No Rear Testarossa Tires Available Anymore?! | FerrariChat

No Rear Testarossa Tires Available Anymore?!

Discussion in 'Boxers/TR/M' started by sachin, Apr 21, 2011.

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  1. sachin

    sachin Karting

    Mar 21, 2005
    67
    #1 sachin, Apr 21, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Hi Folks,

    Trying to find some rear tires 255/50 16 for my 1989 TR and having no luck. BF Goodrich makes the sport tire with a matching front but no where has any rears in stock including tirerack!

    I was not able to find any other brand that does a matching set.

    Any suggestions? What are you all doing for tires or are we keeping it 'original' for life?!

    Take care and much appreciated!

    Pic attached of the two staring eachother down on the driveway!
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    jpanz likes this.
  2. James_Woods

    James_Woods F1 World Champ

    May 17, 2006
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    I was about to ask the same thing about the metric size rear tires - Michelin TRX - for the 1986.

    Coker's had the fronts last year, but not the rears - and I really need to buy a rear pair.
     
  3. samsaprunoff

    samsaprunoff F1 Rookie
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    Jun 8, 2004
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    Good day James,

    You could try Longstone tyres in the UK:

    http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/

    I ordered from them (XWX's for my BB) as opposed to Coker, as they had newer date codes and were a lot cheaper too.

    Cheers,

    Sam
     
  4. James_Woods

    James_Woods F1 World Champ

    May 17, 2006
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    I will see if they have some in my Testarossa size...
     
  5. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 6, 2002
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    I have flagged it to my folks at Goodyear, Spasso noticed it a few months back...

    I'll let everyone know what they say.....
     
  6. David_S

    David_S F1 World Champ
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  7. sachin

    sachin Karting

    Mar 21, 2005
    67
    cheers!

    I looked at discount tire and they have the 'drag'radials' available. Anyone ever used these?
     
  8. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

    Feb 16, 2003
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    Drag radials are for going in a straight line. You would be nuts to use them on a sports car unless you have a death wish.
     
  9. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #9 Spasso, Apr 21, 2011
    Last edited: Apr 21, 2011
    I just went to the Tire rack site (US) and they have BF Goodrich G-Sports for 113.00 each. 255/50-16
    http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResultsB.jsp?width=255%2F&ratio=50&diameter=16&x=81&y=2&sortValue=22

    Are you saying they are simply out of stock or no longer carry them?

    You can also run these Kumho Ecsta XS (Extreme Performance Summer), 265/45-16 which are only 1/10th of an inch shorter than the Goodrich tires, softer compound too,

    http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResultsB.jsp?width=265%2F&ratio=45&diameter=16&manufacturer=Kumho&startIndex=0&search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemark=1&x=16&y=11&sortValue=22
     
  10. David_S

    David_S F1 World Champ
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    Nov 1, 2003
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    Ooooh! I don't know squat about the BF Goodrich drag radials - I just searched for a tire in the specified size & thought it might help somebody who absolutely needed SOME kind of tire to be able to enjoy their TR.

    Now as to the Kumhos - I've gotten great use out of their Ecsta series tires on my (non-F cars) and if they are that close in rolling radius, I'd sure say they are worth a try!

    As I'm not a TR owner/driver, I'll humbly bow out at this point & just hope this thread helps more of those beautiful beasts make it onto the roads this driving season. :)
     
  11. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

    Feb 16, 2003
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    No harm no foul. I used to sell tires for a living.
    Every tire is designed for a purpose, some have a wider range of uses than others like your typical passenger car tires. They are usually not "speed rated" for use on an exotic.

    Speed rated tires come in graduated ratings, see the Tire Rack Tech section on speed ratings to understand what I am talking about.

    A "Drag" tire is just that. Specifically for drag racing. The sidewalls are very thin and you can see them wrinkle up at the start line when the light goes green. Trying to take a fast corner with these kind of tires will buy you a trip to the ditch, and upside down in many cases..

    Summer Performance are just that, FOR THE SUMMER. When I hear people gripe about how bad their Pirelli P-Zeros are in the snow I just shake my head.

    The rubber compound for summer and winter tires differ greatly. My Yokohama AVS tires were crap below 40 degrees but fine in warmer weather.

    I run Cooper Weather Masters on my BMW in the winter and the grip is great at cold temps.

