Tire Selection

[Joe L.]

Well, I'm having some problems deciding on tires for both my Corvettes. I decided that even though the Goodyear Eagle ST's I have on the 69 are practically new as far as tread is concerned (not more than a few thousand miles on them), they are now old (about 12 years, or so) and were never really a "high performance" tire to begin with. So, I'm going to put new tires on it for the road.

Basically, I'm a "Goodyear guy". The 1969 has never had anything but Goodyear tires on it, from the day it was new to right now. So, I'd obviously like to stay with Goodyear tires. That also "meshes" nicely with the fact that Goodyear is the only manufacturer that offers a 225-70-15 size in a "V" speed-rated tire---the Eagle RS-A. So far, so good. In fact, I was just about ready to go down and get a set put on the wheels. However, I decided to check reviews of the Eagle RS-A from folks that have actually used them. What I discovered after reading an extensive number of reviews on several tire web-sites is that almost everyone that's used these tires hates them and would not buy them again. Only a few positive reviews were found and even most of those showed some reservations about these tires.

So, I'm starting to have serious reservations myself about going with these tires.

Now for my 1992 tire situation. On that car I still have the original Goodyear GS-C tires. Believe it or not, they still have about 1/4-1/3 of the tread left. However, they are now almost 18 years old. So, I'm going to remove them (and the original wheels) from the car and store them away in the EXTREMELY UNLIKELY event I ever have the car judged. I've purchased a used set of 1992 wheels, had them restored to like new condition, and am ready to have new tires installed. Of course, Goodyear now only manufactures the GS-C in EMT configuration and a few sizes, none of which will work for my car.

So, with Goodyear as my VASTLY preferred brand, I start evaluating tires. Of course, I am absolutely unwilling to vary from the original tire size on the '92. Also, I'd like a tire with a tread pattern as similar as possible to the GS-C. Well, Goodyear has only one tire available that has even a remotely similar tread pattern and that's the Eagle F1 GS. This is a VERY expensive tire but I can deal with that part. What scares me is that this tire also gets MAJOR bad reviews. Almost no one that's used it and reviewed it would buy it again. Some hated it so much that they won't even buy a Goodyear tire again---period. The Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season gets somewhat better reviews and is less expensive but has a tread pattern I don't much care for. Plus, I have no need for the "all weather" capabilities of the tire and tha's mostly why the tread pattern is as it is.

Finally, I decide that for the 92 I might just switch brands and go with a B.F. Goodrich g-Force KDW with "traditional tread" (NOT the weird "new" tread"). This tire has a tread pattern somewhat similar to the GS-C (although not asymetrical), is priced about the same as the Eagle F1 All-Season, and gets very good reviews. So, after AGONIZING the brand-switch, I decide I'm going to go with the B.F. Goodrich tire. PROBLEM! It seems that tire in the size I need is on national back-order and, while it's not discontinued, Goodrich has no idea when they will start making them again.

Well, the above are my tire "tales-of-woe". So, what's my question? Well, let's limit it to my 1969 tire problem. Has anyone used the Goodyear RS-A tire on a Corvette or, for that matter, any car and what's been their experience with it?

[Duke W.]

Re: Tire Selection

"What I discovered after reading an extensive number of reviews on several tire web-sites is that almost everyone that's used these tires hates them and would not buy them again. Only a few positive reviews were found and even most of those showed some reservations about these tires."

Most people, including car enthusiats, haven't got a frigging clue when it comes to evaluating tires, and this usually shows in their comments.

It would help if you posted links to some comments or summarized them, but, again, they are usually worthless.

The 225/70R-15 102V Eagle RS-A is now about the only "police pursuit tire" left. The General XP2000V is gone and there might be some Firestone Firehawk PV41s left, but it looks like they're out of production in this size.

Probably a good place to ask would be your local police department. Most California agencies buy the Goodyears under the CHP contract. Most purchased are now in 16" sizes, but some agencies may still have some old 15" cars around. In any event, the performance characteristics are probably the same regardless of size.

The big tire article I wrote for The Corvette Restorer back in '03 or whenever included some results from federally sponsored tire testing for emergency vehicles.

Based on the dry tests, the PV41 had a slight edge, and I preferred the tread and sidewall styling to the RS-A and XP2000V. It was my pick, but overall, all averaged very nearly the same.

You can also buy a V-rated 215/70R-15 DOT legal racing tire, unless you don't want "Avon" on the sidewall.

This should also be a wakeup call to any C3 owners who are looking for the performance and safety benefits of high speed rated tires. I don't know how long the V-rated GY RSA will be available in a 225/70R-15, but you better consider buying a set because it may no be around much longer. Especially with the recession, everyone is looking to cut costs, and eliminating low volume products is a good way to do so.

Duke

[Pat M.]

Re: Tire Selection

Joe - I have P225/70R15 Goodyear Eagle GT II's on my 70 and really like them. I don't remember what their speed rating is, but I seriously doubt I'll ever come close to pushing them to their limits.

