mickey thompson poor wet performance 255/60/r15

[1sostatic]

Arrrghh ... I almost died today 

The first time I have had to drive my Mach 1 in the wet -- these are like ski's ... I bet in Arizona where the tarmac is 30° they stick nicely -- but in the UK they suck, suck, and triple suck. 

In the dry they're ok ... but in the wet hey are lethal....it's like sailing a boat

anyone recommend something with grip in all weathers...low UK temps  

I'm 235 60 R15 front 

and 255 60 R15 at the arse. 



:huh:

Plz help -- I don't want a crumpled heap with me sandwiched in the middle.

...In fact I don't care about me - I just care about my 71 Stang.... I'm sure you understand

 

[Mister 4x4]

You mean, you actually drive yours in the rain?!  GASP!!! :jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop:

:whistling:

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

You will probably find any wide tire will have issues getting the water out of the tread fast enough no matter what brand. If you ever watch them race on snow they use real skinny tires for same reason. We use to go to Montana about every year in November to hunt. A friend bought a new truck and went and got these huge mud tires mounted. I told him it would have gone better in snow with the narrow radials and he just laughed at me. The truck was stuck more than going even with chains on front it would get stuck. The wide tires would not go down into the snow and get traction. Locals told him the same thing good skinny radial works much better. After dozens of them went around us stuck he got the picture.

Hey he lives in UK you have to drive in the rain or stay at home.

 

[1sostatic]

You mean, you actually drive yours in the rain?!  GASP!!! :jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop:

:whistling:

I had to pick him up from the workshop to bring him home.. it was raining... so yes - had to drive. 

This is England you know  :thankyouyellow:

 

[detritusmaximus]

Most of your 'muscle car' tires will be like that. I use Tirerack.com and their review and rating system to decide tires. Find the sizes you can use and look up the customer ratings and reviews. This has never failed me and I've never been disappointed in my expectations. Even if you don't buy there, it helps in deciding. Your 15's might be tough to find a good rain in.

 

[goodnigh]

It rains here all the time and I have no problem driving BFGoodrich Radial T/A.

I am a little more careful in the rain but that is it. Ice adds another dimension.

Try starting off in second gear.

mike

 

[Mister 4x4]

Wow.  Just trying to be funny here, guys.  Swing and a miss - I get it.  

Actually, 255s aren't all that wide at all, all things considered.  The standard width for most non-compact or sub-compact cars average in the 245mm width (counting everything, including SUVs, light trucks, etc.).  Wide enough for our cars - granted, but not all that wide in general.  My Ram 1500 has 285/60R20s from the factory, and rarely slips, spins, or otherwise loses traction unless I'm not paying attention or deciding to have a little fun.

Having said all that, I've heard from many a 7173 Mustangs.com member that of the main 'muscle car' tires available, which there are very few, BF Goodrich is the best for all-around performance, Mastercraft a distant 2nd, followed by the Mickey Ts, and finally Cooper Cobras sucking [bringing] up the rear.  

I actually have Cooper Cobras at all corners on mine, with 245/60s up front, and 295/50s out back, and have not experienced any traction issues... which granted, I've never driven in the rain so I have no experience to draw upon regarding wet conditions.

Hope this helps!

 

[Fabrice]

[you actually drive yours in the rain?! ]

He just wanted to try ram air water injection I think...

[bF Goodrich is the best for all-around performance]

I still have these on the 73, they did ok when it was my daily. Loved their look, still do.

To be fair with the tires, all brands mixed, I think most poor condition in rain is influenced by the weight distribution during cornering, practically no weight on the rear, the lack of independent suspensions and also may be because the engine gives a respectable amount of torque the moment you press the pedal...

We need tires for smoke, not for rain on these babies

 

[Don C]

+1

 

[donkost]

It seems unanimous- B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A is probably the best all weather musclecar tire. I had them on a US musclecar way back that I drove year-round even in snow (not the greatest in snow). That being said, a car with a high torque V8 engine up front and little weight and a solid rear axle is just not going to be the best in rain regardless. It's great to see these cars being driven in the elements as a car was meant to be, but my '71 Mach 1 429 CJ-R will never see rain. There are just too many areas that the water gets trapped in with poor drainage, and then it can be the beginnings of corrosion. Mickey Thompson, Cooper Cobra, etc. all seem to be good tires in dry weather. My wife's Lincoln Navigator with 20" alloys also rarely slips in rain even in 2WD mode, but you have to remember the elaborate traction control that modern vehicles have. And that beast has a 3.73 rear so it really digs in when you accelerate, even with all of that weight.