    As far as tires for the TR, The BF Goodrich tires have a treadwear rating of 340, really a pretty hard compound for performance driving. They'll last a long time though.

    The Kumho Ecstas have a treadwear rating of 180. Nice and grippy but will wear out faster.


    I could go on but you get the picture.
     
  12. Sandy Eggo

    Sandy Eggo F1 Rookie
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    #12 Sandy Eggo, Apr 22, 2011
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2011
    Looks like my old neighborhood in Ontario...but I digress...

    Get the Kumhos...I did and they look great and work great.

    You'd have to be slightly mad to get the TRX tires (25+ year old tire technology??). Are you going for a Platinum/Concours car? If not, swap out the wheels and get the BFGs or Kumhos (I'd say Kumhos). Expensive swap, sure...but worth it if you're gonna drive it.
     
  13. sachin

    sachin Karting

    Mar 21, 2005
    67
    Thanks for all the advice. I will check on the Kumhos as they sound to be a great overall tire.

    Ontario... correct you are. When did you live out here?

    Cheers!
     
  14. Shamile

    Shamile F1 Veteran

    Dec 31, 2002
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    Dear Ferraristi,

    Wow...the lack of tires is getting serious. I've been calling the Tire Rack once a week to see if the BFG's are in production....nope.

    I can no longer find ANY tire for my 91 Testarossa. I have been checking since Jan and my current tires are so bald now that I now have to pull the car off the road....for lack of tires?!?

    I even tried calling T Rutlands for a set of used tires....hahaha...USED tires on a Testarossa just to get me by till new tires come into production. Nothing.

    So...now what??

    Are we really at the end of the line for OEM tire sizes on the Testarossa? Is the only thing to do now is upgrade to 18" wheels and tires?

    Any suggestions....


    Shamile

    Freeze...Miami Vice !
     
  15. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    Have you checked to see if the Kumhos I mentioned are available. They seem to be in the UK recently.
    Those are what I will be using the next round if they are still in production.
     
  16. carguy

    carguy F1 Rookie

    Oct 30, 2002
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    Kumhos are actually pretty good tires, though some will scoff at their reasonable price and say they don't belong on a Ferrari. I've ran them before and they perform very well.
     
  17. Philwozza

    Philwozza Formula 3

    Apr 23, 2009
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    I run them on the rear of my car and......
    They look better than the old Michelins
    They stick better than the old Michelins
    They are cheaper than the Michelins


    And get this.... they are cheaper than the tyres on my wifes Toyota Aygo and those tyre would not be out of place on a push bike :D

    £65 thats about $100 a piece. I am a happy camper

    P
     
  18. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Nine Time F1 World Champ
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    Cars look fantastic mate! :):)
     
  19. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    Right on Phil
     
  20. sparky p-51

    sparky p-51 Formula 3

    Aug 8, 2004
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    Searched on the Kuhmo site ant find any 255/50/16's
     
  21. carguy

    carguy F1 Rookie

    Oct 30, 2002
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    Kripe!!!!! I've done a bit of searching and I can't believe how scarce that size of tire has become! A quick search on ebay shows a few new ones in brands like Falken, etc....
     
  22. sparky p-51

    sparky p-51 Formula 3

    Aug 8, 2004
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    Just checked Falken. Has both front and rears. Never heard of them...anyone here have any knowledge of Falken tires?
     
  23. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

    Feb 16, 2003
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    The Kumhos are available in 265/45-16. Treadwear rating of 180 versus 340 on the Goodrich tires.
    They are about 1/10th inch smaller in diameter than the BF Goodrich tires and slightly wider.
    Refer to my previous post.
    Philwozza is running a set. I will be running them on my next purchase if they are still in production.

    I hate my Goodrich tires when it comes to cornering at high speed. Great for a Ford Explorer, not so for a TR.
     
  24. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #24 Spasso, Jun 12, 2011
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2011
    Yes, I have a set of the Falken Ziex ZE-512 on my BMW. Discount Tire and Les Schwab sells them.

    They are "okay" for conservative use but are even harder than the Goodrich tires, treadwear of 360. I DON'T recommend them for a TR.

    Recheck the Kumho site for 265/45-16 (Kumho Ecsta XS). You will thank me later. Tire Rack (195.00 ea) and Discount Tire (215.00 ea) has them.
     
  25. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #25 dm_n_stuff, Jun 12, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017

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