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Turbo301 View Drop Down
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    Posted: 08-June-2010 at 2:25AM

I'm looking to get new 235/75R-15 tires for the Cougar 'cause the cheapies that are on there are poster-children for dangerous tires LOL. Can someone recommend a brand that carries that size and still has a whitewall? I've found the Cooper Trendsetter and a couple of Hankooks (H714 and Mileage Plus II), but that's about it, and they're all kinda so-so tires. No one seems to make high-quality "old big car" tires anymore!

Any guidance or recommendations would be appreciated!
1977 Cougar XR7
1980 turbo Trans Am
2009 Pontiac G8 GT
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Psquare75 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psquare75 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-June-2010 at 9:03AM
235 75 is a MONSTER tire. Try 235 70 15s.

Did you check Coker?
Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD*
78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1
79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1
'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 72BlackGTS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-June-2010 at 11:59AM
I agree with Psquare. Go with the 70 series. Also, I've used different Cooper tires on serveral of my vehicles and find them to be great tires for traction, wearability and handling.
 I currently have the 205/45/18 Cooper Zeon's on my wifes 08 Lancer GTS. They have 24,000 miles on them now and look to have about 10,000 left. The Dunlops that were original equipment had 21,000 and were shot. Terrible tires.
 I have Cooper ATR's on my truck with close to 25,000 miles on them. Great traction on wet roads and in snow when plowing. Also had several sets of the Cooper Cobras. I really like the Coopers.
Prices were good in my opinion too.
Just my .02 cents on the subject.       Ron
Ron
1978 LTD II Sport-Green
2003 HD Road King Classic 100th Anniversary
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Turbo301 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Turbo301 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-June-2010 at 4:08PM
Thanks for the feedback. I have Cooper Cobras on the T/A and like them; my mom's '85 Marquis had Cooper Lifeliner IIs that I was not so impressed with (lasted 2 years!).
 
It's true, the 235/75s are large, but they are the original size (right?) so I'd like to stick with that if I can... makes for easy under-car access, too - I don't even need to jack it up to get under it :)!
 
I tried Coker, yes, but they only carry the American Classic in that size, and they have a 1.6" wide whitewall, which is too wide.
 
1977 Cougar XR7
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Skinnys Garage Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-June-2010 at 4:38PM
I run Firestone FR380's on my old '77 T-Bird that my Mom had since '78 (just turned 60K). They weren't too expensive and look a lot like the tires these cars came with. In this pic I have 235/75's in the rear and 215/70's in the front, but have since switched to 225/75's in front. It's a long story of using these wheels with various tire sizes on different cars for a few years, the 225's and 235's are what I had left when I was done playing musical tires. My sister is taking care of the car now, she had it at a local cruise last weekend and had a great time.
 
Scott -'73 Gran Torino Brougham

Past Torino's -'73 Q-code GTS, '76 Original PS-122 S&H, '73 H-code GTS, '73 Ranchero
        '71 Cobra 351 Auto, '70 351C Brougham 2dr HT, '71 351C Ranchero
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psquare75 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-June-2010 at 5:30PM
235 70 is the original size, from my research and some online tables I saw. 
Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD*
78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1
79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1
'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Turbo301 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-June-2010 at 11:23PM
I had considered the FR380s, but they seem to get really varying reviews: some people like them, but a lot of people with older/larger cars seem to have trouble with bulging sidewalls, blowouts, etc. Of course, it never says if anything else was wrong with the vehicles :).
 
As for the tire size, I thought I saw the 235/75 was right but now when I look it up, Psquare's right (again - more like always!) and I should have 235/70s. I wonder why the previous owner (and, judging by the spare, the owner before that...) put 75s on? Maybe for all of that country drivin' he was doing...
 
I could also get 225/75, according to the charts; would this have been more like what the cars would have had?
1977 Cougar XR7
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Skinnys Garage Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09-June-2010 at 2:30AM
Like the charts say, the 235/70 or 225/75 will replace the HR/78's. Both should be about the same height with the 235 a little wider if that's the look you're after.

I can't really give a review one way or the other on the FR380's because I've probably got less than 1000 miles on them in 6 years. They have the look I wanted with the whitewall and without a "performance" tread pattern. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psquare75 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09-June-2010 at 2:55AM
235 is a little wider. You're dealing with 4mm of sidewall height difference between the 235 70 and 225 75. Realistically you could use either, I suppose. I think the car looks better with the 235, but I like a little meat on the sidewalls.

I will say this, I don't expect you to find any really high performance tire in this size with whitewalls. Even my Mastercrafts (Coopers), were downright scary when I was playing around :)
Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD*
78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1
79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1
'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Turbo301 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09-June-2010 at 3:08AM
I'm not too worried about performance - it's hard to get into trouble with 134 hp, let alone what it's pushing 33 years later LOL. I'm more concerned about ride quality and durability haulin' the big cat around :).
1977 Cougar XR7
1980 turbo Trans Am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psquare75 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09-June-2010 at 3:21AM
Eh. I figured with one wheel peel I couldn't get in trouble around a corner. Long story short. I can. :)
Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD*
78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1
79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1
'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Turbo301 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09-June-2010 at 5:49AM
I got a quote on Hercules MRX+4 tires; anyone heard of/have experience with those?
 
The Trendsetters are still the cheapest price I've seen (our prices are still significantly higher than in the US). The FR380s were a pretty good price, too.  Hmm, well at least I have choices now!
1977 Cougar XR7
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2009 Pontiac G8 GT
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 72BlackGTS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09-June-2010 at 11:13AM
Hercules used be a cheaper brand tire years ago but I haven't really seen them in quite awhile. I remember my father buying them for his car when I was a kid (many moons ago).   Ron
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Turbo301 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01-May-2011 at 2:28AM
Bringin' an old thread back: I finally did buy new tires for the Cougar, and had them installed yesterday. I ended up going with the Firestone FR380s on the shop's recommendation; they also gave me an excellent deal at $100/tire (an absolute STEAL by Canadian standards!). The size is 225/75R-15 (they couldn't get 235/70), and I must say that I LOVE the look of them! The nice bright whitewall, which may even be a tad wider than my old one, and the reduced pouchiness of the tire, not to mention the slightly lower ride height, really helps the look of the car and makes the whole thing seem brighter. The pizza-cutter width doesn't bother me much - the car's not exactly a corner-carver - but they sure are noticeably narrower!
 
I think I'm one of few who would actually buy a narrower-than-what-I-had tire for their old car LOL. But, just like my love of emissions garbage, I love stock everything!
 
As an aside, when they pulled it into the bay, all of the young mechanics gathered around to marvel at its size. "$hit, I've never even seen a car like that!" remarked one fellow. I love that kind of reaction LOL!
1977 Cougar XR7
1980 turbo Trans Am
2009 Pontiac G8 GT
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