Tires, What Choices Still Available?

[David T]

OK, now on to tires for the TWO cars I am helping 2 owners with. What manufacturers offer the required tires in both sizes with the same style, series and tread? I know that many of the previous choices are no longer available.
David Teitelbaum

[stevedmc]

Firestone sells a matching brand (not thread) that cost me $380 for 4 tires installed. Its a cheap tire called Primewell. I have logged at least 5k miles on them without any problems.

[thirdmanj]

Nope, its not a BTTF joke. I recently purchased a set of "Fuzion" tires from a Kramer Tire in VA. I just checked them, "Fuzion HRi". I had been running the Toyo Proxes, they were great, but seem to be working nicely too.

[Jacko]

I bought a matching set a couple of months ago. Mastercraft (a Cooper tire) The fronts are blackwall and the rears are RWL which I turned in. Price was about $640.00 and I have no complaints so far. H rated tires.

[sdg3205]

You can still find the Cooper Cobras on eBay.

195 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-NEW-COOPER-COBRA-G-T-TIRES-195-60-14-R14-195-60R14-/140620298939?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item20bd9f7abb#ht_690wt_1191)

235 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cooper-TIres-Cobra-G-T-Tire-235-60-15-Solid-White-Letters-39612-/370550136041?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item5646825ce9#ht_1659wt_958)

This is what I did. My fronts came from Maryland, rears from Washington and white tire paint from iceland.

[Stainless]

You can still find the Cooper Cobras on eBay.

195 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-NEW-COOPER-COBRA-G-T-TIRES-195-60-14-R14-195-60R14-/140620298939?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item20bd9f7abb#ht_690wt_1191)

235 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cooper-TIres-Cobra-G-T-Tire-235-60-15-Solid-White-Letters-39612-/370550136041?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item5646825ce9#ht_1659wt_958)

This is what I did. My fronts came from Maryland, rears from Washington and white tire paint from iceland.

X2 This is what I did. Bought the fronts off ebay and the rears from Discount Tire. Just a little over 300 miles with the new tires. Good so far.

[DMCVegas]

X2 This is what I did. Bought the fronts off ebay and the rears from Discount Tire. Just a little over 300 miles with the new tires. Good so far.

Do they list how old these tires are before you purchase them?

[Stainless]

Do a quick ebay search. You'll see :)

[MTDMC]

I just got Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S tires on my car. Put close to 500 miles on them since it's been home. Recomended by Dave Swingle.

[Michael]

I just got Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S tires on my car. Put close to 500 miles on them since it's been home. Recomended by Dave Swingle.

The only thing is they do not come in factory sizes. I think Dave recommends this brand and 225 size on the rear, which is practically no difference at all(10mm) on the width, and translates to a slightly thinner sidewall, but gives us a whole range of good tires to choose from. I think I may go this route when the time comes, but I just replaced my tires with the Cooper Cobras. As mentioned above, RWL for the rear, and blackwall fronts means you will have to run the inside out. The inside wall has a nice design on it that looks pretty nice, and it matches front and rear, as well as matcing tread.

That's my recomendation if you absolutely must keep factory sizes. I like my Cobras a lot, but just remember, no matter who you are buying from, these tires are getting in short supply, and are most likely factory blems or rejects. My rears had to be repositioned on the wheel to get them to balance...but they do ride nice.

I got mine at http://www.tires-easy.com/start.html for a pretty reasonable price.

[MTDMC]

Your right. Iknow the new tires aren't factory size for the rear. When I ordered new tires, the front came in right away. The rears took a few days to track down and came up from Flordia.

When I bought my car it still had the original NCTs on it.

[Daniel81DMC]

Cooper Cobra tires are decent, and as far as I am aware (here in Canada, at least), I can still order them through my local tire store - I bought some new ones just last year.

[DMCMW Dave]

Cooper Cobra tires are decent, and as far as I am aware (here in Canada, at least), I can still order them through my local tire store - I bought some new ones just last year.

The Coopers were discontinued early this year. The Michelin Exaltos are also now in short supply in the rear size but we've heard they may come back. Or not. The other choice in the 225/195 combo is Falken Ziex 512 - and I think they are a better tire than the Coopers at about the same price.

The observation Michael made about balancing the Coopers has been an issue for a while, I've seen some that take a silly amount of weight to get them to balance. I've never had that problem with Michelins.