fine for driving around. They will never “hook” any real amount of power. That’s not what they were designed for.

 

[Bladecutter]

Handling & BRAKES are 75% determined by tires. Shorter sidewall, less flex. Best way to minimize sidewall flex is to run a wheel Wider than tire.
Anyone running Sustained speeds of 100+mph should run at least HR rated tires,,,,HR is a130 mph sustained rating.

 

[rarefish]

I have a set of 4 on my 64 Belvedere wagon. When my B F Goodrich Radial T/As needed replacing. I was going to planning on buying another set, but when I saw the price I switched to the Cooper Corbas. No complaints so far.

 

[YY1]

Ooooh, I like that car.

More pics on here?

Is that the original color?

 

[rumblefish360]

@biomedtechguy
Are your rear springs moved in?

 

[69roadrunner>>>]

Ooooh, I like that car.

More pics on here?

Is that the original color?

My pops painted it that color before I bought it off of him. I like it
It looks like this old ad from 1969 I think.....

 

[beanhead]

They’re fine for driving around. They will never “hook” any real amount of power. That’s not what they were designed for.

Uhhh...yes. 275/60/15 cobras will start spinning if I even think about too much throttle too soon.. they are good tires for general driving but man if I take off slow up to 30 mph or so and then stomp it the car pitches..

 

[Robbin]

I have Cooper Cobras on five of my cars. I really like them and they are much less expensive than so-called name brand. Summit Racing has great pricing on the Cobras. This is not a Summit advertisement, but their tire and wheel combinations are excellent deals...you have to call to order mounted and balanced sets. They also have good information as to what tire and wheels will fit on front and back of virtually all performance cars. The only criticism on the Cobras is they are multi-use street tires rated for mud and snow. Therefore, they have a lot "air" rather than rubber in the thread design. They are quiet and seem to corner fine. It is very easy to break them loose. I run 275/60R15 and 255/60R15 on the rear and 245, 235/60R15 on the front, except for my '66 B-body that I use 215/70R15 - 7" on the front and 255/60R15 - 8" on the rear as '66 and '67 B-bodies can't take a very big tire in stock form...

 

[ckessel]

I like the Coopers. Well made, long lasting, ROUND unlike some. On my 04.5 3500 Cummins dually, I generally get 50-70k on a set of 6. Very long lasting.

 

[biomedtechguy]

315/35/17 Toyo Proxes TQ drag radials on the Year One 17" x 9" wide rear aluminum Rallye wheel. Stock suspension. Fits like the factory should have equipped my 70 Roadrunner with them. No rubbing anywhere, ever.