I need to pick tires. 225 70 R14 for a 72 H/O. I have heard 245 60 R14 is also good. Please vote and comment.

1. BFG Radial T/As.
2. Coker "BF Goodrich" Silvertown Radial Redlines
3. Cooper Cobra Radial G/T
4. Coker Firestone Wide Oval Replica Radials GR70-14
5. General Altimax RT-43
6. Hankook Kinergy ST

Mickey T's Sportsmans are 15" only. BFG still has their Raised Brown Letter issue (see chat transcript below).


Chat transcript with BFG today on the Brown Letters. (I'm "null")

Valerie K (4/27/2021, 12:36:09 PM): Hello, I'm Valerie. I will be right with you...
Valerie K (4/27/2021, 12:36:36 PM): Thanks for reaching out to Consumer Care. How can I assist?
null (4/27/2021, 12:37:24 PM): Yes, I am considering buying some BFG Radial T/A's to replace some on the vehicle.
null (4/27/2021, 12:37:48 PM): However, I have noticed that the Raised Brown Letter problem is still ongoing.
null (4/27/2021, 12:38:20 PM): Can you tell me of the stance of BFG on this problem and the return policy?
Valerie K (4/27/2021, 12:40:32 PM): One moment please.
null (4/27/2021, 12:44:15 PM): Ok standing by
Valerie K (4/27/2021, 12:44:35 PM): You would have call in a warranty. If you drive the on the tires for a few miutes every couple of weeks, it would solve the brown letter issue.
null (4/27/2021, 12:46:39 PM): I see. Is there some webpage with this written down saying that this is the solution and that brown letters are subject to warranty?
null (4/27/2021, 12:46:49 PM): And, has the problem been fixed yet?
Valerie K (4/27/2021, 12:49:00 PM): Every tire is covered under warranty, except for road hazards.
null (4/27/2021, 12:51:51 PM): Ok, is brown letters part of that?
Valerie K (4/27/2021, 12:52:34 PM): Yes, they are warrantable.
null (4/27/2021, 12:52:52 PM): That's good to know. Thank you for a direct answer.
null (4/27/2021, 12:53:11 PM): Do you know if the problem has been fixed yet or is it still ongoing?
Valerie K (4/27/2021, 12:56:40 PM): It's not much a problem. The Ozoning that is put into the tires drips down to the white lettering if it's not driven on.
null (4/27/2021, 12:58:09 PM): Ok, so no fix because it is not a problem if you drive it every couple weeks.
Valerie K (4/27/2021, 12:58:47 PM): Yes, around the block a few times, don't have to go far.
null (4/27/2021, 12:59:48 PM): Ok. I believe that answers my questions. Only one more. Is there some sort of official statement on this?
Valerie K (4/27/2021, 1:01:02 PM): No, there is not.
Valerie K (4/27/2021, 1:01:40 PM): But the warranty is always available.
null (4/27/2021, 1:03:10 PM): Ok. I appreciate the direct answers. Thank you. That is all my questions.
Valerie K (4/27/2021, 1:03:42 PM): You're welcome. Thanks for reaching out to BFG.

 

I’m looking to buy new tires soon too. Currently I have 245 60 15 BFG Radial T/A’s with Raised Brown Letters. The tires still have lots of tread but they are 15 years old. Because of the issue with the letters and based on your conversation above I will be buying Cooper Cobra GT’s. Not only are they cheaper then the BFG, but I also like the taller letters.

 

I'm getting Cooper Cobra's when it's time for my 70 Cutlass convertible. One of the few brands that has that size. Haven't heard anything bad about Coopers but I have no experience with them, yet.

I don't buy that answer about driving the brown off the BFG letters. Sounds like a board room solution.

I have Altimax on my Mercedes convertible and they are smooth, though I only have a few miles on them.

Don't know anything about any of the others except you'll need a mortgage to buy anything from Coker.

 

I do agree the chat solution was some hi-test BS.

 

The 245/60-14s are an inch smaller in diameter than the 225/70-14s. Either get the latter or spend the money for repros from Coker. The 245/60s leave way too much daylight in the wheel wells.

 

Good to know. I don't think I need 60 ratio to hold this thing inline, it doesn't have that much ***. 70 will be fine.

 

The section width is what matters, not the aspect ratio. The difference is 20mm - about 0.8"

 

They are related but you are right.

 

No, they actually aren't. 225 is the section width in mm. It doesn't matter if it's a 75-series, 70-series, 60-series, or 50-series. All 225 tires are the same width. The sidewall height and thus overall diameter will be different on each, but the width will be the same. Conversely, you can hold sidewall height (and OD) the same and vary width, which changes section height. I did this on my 67 Delta. I wanted the same diameter tires front and back. I used 235/70-15 on the front and 275/60-15 on the back. Same OD, same sidewall height.

