best tire

[SVTcobra04]

just wonderein what the best tire out there now is.ive got a 04 cobra and drive it on the street, not planning on much track use.I dont reeally know alot about tires but i want one that will give better forward traction and cornering.also one thats better in the rain because sometimes it is driven in the rain.also is there a rim the same style as stock but wider so i could pput a wider tire on the back.thanks.

[beerkat]

Check out the Nitto 555 Extreme street tire. I have runit on my Lightning for the last couple of years and love them. they a great in the rain and hook up well. I have done several HPDEs and a fewe auto-crosses with thema nd they have about 25,000 + miles ont them. When I change the tires on my '03 Cobra I know that they are what I will run. Also I am of the belief that you can run the 305 and maybe the 315 on your current rims.:thumbsup:

[BIGV]

everyone is saying you can run the nitto 315 on the stock rims but they looked squished so if you are looking for that wide look you will need a 10.5 in rim afs http://www.afswheels.com/v2/ makes a stock 17X10.5 for 219.00 and 20 to ship. and discount tire direct http://www.tires.com/ sells the same rims for 200.00 free shipping mounting and balancing the nitto 555r are 182.00 the total package to your door 770.00 AFS doesnt even sell nitto so its your choice but I would go with the 10.5 thats what im getting

[Travis]

i have KDW's on the front, and 315 Nitto 555R's.. very pleased here

[davelegguy]

I put goodyear gsd3's on when I wore out my stock skins. They are much stickier wet and dry and have a way cool traed pattern I've put about 7000 miles on them and they are wearing well (I've also stopped spinning my tires to save my half-shafts)

[Firme]

I did some lookin to find a good street tire.

I found that Nitto 555 Street Tires were ok, but had some big downfalls. The traction seemed good on dry road, but wet road, once they let go, they let go big. Also, don't laugh, but they seemed to pick up nails and bolts like no tire I have every owned. Lastly, now that I have tried other tires, I realize they only had good traction for part of their life, once they got a little worn in, they were not all that great.

KDW's... great tires, but are expensive, and once they get worn down, their traction goes south.

BFG Comp T/A.. wear down quick, great traction when new, HORRIBLE traction when down to abotu 4-3/32

NOW, what I have found real nice, is Coopers. Discout Tire carries them, but they don't really advertise them. You can get them for about $130 a piece and they have great traction.

http://www.coopertires.com/us/en/ProductDetails.asp?ProdType=UHP&id=223&title=UHP+Tires

I think I am sticking with these myself, for an all around tire.

[SVTcobra04]

thanks for all the replys.I read somewhere that 10.5 in the rear will rub on the 03-03 cobras.would new tires have alot better traction then stock?thanks

[casey99COBRA]

thanks for all the replys.I read somewhere that 10.5 in the rear will rub on the 03-03 cobras.would new tires have alot better traction then stock?thanks
just buy wheel spacers.

[SVTcobra04]

ok thnx.

[Butcher]

thanks for all the replys.I read somewhere that 10.5 in the rear will rub on the 03-03 cobras.would new tires have alot better traction then stock?thanks
This is a fact. No doubt. I've spent awhile trying to fit 315 Goodyear F1 GS D3's on 10.5's. Aint happening, no way no shape, no form on 03-04's. Now realise, i'm a firm believer in NEVER using wheel spacers. EVER. I put on the Steeda Sport Springs, QA1 adjustable shocks, lowering the car thinking that it would tuck it enough, but even the rim rubbed. They will however fit 01 Cobras, and even present day GT's, but remember they have solid rear axles. Hell, I even changed the bolt to a round headed hex bolt, still no dice. Wheel spacers may make the difference, but I wouldn't reccomend them to anyone, especially running any performance oriented car. I ended up running 285's on the factory SVT rims for the rear on 17". I'm not sure what you could do with a 305 on an 18" rim as I never attempted it Just my 2 cents anyway. :)

Jimmie

[SVTcobra04]

could i put tires that are 10 inch wide and not have them rubbing on the IRS?