 

[detritusmaximus]

Looks like the only way to get really good rain tires anymore is to get away from 15" wheels, probably upwards of 17"s. At least in the US. Checking Tirerack, no one rates the only two options for your tire sizes as anything more than average or below for rain. There is no guarantee that BF or Cooper are even using up to date compounds with their old tread designs, either.

Fabrice is probably right about the vehicle dynamics playing a big factor. A couple other things to consider, after four years, sometimes less, the rubber compound in your tires will harden and you will lose traction in all conditions. Doesn't matter how good the tread is. I just went thru this with a set of Falkens on my 08 GT. They were acceptable when I bought the car. This past year, with more than 1/4" (6mm) of tread still on the tire, they were getting progressively worse to the point of being very sketchy. Replaced them with a set of Michelin Pilot Sport AS3's.....incredible difference. Just put a set of Vredestein Quatrac5's our Ford Escape today . She says they are WAY better than the Continentals she had.

Just think of it, an excuse to go by new wheels! Same style...just bigger. It's like insurance, but you pay only once.

 

[NOT A T5]

Looks like the only way to get really good rain tires anymore is to get away from 15" wheels, probably upwards of 17"s. At least in the US.  Checking Tirerack, no one rates the only two options for your tire sizes as anything more than average or below for rain. There is no guarantee that BF or Cooper are even using up to date compounds with their old tread designs, either.

Fabrice is probably right about the vehicle dynamics playing a big factor. A couple other things to consider, after four years, sometimes less, the rubber compound in your tires will harden and you will lose traction in all conditions. Doesn't matter how good the tread is. I just went thru this with a set of Falkens on my 08 GT. They were acceptable when I bought the car. This past year, with more than 1/4" (6mm) of tread still on the tire, they were getting progressively worse to the point of being very sketchy. Replaced them with a set of Michelin Pilot Sport AS3's.....incredible difference. Just put a set of Vredestein Quatrac5's our Ford Escape today . She says they are WAY better than the Continentals she had.

Just think of it, an excuse to go by new wheels! Same style...just bigger. It's like insurance, but you pay only once.

Should've picked up the Mach on a sunny day!  :whistling:

 

[Bill73Ragtop]

The subject of Cooper tires has been discussed on this site previously. Shared consensus seemed to be they have a tendency to harden up as they age -- which leads to very slippery behavior on wet conditions.

I've had Coopers on vintage mustangs and on current daily driver (truck) and find after two - three years, the grip on wet (or snow in the case of the pick up truck) becomes too dangerous for my comfort. Switched over to BF Goodrich on vintage mustang and - unplanned - had a 150 mile drive at highway speeds in torrential rain, but the grip and handling was not a problem.

Truck will be getting new shoes this fall before next winter season to replace 3-year old all-season M/S Coopers.

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

Seems like tires are like women we all like different things, lol.

I know back when the BFG radial came out I jumped in and bought a set. Boy was that disappointing experience.

I drove like a maniac in 73 when I got my Mach 1. We all know they were down on power but I still managed to burn through 5 sets of tires in 12,301 miles. A deacon at church had tire store and he said I was his best customer.

Here is what I tried.

Originally came with Goodyear Polyglas RWL. Loved them you could feel in the seat of your paints what the car was doing. I ran autocross and also raced anyone anytime on the street. Not a 1/4 mile but sometimes for 20 miles on curvy mountain roads.

So when the BFG came to my attention I bought them. Almost rolled my car a couple times during autocross. When they broke loose there was no warning boom and just gone in a slide. I could not turn as fast a lap with the BFG as I did with the Goodyears.

Next tried Dunlap radials. They were great in rain had this really weird looking tread design. But there again would break loose and you were gone.

I tried a set of Gillette belted tires went with wider wheels and G-60 14" instead of F-70-14" and they were better than the BFG but not as good as the Goodyear.

So the last set I put on the Mach 1 was again Goodyear Polyglas and I still liked them the best overall. Ride was good, handling you could tell what the car was doing and no issue in the rain until they were bald. I ran the tires until the cords showed usually, lol.

I ran Michelin on my SVO after the Goodyears were gone and you could not get the gator backs anymore.

On my truck had BFG and they are ok but Got Goodyears last time.

I use to buy tires at the Western Auto that were recapped for my 1950 Ford could not afford new tires back then.

Like I say we will all have different taste in tires because we do not drive the same for sure.

The tires on the 73 vert do not stick to dry pavement and you can roast the right rear anytime you want, lol. They were made in South Africa do not remember the brand.