[Joe L.]

Re: Tire Selection

"What I discovered after reading an extensive number of reviews on several tire web-sites is that almost everyone that's used these tires hates them and would not buy them again. Only a few positive reviews were found and even most of those showed some reservations about these tires."

Most people, including car enthusiats, haven't got a frigging clue when it comes to evaluating tires, and this usually shows in their comments.

It would help if you posted links to some comments or summarized them, but, again, they are usually worthless.

The 225/70R-15 102V Eagle RS-A is now about the only "police pursuit tire" left. The General XP2000V is gone and there might be some Firestone Firehawk PV41s left, but it looks like they're out of production in this size.

Probably a good place to ask would be your local police department. Most California agencies buy the Goodyears under the CHP contract. Most purchased are now in 16" sizes, but some agencies may still have some old 15" cars around. In any event, the performance characteristics are probably the same regardless of size.

The big tire article I wrote for The Corvette Restorer back in '03 or whenever included some results from federally sponsored tire testing for emergency vehicles.

Based on the dry tests, the PV41 had a slight edge, and I preferred the tread and sidewall styling to the RS-A and XP2000V. It was my pick, but overall, all averaged very nearly the same.

You can also buy a V-rated 215/70R-15 DOT legal racing tire, unless you don't want "Avon" on the sidewall.

This should also be a wakeup call to any C3 owners who are looking for the performance and safety benefits of high speed rated tires. I don't know how long the V-rated GY RSA will be available in a 225/70R-15, but you better consider buying a set because it may no be around much longer. Especially with the recession, everyone is looking to cut costs, and eliminating low volume products is a good way to do so.

Duke

Duke------


Here's a link to some owner reviews:

http://www.tirerack.com/survey/SurveyComments.jsp?additionalComments=y&tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Eagle+RS-A&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&partnum=27VR5RSA&tirePageLocQty=%26partnum%3D27VR5RSA&commentStatus=P

[Duke W.]

Re: Tire Selection

Most of the comments were favorable. The unfavorable comments were mostly from drivers of econoboxes about wet/snow traction (go figure!), which is probably not how you are going to use your '69.

My bet is that you will be very happy with them. I recommend you start with 32 psi cold pressure front and rear.

I usually only read these comments on The Tire Rack for entertainment value, and I can usually tell from the writing style who is attempting to make a reasonably objective evaluation versus the typical moron.

I usually select tires based on technical considerations and seek comments from any reasonably astute car enthusiasts on their performance characteristics although among my acquaintences I've usually been the one giving advice, and many followed to their satisfaction. I don't recall every buying tires that disappointed me. I've only been disappointed with OE tires, including the OE tires on my SWC (General Jet Aires replaced with Michelin radials in 1964, and Pirellis in 1968), '72 Vega GT (OE bias belted Firestones replaced with Continental radials in 1974), and '76 Cosworth Vega (OE Goodyear radials replaced with V-rated Phoenix Stahlfex 3011s in 1979.)

Of note is that I have never bought "US brand" replacement tires. They were all either European or Japanese, but sometimes it's tough to tell. The Dunlops I installed on my Mercedes a few years ago when the Dunlop brand was owned by Sumitomo were made in Japan. The Dunlop brand is now owned by Goodyear.

I prefer "European brands" on European cars, "Japanese brands" on Japanese cars, and "American brands" on American cars, but back in the sixties and seventies there were no decent American branded high performance, high speeed-rated radials. Fortunately the American tire manufacturers began catching up in the eighties.

Most modern high performance tires work reasonably well. The biggest gripe from most is usually tread noise.

And almost any new tire will reduce harshness because the 10-12/32s inch of new, fresh tread rubber will damp out a lot of high frequency road input relative to the thinned, hardened tread rubber of well used tires.

Duke

[Joe C.]

Re: Tire Selection

Duke------


Here's a link to some owner reviews:

http://www.tirerack.com/survey/Surve...ommentStatus=P

Joe:

I assume that you are being selective in culling fact from fiction, in those "owners' reviews". The best source of valid information, is to find some unbiased evaluation from professional automobile enthusiast publications, like Car and Driver. Sometimes there is no guarantee that they are absolutely unbiased due to ad revenue. Your best source, ultimately, is CU, and the paid subscription might be worth it for you.

There is no valid reason, from an engineering viewpoint, to match tire manufacturers' country of origin to that of the automoblie that it will be used on. At one time, this may have been true, as branded tires were generally designed for automobiles from "die Heimat". That is no longer true, what with the Global Economy, and the homogenous design methods used in today's motor vehicles.

I recommend these for your '92:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Eagle+F1+GS-D3&vehicleSearch=true&partnum=74YR7F1GSD3&fromComp are1=yes&place=3&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&spe ed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&speed_rating=(Y)&minSpe edRating=V

They are going on my '85, mounted to a set of ZR1 rims. I have finally decided to stop driving on the original tires (the original tires and rims will be stored and used exclusively for concours judged shows), after 25 years. These are less expensive than the F1 GS tires, and almost all of the reviewers' comments are positive. The treadwear ratings are virtually the same (280 versus 300). Judging from the tread design, they might be somewhat noisier than the GS-C's.