 

I've had Coopers on the car for 2 1/2 years now with the blackwall out. They seem to be a good tire and have had no issues with them. As far as your poll. it all depends on the look your after. I've never suffered the brown letter issue with BFG, maybe because I did drive my car a lot.

 

My point was that setting the height at a pleasant, wheel filling, speedometer satisfying height, I can get away with a 70 ratio tire as the slightly hotter than stock cam in this 455 probably doesn't need the width that the 60 ratio tire would have, given that height. Yes, I know I'm deriving the width through the ratio from a height and that's backwards from the actual name of the tire. A 225 70 tire would be @ the same height as a 260 60 R14, so the above comment about the 245 60 tire is too short. 260 60 R14 I don't think is made.

 

To be honest, for the H/O, I would spend the money and get the bias-look radials like these.

 

I believe they moved production to Mexico. The ones on my Chevy from summer 18 do not have this issue, I believe, and that's about the cutoff.

 

So you're the one vote for the Coker's?

 

I don't vote in interweb polls. I am suggesting that a car like the H/O really looks best with period tires. The bias-look radials give you the best of both worlds (at a not insignificant price, unfortunately). I'm no fan of Coker, but they are about the only game in town for these tires.

 

I have a raised brown letter set of 265-50-R15 BFGs from an approximately 2017 install - I've subsequently read in various places that the issue had something to do with their coating process - some kind of preservative or chemical layer that didn't get added or not added in the right amount that ultimately caused the discoloration over a relatively short period of use (don't recall reading anything relating it to use or lack thereof)... I only have about 10k miles or so on mine so I'd just as soon burn 'em out before I churn 'em out. But will likely go back to Cobras when I do replace them, seeing as apparently this issue is still coming up.

 

Firestone & Bridgestone have tire recalls every few years. For as long as I can remember.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 -- Federal auto safety officials Wednesday added 29 deaths to the 119 fatalities linked to recalled Firestone tires bringing the total to 148 dead - four since the tire maker recalled 6.5 million tires in August. ... Bridgestone/Firestone and Ford Motor Co.

Not on your list, Kumho tires. Great traction and braking. Best rain tire. On HS442 and 85 Seville.

 

x2

Ive got Cooper cobras on mine right now, but when they’re in need of replacement hope to go with these

 

didn't the 1972 HURST/OLDS have G60x14 Goodyear POLYSTEEL tires when new (were they OPTIONAL or were there other OPTIONS?)

so the 245/60/14 although "short" is the proper size tire for your car
if you want the proper size - the choices become limited: BFG T/As or Vitour Galaxy R1 ----- any others?

I'd mount which ever tire blackwall & obtain "stick-on" RWL "GOODYEAR POLYSTEEL" lettering to complete the "LOOK"

 

I just bought the Coopers from Discount, they seem to better than the BFG's which really had no issues. A good friend of mine had to replace 1.5 year old BFG's due to the browning issue. He still had to due a partial pay out of pocket.

I was going with the ultimax Generals and they raised their price recently to just over $100/tire and I had an on line discount on the Coopers which made it very close on pricing.

I bought the General ultimax for my daily Impala, a very good tire for the money.

Pat

 

I would have to agree, the car deserves the right look.

 

Another tire to add to the poll is the Mickey Thompson Sportsman ST, which is a Cooper Cobra clone with a more aggressive tread. I have them on my 66 Starfire. 225/70-15 in front and 255/60-15 in rear. I have not put many miles on them, but so far I am very happy. Huge performance and safety upgrade from my 30+ year old BFG BELTED TA (not radial)

 

I am leaning towards the Cokers just for the look. The Cobras will be my modern tire choice.

The MT Sportsman is not available in 14, so it's not in the poll. That Goodyear tire is not reproduced, I would get one if they were replica radials like the other Cokers.

 

I changed my mind and went for the Coopers after reading much reviews of both them and the Cokers. From what I gather, the traction of the retro Cooper is more than the repro Coker. I did this for three reasons, firstly, this car will be driven, possibly in the rain, places and I want tires that perform first and look good second. Secondly, the car is not a condition one car, it's a low condition two and it's not a reference piece going to OCA nationals or MCACN. I don't own a car trailer or a truck to pull one. Third, it's a slightly hopped up 455 under there, and it had no problems blasting the shiznit out of the 24 year old hard as oak BFGs on there, so I'd like as much grab as that size will give me (even though new rubber of anyone's will help a lot).

Went to tire place Friday, got tires, weights, and valves pulled. Cleaned wheels this weekend. May clean some more, then touch up paint.

I talked to the head man there and made sure I could get lug centric balancing. Tires should come in Wed or so.