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Picture is the car in question. For those that don't know, this is a T type Regal that is the little brother to the famous Grand National and the GNX. It is equipped with the same turbocharged 3.8 liter as the GN that probably puts out a good 350 hp, if not more at the rear wheels. About as fast as a Z06 Corvette but in a luxury car package.
The car came factory with a 215/65/R15 tire. However a 235/60/R15 tire is a pretty much dead on replacement.
Since this is a high performance luxury car, I want to find a tire that will look great, yet be good for corner carving, yet ride nice.
I really want to go with a 235/60 tire but I'm not so sure they make one I like.
Originally I was going to go with a BF Goodrich Radial T/A white lettering out since I think they compliment the car so well, but it seems BFG is really just a run-of-the-mill tire. BFG tires: BFGoodrich Radial T/A
Then I found Cooper Cobra to have a slightly higher speed rating at $2 more a tire.
Then I saw Firehawk Indy 500's are about the same price and are RWL's but supposedly are better than the BFG's? I've never been much of a fan of Firestone. Firehawks: Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
But then browing tirerack's inventory I found these:
Now I've heard Michelins are the Cadillac of tires, but I'm not sure how well these stack up...they look good but other than that....I'm kind of starting to wonder if I should lean towards the Michelins I posted? I only wished they would come in a 235/60.
Why I like 235/60 is because they have a little bigger foot print which I think would give the car a little more aggressive stance. Then again those 10 fin turbine rims are only 15X7's....too bad they're not 15X8's or they'd really fill out the wheel well...
Of course how much better foot print would the 235's give over the 215's I can only really wonder.
Anyways, as mentioned my main concerns are a tire that's going to help me keep the car planted to the pavement during curves, a nice ride and of course match the car.
If you know of something, please let me know. I'm planning on buying here soon. Thanks.
is your ride one that would see time on wet roads, or dry only? That may be part of the equation; if you need wet weather traction at all. Your best handling tire usually wont be an all season type, though some can do pretty well. Seems to me that one of those online tire sites ( such as "tire rack" or "discount tire" ) has some nice charts for comparisons and even some test info and videos.
The wife went with a performance yokohama tire on her TC but still kept wet road capabilities. But what works well on a front driver may not be the same as what you may need for rear drive.
Just a personal opinion here, but I would not put raised white letter/outlined white letter tires on that car ( or any car). Takes away from the clean look of the car and also when the car is moving, they look like whitewalls. Again, just a personal opinion. By the way, nice car.
Don't mean to be argumentative but only the Grand National GNX approached 300 hp. I don't know what year this Turbo-T is but its horsepower rating is closer to 245 (1987).
As for z06 performance - highly unlikely that the GN or T type is even close. The GNX was reported to have a 0-60 time of 4.7, while the C6 Z06 is radically faster at between 3.5 and 3.7 seconds.
As for tires - I suggest you broaden your brand list and include some Yokohoma, Bridgestone, or even Kumho unless you prefer an American brand for that very American car.
I'm assuming you don't drive this car in snow. Do you ever go on track?
How many miles a year do you typically do? Do you care if the tire wears out relatively quickly?
Handling sharpness competes pretty directly with ride comfort, where do you want to be on this spectrum?
The largest sizes of the Sumitomo HTR 200 might work, take a look on Tire Rack's website. I have a set of these on the Scirocco and it's an amazingly good tire considering the price. They do have a fairly stiff sidewall and give a good bit sharper turn-in than most "ordinary sedan" tires.
is your ride one that would see time on wet roads, or dry only?
It will be mainly dry roads only but I would like some wet weather traction in the event it gets caught in a downpour. It will however not see any snow or winter.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoffdano
Don't mean to be argumentative but only the Grand National GNX approached 300 hp. I don't know what year this Turbo-T is but its horsepower rating is closer to 245 (1987).
Those are stock 1987 specs you have posted, albeit very underestimated specs. My car is anything BUT stock...yes it's been modified...with bigger turbo, bigger injectors, bigger exhaust, an alcohol injection system and it's running a lot more boost than it did stock.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoffdano
As for z06 performance - highly unlikely that the GN or T type is even close. The GNX was reported to have a 0-60 time of 4.7, while the C6 Z06 is radically faster at between 3.5 and 3.7 seconds.
Again those are stock 1987 specs...when you start modding the car things change.
No....I'm going to retain the stock rims for now....don't have a whole lot of money to spend, just on tires.
If cost matters to you definitely check out the HTR 200s
Read the reviews, it seems that about 70% of people who buy them are happy with them, but the rest don't like them at all. It seems the people who don't like them expected a track tire, or something like a Pilot Exhaldo, for a seriously lower price. I have never used them on a heavier, higher-horsepower car like yours. For smaller sizes they are frequently the only high-performance tire available, though.
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