I have spent no time researching the 225/70R-15 size, but, you know, that the BFG Radial T/A has been a long time favorite.

Joe

[Steven B.]

Re: Tire Selection

"What I discovered after reading an extensive number of reviews on several tire web-sites is that almost everyone that's used these tires hates them and would not buy them again. Only a few positive reviews were found and even most of those showed some reservations about these tires."

Most people, including car enthusiats, haven't got a frigging clue when it comes to evaluating tires, and this usually shows in their comments.

It would help if you posted links to some comments or summarized them, but, again, they are usually worthless.

The 225/70R-15 102V Eagle RS-A is now about the only "police pursuit tire" left. The General XP2000V is gone and there might be some Firestone Firehawk PV41s left, but it looks like they're out of production in this size.

Probably a good place to ask would be your local police department. Most California agencies buy the Goodyears under the CHP contract. Most purchased are now in 16" sizes, but some agencies may still have some old 15" cars around. In any event, the performance characteristics are probably the same regardless of size.

The big tire article I wrote for The Corvette Restorer back in '03 or whenever included some results from federally sponsored tire testing for emergency vehicles.

Based on the dry tests, the PV41 had a slight edge, and I preferred the tread and sidewall styling to the RS-A and XP2000V. It was my pick, but overall, all averaged very nearly the same.

You can also buy a V-rated 215/70R-15 DOT legal racing tire, unless you don't want "Avon" on the sidewall.

This should also be a wakeup call to any C3 owners who are looking for the performance and safety benefits of high speed rated tires. I don't know how long the V-rated GY RSA will be available in a 225/70R-15, but you better consider buying a set because it may no be around much longer. Especially with the recession, everyone is looking to cut costs, and eliminating low volume products is a good way to do so.

Duke

Very True! There is not much of a HP selection anymore, especially in the 255-60-15 DOT spec.

Steve

[Joe C.]

Re: Tire Selection

Joe,

Take a good, hard look at this:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/CompareTires.jsp?sortValue=1&filterType=all&resultsNumberSelected=Y&displayResults=10&compare=true&compareList=12&RunFlat=All&goWhere=%252Ftires%252FCompare1.jsp&sortCode=&width=275%2F&ratio=40&diameter=17&startIndex=10

Tread pattern is asymmetrical, with three different regions for varying conditions. Tread pattern "somewhat" follows the GS-C, with its "V-Grooves" to channel water forward and out the sides. The only thing missing here, is the GS-C's block design, where the ribs are segmented (not important to many, including me, but I mention merely because you indicate a preference for mimicking the GS-C's tread pattern). The D3's, with their very quick steering response, just MIGHT indicate an abrupt breakaway tendency at its limit of adhesion. Consequently small drift angles and abrupt breakaway will make the car a "handful" to drive at the limit.

[Joe L.]

Re: Tire Selection

Joe,

Take a good, hard look at this:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/CompareTires.jsp?sortValue=1&filterType=all&resultsNumberSelected=Y&displayResults=10&compare=true&compareList=12&RunFlat=All&goWhere=%252Ftires%252FCompare1.jsp&sortCode=&width=275%2F&ratio=40&diameter=17&startIndex=10

Tread pattern is asymmetrical, with three different regions for varying conditions. Tread pattern "somewhat" follows the GS-C, with its "V-Grooves" to channel water forward and out the sides. The only thing missing here, is the GS-C's block design, where the ribs are segmented (not important to many, including me, but I mention merely because you indicate a preference for mimicking the GS-C's tread pattern). The D3's, with their very quick steering response, just MIGHT indicate an abrupt breakaway tendency at its limit of adhesion. Consequently small drift angles and abrupt breakaway will make the car a "handful" to drive at the limit.

Joe-----


That link did not work for me. It says "session expired" for security reasons.

[Joe C.]

Re: Tire Selection

Joe-----


That link did not work for me. It says "session expired" for security reasons.

First go here:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/SearchTires.jsp

Type in: "275/40R17" , and "Goodyear", click "proceed......"

When the listing comes up, in the extreme left column, place a check mark in the box next to "Eagle F1 GS-D3", and "Eagle F1 GS".

Compare these two directly.

[Joe L.]

Re: Tire Selection

First go here:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/SearchTires.jsp

Type in: "275/40R17" , and "Goodyear", click "proceed......"

When the listing comes up, in the extreme left column, place a check mark in the box next to "Eagle F1 GS-D3", and "Eagle F1 GS".

Compare these two directly.

Joe-----


Yes, I've looked before at the F1 GS-D3. I have no doubt that it would be a very good tire. However, I just cannot get myself to accept that treadstyle. So, in this case, it's form-over-function for me. That doesn't happen to me too often but every-now-and-then it does.