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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

89 15 inch tires

  • Thread starter Thread starter gearhead77
  • Start date Start date Mar 13, 2019

gearhead77

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Mar 13, 2019
#1
  • Mar 13, 2019
  • #1
About to pull the trigger on an all original 89 GT convertible. I want to keep it as close to stock as original. It has the original 15x7 "turbines" on it that are in good shape and I like the style of those wheels. The tires it has on it are decent but 10 years old and showing dry rot ( the original owner hasn't used it much in the past 10 years).

I see my options as this ( besides paying LMR $325/tire for original Gatorbacks!):

-If I want to stick to the turbines (which I prefer), I'll have to use an "off-brand" Asian tire from Nankang or something like that if I want the V speed rating. Not that I plan on running it to those speeds, but just for the fact a V speed tire should have the same handling characteristics as another V tire
- I can do a touring tire from Cooper, Falken, etc. with an H speed rating.
- As much as I love the turbine wheels, upgrading to 16" Pony wheels seems to be the best bet and going for 16" tires. But they aren't as distinctive as the turbines, but they do brighten the appearance of the car.

Really, my only objection to the Asian tires is that putting unfamiliar or off-brand tires on any car has never been my thing. And something about a Mustang wearing Nankang or Ohtsu tires seems off to me. But if I want to keep the stock look...

Any help and feed back on any 15" street tires you're familiar with is appreciated. Thanks!
 

BlakeusMaximus

Still got to try a little lube on my speedo head
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#2
  • Mar 13, 2019
  • #2
I would go with BFG Radial T/A's with the white letters out. Classic look
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
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#3
  • Mar 13, 2019
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^^^good look with the turbine wheels^^^^
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
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Mar 13, 2019
#4
  • Mar 13, 2019
  • #4
BlakeusMaximus said:
I would go with BFG Radial T/A's with the white letters out. Classic look
Click to expand...


Only S-rated (112MPH)



Wow, the selection of 225/60/15's sure has gone downhill. I ran Kumho's on my car back when I had 15's....many years ago.
 
D

DSB88GT

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Nov 6, 2016
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Mar 13, 2019
#5
  • Mar 13, 2019
  • #5
I'm in PGH and currently have Pony's on my 88 GT. I've been thinking about picking up some turbines, so if you want to trade yours for some Pony's with newer rubber let me know!

Good luck!
 
Reactions: gearhead77

BlakeusMaximus

Still got to try a little lube on my speedo head
5 Year Member
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Mar 13, 2019
#6
  • Mar 13, 2019
  • #6
Mustang5L5 said:
Only S-rated (112MPH)



Wow, the selection of 225/60/15's sure has gone downhill. I ran Kumho's on my car back when I had 15's....many years ago.
Click to expand...


Ahh
 

gearhead77

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Mar 13, 2019
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Mar 13, 2019
#7
  • Mar 13, 2019
  • #7
Mustang5L5 said:
Only S-rated (112MPH)



Wow, the selection of 225/60/15's sure has gone downhill. I ran Kumho's on my car back when I had 15's....many years ago.
Click to expand...

I remember this car being new ( one of the reasons I want a Fox, 10 year old me would be proud.) and when 225/60/15 were everywhere. Now, not so much.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
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#8
  • Mar 13, 2019
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Check in Puerto Rico, my friend grabbed some wide 13" tires over there and had them shipped back here, the size he wanted was not available in the states. Was not that expensive.
in reality how often you gonna run over 110 mph anyway, unless it's the tread design your try'n to match.
 

JD1964

there is enough sticking out to grab on to
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#9
  • Mar 13, 2019
  • #9
I'd go with these. Better than the TA in my opinion and way longer tread life. But no white letters

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...HR5CS5UT&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
 

gearhead77

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#10
  • Mar 14, 2019
  • #10
General karthief said:
Check in Puerto Rico, my friend grabbed some wide 13" tires over there and had them shipped back here, the size he wanted was not available in the states. Was not that expensive.
in reality how often you gonna run over 110 mph anyway, unless it's the tread design your try'n to match.
Click to expand...

That's an interesting idea, Puerto Rico. Not planning on running it that hard, but yeah, trying to match the tread and handling dynamics more than anything. Although, a current H rated touring tire could be just as good as a V rated performance tire from 30 years ago.
 
Reactions: General karthief

gearhead77

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#11
  • Mar 14, 2019
  • #11
John Dirks Jr said:
I'd go with these. Better than the TA in my opinion and way longer tread life. But no white letters

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...HR5CS5UT&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
Click to expand...

Those are high on my list of the touring tires. I've had Coopers before and they offer a pretty decent product for the price. I'm not a fan of white letter tires, I'd have them put on the inside with the BFG's.
 
Reactions: JD1964

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
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#12
  • Mar 14, 2019
  • #12
I had cooper cobras on my convertible, 300 tread wear, and they didn't last 20k, I never drove the car aggressively most of those miles where highway miles, alignment was good too. I always thought they should have lasted longer. Not saying they are a bad tire just didn't last very long.
 

gearhead77

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#13
  • Mar 14, 2019
  • #13
General karthief said:
I had cooper cobras on my convertible, 300 tread wear, and they didn't last 20k, I never drove the car aggressively most of those miles where highway miles, alignment was good too. I always thought they should have lasted longer. Not saying they are a bad tire just didn't last very long.
Click to expand...

They aren’t even available anymore, at least not in this size. I had a set of Cooper Zeons on my Mazda 5 and they were decent for what I paid for 205/50/16 with a W speed rating. I wish BFG made their Traction T/A in this size.
 

JD1964

there is enough sticking out to grab on to
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Those coopers I linked have 640 treadwear rating. I have them on the front of the vert.
 

Blown88GT

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#15
  • Mar 14, 2019
  • #15
I put these on my turbines.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...5HR5EAST&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
Kumho Ecsta AST - Size: 225/50R15
 
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gearhead77

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Mar 13, 2019
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Mar 14, 2019
#16
  • Mar 14, 2019
  • #16
Blown88GT said:
I put these on my turbines.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...5HR5EAST&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
Kumho Ecsta AST - Size: 225/50R15
Click to expand...
Blown88GT said:
I put these on my turbines.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...5HR5EAST&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
Kumho Ecsta AST - Size: 225/50R15
Click to expand...
Any issues with fit, rubbing or ground clearance?
 

Blown88GT

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#17
  • Mar 15, 2019
  • #17
gearhead77 said:
Any issues with fit, rubbing or ground clearance?
Click to expand...
None at all. 1.77" smaller diameter. About 10% less load carrying, so no four 250 lb football players & their gear.
Suspension lowered about 1", so total drop about 2".
Use this tire size calculator.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc
 
Last edited: Mar 16, 2019

mikestang63

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Aug 27, 2012
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Mar 15, 2019
#18
  • Mar 15, 2019
  • #18
now I've run General ( owned by Continental) Altimax RT43 tires on several cars and loved them
got at least 40-50K miles, great ride and grip in the rain and not expensive
They are on my 2013 Mustang, 2012 and 20017 Altimas
I may put them on my 86 Gt when the BFG's wear out
 

gearhead77

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Mar 13, 2019
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Mar 28, 2019
#19
  • Mar 28, 2019
  • #19
I decided on Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring. They are H speed rated and I’ve used Coopers before with decent results. I found them on Amazon for $77/tire, which is way cheap (usually $100/tire)

They won’t be as sporting as a V performance tire obviously, but for my needs, should be fine.
 
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