When running autocross a nearly worn out tire did much better than a new tire due to the tread not walking.

When I get the 72 Q code vert ready for track days I am sure I will visit the track and see what is working for them.

Going to rain here was going to Pigeon Forge to Yellow Mustang meet but not in the rain the wipers quit on the vert while I was in Charlotte couple weeks ago and have not looked at the issue. Ford dealer having customer appreciation day today will head out there for some BBQ.

 

[detritusmaximus]

So, like I said, my wife likes her new tires last night was rainy and she felt safe in the car again.

I wrecked my first Mustang, 73 Grande because I had bought cheap Performance Radial GT's (that was their name, all of it). Looked like BF's. From the start, no traction in the rain with the 73 351 2v. Since then, I could give a rats behind what look my tires have (except I only do blackwall side out), if I don't feel safe in the wet, they are useless to me.

 

[Stanglover]

To be honest, I was not going to chime in on this one, but as I too am suffering from old. hard rubber, 13 year old BFG's on my Mach, I decided to add my 2 cents worth.

In my case, I needed to buy new 14" Magnum 500 rims about 5 years ago. Some A-hole had obviously use an impact wrench on more than one occasion and egg shaped the bolt holes. ( in case others are not aware, Magnum 500's are centerless wheels and rely on the bolt holes to center the wheel). Problem was at that time the rubber was still too good to scrap. In hind sight, I ought to have bit the bullet and bought tires and rims in 15". Now I need new rubber, but changing the rims right now considering the ridiculous US dollar exchange rate, is out of the question..... for now. I have a set of new 2019 BFG"s on order, 235 60 R14 and 245-60R14's.

 With current weather trends, more and more rain days than in years past, wet weather driving is no longer as case of if, but when one gets caught in it. So a good wet tire (tyre) is a definite must. In the 14" size, there is no real option. Cooper only make a 225-60R14 as the biggest, so it's BFG T/A or nothing for me at this time.

In 15", there are more options for sure. Our friend in the UK might want to look at Goodyear Eagles or Dunlop as option brands. Make sure the date code is up to date. Don't let some sales guy sell you old stock!

Geoff.

 

[1sostatic]

To be honest, I was not going to chime in on this one, but as I too am suffering from old. hard rubber, 13 year old BFG's on my Mach, I decided to add my 2 cents worth.

In my case, I needed to buy new 14" Magnum 500 rims about 5 years ago. Some A-hole had obviously use an impact wrench on more than one occasion and egg shaped the bolt holes. ( in case others are not aware, Magnum 500's are centerless wheels and rely on the bolt holes to center the wheel). Problem was at that time the rubber was still too good to scrap. In hind sight, I ought to have bit the bullet and bought tires and rims in 15". Now I need new rubber, but changing the rims right now considering the ridiculous US dollar exchange rate, is out of the question..... for now. I have a set of new 2019 BFG"s on order, 235 60 R14 and 245-60R14's.

 With current weather trends, more and more rain days than in years past, wet weather driving is no longer as case of if, but when one gets caught in it. So a good wet tire (tyre) is a definite must. In the 14" size, there is no real option. Cooper only make a 225-60R14 as the biggest, so it's BFG T/A or nothing for me at this time.

In 15", there are more options for sure. Our friend in the UK might want to look at Goodyear Eagles or Dunlop as option brands. Make sure the date code is up to date. Don't let some sales guy sell you old stock!

Geoff.

I'm please you guys are chiming in -- I need help 

I'm either about to make a colossal mistake that I cant afford right now - swapping one poor tyre for another -- or with your advice I get a set that'll make me safe.

Now as i see it, I only have a small range of tyres that will fit on 15"   :chin:

Cooper Cobra's 

BF Goodrich 

Galaxy

Bridgestone

Sonar

General Grabber 

Nankang

 

[detritusmaximus]

One thing to consider, although it might not be applicable in your case, is miles driven/time/cost. If you only use the tires on dry-ish days and will only put show or cruising mileage on them, buy something on the cheap end as you will probably want to replace in four years due to hardening or age. You won't wear them out so tread life is not an issue. If you plan to do more miles or travel to distant shows/cities then be prepared to get caught in the rain and spend appropriately. A couple of hundred more for better tires is a deal. I'm sure there are lots of people that would love to be able to spend that same amount AFTER an accident to turn back time.

 

[c9zx]

This is an expensive option but just to add to the list, Avon Tyre's CR6ZZ series. Be sitting down when you look up the cost. Chuck