Sticky Street Tire

[BSB67]

It been a really long time since I've purchased street tires for a muscle car. I have several related questions for this post. Feel free to respond with experiences and opinions to any of them.

In a perfect world I would like factory original looking tires that handle like radials, but launch like drag radials. Something like FAST cars, but without the inconvenience of actual rules. I'll probably keep the front and rear tires the same size, probably in the 225/70/15 size range. I'll be using 7" wide rims.


Questions:
1) I've been snooping around these web sites: Cooper, MT, Coker, Diamondback, BFG, M&H. What other places should I be looking?

2) I see that Coker offers "Wide Oval" tires that have the appearance of vintage bias ply tires, but are actually radials. Has anyone tried these tires, and how do you like them? Are they a bias ply/radial compromise, or do they handle more like a radial?

3) Who offers the softest compound in these sizes? Bias or radial, any make.

4) Who makes the Diamondback SS? Any quality concerns?

5) How are the BFG/Silvertown quality? Any comparisons with the Diamondback SS?

At the end of the day, I know I'll need to make compromises, just collecting info to help me decide.

Thanks

 

[4mulas]

None of those will likely be ‘sticky’. Maybe Look at M/T drag radials

 

[slimt]

Gorilla glue.

 

[BSB67]

None of those will likely be ‘sticky’. Maybe Look at M/T drag radials

Thanks.

View the question as relative. As an example, if the BFG has a softer rating than a Cooper, that would be good to know. I seem to struggle finding this info.

Thanks again

 

[Darter6]

I seem to struggle finding this info.

Your not alone. You may try M+H web to see if it states compounds.It may be you best chance as they were mostly a drag tire company.
But they really don't have a street tire look.It sounds like the look you are after may have to be a compromise.
Now B.F.G Drag radials are good for both street and track but may not have the look or size you are after. I ran B.F.G. drag radials for years.
You may have to do some digging or plane 'ol phone calls(that's if anyone answers that is not a robot)Maybe Coker as they are a specialty tire company.
Please let us know what you find out.

 

[33 IMP]

You will have to decide between appearance or performance. There is nothing that satisfies both. And there is very little (or nothing) available as a traction-first tire in the size you want.
Conventional wisdom says BFG radial t/a are garbage from a traction standpoint. Cooper cobra or M/T equivalent is a better choice.
Hoosier quick time (not the QT pro, those are just slicks with grooves) have a conventional looking tread, and work good, but they are a bias tire.
Tires are like everything else. You want good, fast, or cheap, pick two.

 

[33 IMP]

As for diamond back, i talked to a guy with a real 440 m-code dart, that had diamondback make redlines out of a pair of mickey drag radials, and he loved them. I have no personal experience with them, but i would sure give them a try.

 

[rmchrgr]

In a perfect world I would like factory original looking tires that handle like radials, but launch like drag radials. Something like FAST cars, but without the inconvenience of actual rules. I'll probably keep the front and rear tires the same size, probably in the 225/70/15 size range. I'll be using 7" wide rims.Thanks

I'll echo the above replies but will pose a few questions;

1) What car would these be for?

2) Do you want radial construction or bias?

3) What is the intended application?

4) Do you have any handling modifications?

I have BFG blackwall radials on my Coronet in two different sizes - 275/60/15 rear, 225/70/15 in front. I have tubular A-arms, a front sway bar, 1" t-bars and new rear springs, car handles great for a heavy boat. The blackwalls look good but you know they're radials. Also, they are definitely not sticky. They will chirp when you lay into it a little but if you're looking to do smoky, block-long burnouts forget it.

What about Goodyear red line Polyglas G70s that came on the A-12 cars? Back in 1969 they were "supeprcar" tires or some such thing. I've never driven a car with those types of tires on them so I can't vouch for how they handle but they have to be OK on some level and they look awesome. Pricey though!

Mickey Thompson carries Sportsman S/R radials which have the snake-groove pattern on them. Kind of a combination between a drag tire and a handling tire. Definitely more of a modern look though.

Like said already, it's a tough question to answer definitively without making compromises one way or another.

 

[RGAZ]

I will add a small comment. If you look at the BS treadwear rating, the lower the number the softer the material (in general) its not perfect, but can guide you a bit away from rock-hard 80,000 mile tires towards 20,000 mile tires. When I was selecting autocross tires for another ride, I found some off brands that turned out to be pretty soft but challenging to find in the size I wanted.

I had a dunlop tire that was super-sticky but would hydroplane like a pelican. Not practical for everyday, but fun on the course.

RGAZ

 

[33 IMP]

I will add a small comment. If you look at the BS treadwear rating, the lower the number the softer the material (in general) its not perfect, but can guide you a bit away from rock-hard 80,000 mile tires towards 20,000 mile tires. When I was selecting autocross tires for another ride, I found some off brands that turned out to be pretty soft but challenging to find in the size I wanted.

I had a dunlop tire that was super-sticky but would hydroplane like a pelican. Not practical for everyday, but fun on the course.

RGAZ

.....hydroplane like a pelican.....

