Need new tires but too many choices ......

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68CUDA/6VERT

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I need to order new tires for my 68 but ..... New raised white letters Radial T/A tires are pricey at 120-140 per tire.

I have considered black walls but then I think I should spend less. Tirerack lists Kumho KR21 at 63 per tire. Is anyone using these or know about them? I like the look of the RWL but I am not hung up on them. I need to replace all 4 tires and BW tires seem to be almost half the price.

What tires do you guys prefer - RWL or BW and what brands are dependable? My tire size is
205-70-14 on SBP rims.

Thanks.
 
I'd buy almost anything but those Korean tires. For instance, General GT Radials at $67 each from Discount Tire Direct.
 
Tom -- I have the same combo and I like the look. Just ran into another head scratcher though.

Since I have owned the car (couple of years now) - I have not purchased new tires - the tires on the car have like new tread. One of the front tires split badly so that you see the belts so I decided to replace all 4.

I just went and looked at the size of the tires on the car ( spare tire is currently on the car).

My front tires are 205-70-14 but the rear tires are 215-70-14. Now I am sure I want to get 4 and make them all the same size.

Do you or if anyone would know -- can I run 215-70-14 all around or would they be too big for the fronts? The 205's were always on the front (never rotated since I bought the car 3 1/2 years ago).

Car is a 68 Barracuda Conv Slant 6.

Thanks for the help.
Jim
 
I was thinking of staying with the Radia T/A tires but at 215-70-14 the Cooper RWL are looking like a good buy !
 
I have a complete set of 215/70-14 Kumho's for sale in that forum if interested. They should fit in the front, with no issue. What wheel size and offset. Mine are on oem steel wheels.
 
Cooper Cobras are a good compromise of quality and price. Some people don't like them but I have had good luck with them. Summit has good deals on them.
 
I used to like Tiger Paws, but the last set I bought, the 14's developed busted belts in under 5 years. The 15's are still fine. DK if they even still make them.

I actually LIKE Korean tires. I run Hankooks on my Dakota, but I used to LOVE the Kumho Ecsta 711 that they discontinued.

When I was visiting my wife's family in Akron, I was quite surprised to see the investment in the community the Korean companies were putting forth.
Kumho was in the process of moving their world headquarters there.
Pretty smart, IMO, as the area is super rich with generations of folks who know the tire trades/business.
 
Hey 68Cuda,

I'm in the same boat with my 72 Scamp needing some new tires. I just installed some old slot mags that look great, but the rear tires are just a hair too big (slightly brushing up against the fender skirt on the passenger side). They are old tires, so they probably need to be replaced anyway.

Here's what I have on the Scamp now.

Front (no problems):
14x7(sbp) slot mags w/3.5" backspacing
P215/60R14 BF Goodrich Radial T/A

Rear (too tight, old tires):
14x7(sbp) slot mags w/3.5" backspacing
P245/60R14 Road Master

I'm thinking a a couple P235/60R14 BF Goodrich Radial T/As for the rear would be a perfect fit. I know they are a little pricey, but they are great tires and tend to hold up really well. I also like the RWL on the outside.
 
I have KR21s (225/45-17) on my 2014 Dart. Popped two of them on pot holes within the first three months I owned the car. Now I drive on city streets treating pot holes like a running back treats would be tacklers. They are quiet, but don't grip especially well.

Besides the tire choices listed, Michelin makes a "Defender" in the 205/70-14 size. I don't think they are particularly grippy either. They transmit a lot of road noise.

Some Barracudas came with 4½" wide wheels. A 205/70-14 fits the 5½" wide wheel that came on the Formula S, but not the 4½" wide wheels. By "not fit" I mean that the rim is too narrow. A rim that is too narrow pinches the tire at the rim causing the cross section to be more rounded than the manufacturers intended. This in turn causes the center of the tire to wear prematurely (indication of over-inflation) even though by all other indications the tire is correctly inflated.

FWIW: A 185/70-14 fits the 4½" wide wheel. Both BFG and Goodyear web sites offer information on recommended rim widths for their tires. Curiously, Michelin does not.
 
Cooper Cobras are a good compromise of quality and price. Some people don't like them but I have had good luck with them. Summit has good deals on them.

This,x2. Ran them , on my heavier Chevy street machines. A good ,solid choice.
 
Futura GLS Super Sport made by Cooper Tire, sold by Pep Boys. Softer compound and grip in the rain.
 
BTW, I've noticed that both Cooper and Master Craft have better traction and tread wear ratings than the Goodrich (Coker?) T/A, despite the price premium for the T/A.
 
I had 205/75/14 Hankook Optima's (Optimo's?) on my '68 Dart and they were a good tire for having a ridiculously tall sidewall.
 
I had 205/75/14 Hankook Optima's (Optimo's?) on my '68 Dart and they were a good tire for having a ridiculously tall sidewall.

true story for you guys hunting tires: my 02 ram came out w/ goodyear 20`s on it. I ran about 4 sets of those, just because that`s what it came w/. after putting hankooks on my wifes all wheel drive mercury and noticeing the diff. in the way the car felt, I put two 20" hancooks on the front of my truck, it made the truck drive and ride like the new ones w/ the better suspension! unbelieveable difference! will never buy another set of goodyears!
take it for what it`s worth. p.s. the goodyear slicks - back in the day weren`t worth a dam on the old hemicar either!:coffee2:
 
x2 for the Cooper Cobras. I've got them on my Dart and I like 'em.

x3. I ran through two sets on my Caddy (235/70R15) and liked them...only complaint is they are only T speed rated. (But that's fine for a /6 Barracuda...)
 
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