 

[Jeremiah]

edit *I just realized you were after radials. I had good luck with M&H drag radials also however they are not available in the sizes you are looking for.

 

[6PKRTSE]

I have M/T Pro Drag Radial's on my Challenger. To show how sticky they are my Brother was following behind me in my New Yorker while I was in my Challenger last night going to a cruise night and while I was changing lanes he said my left rear peeled the white stripe right off the road.

 

[BSB67]

I'll echo the above replies but will pose a few questions;

1) What car would these be for?

2) Do you want radial construction or bias?

3) What is the intended application?

4) Do you have any handling modifications?

I have BFG blackwall radials on my Coronet in two different sizes - 275/60/15 rear, 225/70/15 in front. I have tubular A-arms, a front sway bar, 1" t-bars and new rear springs, car handles great for a heavy boat. The blackwalls look good but you know they're radials. Also, they are definitely not sticky. They will chirp when you lay into it a little but if you're looking to do smoky, block-long burnouts forget it.

What about Goodyear red line Polyglas G70s that came on the A-12 cars? Back in 1969 they were "supeprcar" tires or some such thing. I've never driven a car with those types of tires on them so I can't vouch for how they handle but they have to be OK on some level and they look awesome. Pricey though!

Mickey Thompson carries Sportsman S/R radials which have the snake-groove pattern on them. Kind of a combination between a drag tire and a handling tire. Definitely more of a modern look though.

Like said already, it's a tough question to answer definitively without making compromises one way or another.

Thanks.
- I have no meaningful handling modifications
- Street driving with several trips to drag strip per year. Total annual mileage will be 2000 miles, max.
- I would prefer radial, mostly for safety reasons but if someone claims that the bias ply handle nearly as well, and the are stickier than their similar sized radial counter parts, I would consider them.
- 67 Charger.

I have BFG radials on the car now. P235s, but they are nearly 30 years old, and I presume that the BFG quality today could be different. Some have suggested that the BFG's today are not what they use to be.

The polyglas G70s is an option. Thanks

 

[33 IMP]

Simple solution. Put the tires on it that have the look or performance you want. When its time to go to the track, swap on the drag tires, drag radials, bias et streets, slicks, or whatever.

 

[rmchrgr]

Thanks.
- I have no meaningful handling modifications
- Street driving with several trips to drag strip per year. Total annual mileage will be 2000 miles, max.
- I would prefer radial, mostly for safety reasons but if someone claims that the bias ply handle nearly as well, and the are stickier than their similar sized radial counter parts, I would consider them.
- 67 Charger.

I have BFG radials on the car now. P235s, but they are nearly 30 years old, and I presume that the BFG quality today could be different. Some have suggested that the BFG's today are not what they use to be.

The polyglas G70s is an option. Thanks

View attachment 1172969 View attachment 1172970

I would think going from a radial to a bias ply might be a bit of a change especially in a heavy car? Whatever though, sounds like it’s a nice weather driver so I wouldn’t sweat it any more than driving on 30 year old tires!

Out of curiosity, do you know what tires ‘67 Chargers came equipped with originally? Presumably 14” but maybe not? I know redlines were available but I can’t picture a Charger with them. Perhaps start your search there though and see if you come up with something along those lines. IMO The A-12 tires might not look right but something similar could work.

Check Universal Tire, they carry the repro Goodyear tires. Again, not cheap.

https://www.universaltire.com/goody...-goodyear-custom-wide-tread-redline-tire.html

 

[R413]

#2. I bought a car with Firestone wide oval radial redlines G70-14.

The car has the steering wheel sawing back and. forth on the freeway. I thought bent wheel. Spin them on a balancer and the wheels are fine. 2 of the tires are not good. They are very out of round, and side wobble, the red stripe is not even an even circle it is out of round also. MFG Date of 2017.

1967 charger original tires were 775-14.

 

[BSB67]

I had a dunlop tire that was super-sticky but would hydroplane like a pelican.

That made me laugh

 

[BSB67]

..........so I wouldn’t sweat it any more than driving on 30 year old tires!

You got me there.

Check Universal Tire, they carry the repro Goodyear tires. Again, not cheap.

Ouch.

It did come with 14". The pic above is with the original hub caps.

 

[BSB67]

#2. I bought a car with Firestone wide oval radial redlines G70-14.

The car has the steering wheel sawing back and. forth on the freeway. I thought bent wheel. Spin them on a balancer and the wheels are fine. 2 of the tires are not good. They are very out of round, and side wobble, the red stripe is not even an even circle it is out of round also. MFG Date of 2017.

Thanks. I was afraid of that.

 

[BSB67]

Simple solution. Put the tires on it that have the look or performance you want. When its time to go to the track, swap on the drag tires, drag radials, bias et streets, slicks, or whatever.

Yes. That's what I have been doing, and will likely do in the future. But I do like running the car with a true street tire at the track as well from time to time.

Based on your earlier comment, I think I'll see if Diamondback can put a redline on a pair of MT Street R's.

Thanks