[Butcher]

could i put tires that are 10 inch wide and not have them rubbing on the IRS?
I feel it would be extremely close. With the 9.5", look at the clearance between that bolt head and your rim, then add another half inch. I'm really not sure, as I didnt attempt it with a 10" wide rim. Based on my research, the Nitto's are the narrowest of the lot, and you should have an easier time with rub, but you will give up tirewear. I have really researched this heavily, spent 2 or 3 times on the phone with Firme, who is very knowledgeable with this stuff. I dont feel they will fit. I also am building an 8.8" solid rear axle to mount in my '04 Cobra. You can bet when I do this I'm going to immediately see if they will fit then. That should take place in the next 2 - 3 weeks, if you want to wait on the data :)

Jimmie

[SVTcobra04]

ok i guess ill probley just go with a stickier tire not any wider.thanks for the replys.......why did svt put an IRS on it??:doubt: :dunno: :scratch:

[Butcher]

ok i guess ill probley just go with a stickier tire not any wider.thanks for the replys.......why did svt put an IRS on it??:doubt: :dunno: :scratch:
The IRS is an excellent axle, especially in an open track or SCCA environment for example. SVT could have tuned them better from the factory, but nonetheless, still good. However, if your looking to apply raw straight line acceleration, its fragile, even after spending a bundle on it. The solid axle gives you brute strength for staight line acceleration, which is better for the strip, and still affords you the open track/autocross setup pretty well, with some sacrifice on that end. Just depends what your main intrests are, drag or track or both, with sacrifice to one or the other side. I personally like both, but i've always loved the adrenaline rush the dragstrip gives me ;) I feel I can still set up a solid axle differential that can compete with the IRS, albeit, the IRS will have advantages over a solid axle on a roadcourse.
Ford installed the IRS to cover everyone, and as attested here on the board, these guys LOVE track. :) Good marketing on FORDS part...now if they'll only toss a good 8.8 or 9" into a Mustang with the Cobra motor...maybe a built c4?

Jimmie :D

[SVTcobra04]

ford should offer both IRS and a solid axle.unrealistic I know.:D

[Bingo13]

This is a fact. No doubt. I've spent awhile trying to fit 315 Goodyear F1 GS D3's on 10.5's. Aint happening, no way no shape, no form on 03-04's.

Jimmie

No issues here running GS-D3 315/35/17 on AFS 17x10.5" wheels, tried the Yoko AVS Sports and BFG KDs which are wider without problems also.

[casey99COBRA]

what tires do you guys prefer for 18 inch wheels (10.5 rear and 9.5 front)?
I don't think Nitto makes an 18 inch 315 size tire. i want 315 on the back, what do you recommend for the actual tire brand and model for front and also for the rear ? Remember these are 18 inch wheels. :)

[cobra330]

Interesting..as I have found several people who put 315 on an 04 Cobra..and just shaved the IRS Bolt..and/or added spacers. To date..none have an issue..some for months others for over a year. Guess when I get to that point..I have alot of thinking to do.

[SVTcobra04]

yea im trying to do the thinking now.

[cobra330]

Let me know what you come up with!

[SVTcobra04]

ok ill let ya know.im still lookin for a place to get mods put on my cobra.if you find any places let me know.

[InfamousSVT]

I just replaced my rear two rims with a set of 17 x 10.5! Fords putting them on for me (Cousin works there) and he said that they'll fit, and if he needs to he'll do what he needs to, to make them work! But he says it shouldn't be a problem! He's also installing all my suspension mods I've got and some bushings from Steeda.
Tire size I'm running is 315/35 - 17's of course!:D

[cobra330]

yea im trying to do the thinking now.

You have a PM...Meet us on Dec 4th and we can talk about where to go. Check the Mid-Atlantic Forum for our Mini Meet. Also..I am headed to check out a shop this weekend in Edgewood, MD. Your welcome to join me. Let me know!

[Butcher]

I just replaced my rear two rims with a set of 17 x 10.5! Fords putting them on for me (Cousin works there) and he said that they'll fit, and if he needs to he'll do what he needs to, to make them work! But he says it shouldn't be a problem! He's also installing all my suspension mods I've got and some bushings from Steeda.
Tire size I'm running is 315/35 - 17's of course!:D
All I can say is WOW! :thumbsup: I sure hope it works for you, and if it does, fill me in on how he did it please sir :)

Jimmie

[InfamousSVT]

Ok, he's going to start on the suspension now, and I'm waiting on my bushings from Steeda that are supposed to be here on Thurs.! So, I should have everything installed and have the car back Thursday afternoon or Friday morning! I'll take some pics and post them in this tread!:thumbsup:

[ausie]

The only way you would have issues with wider wheels is that the inner offset is not correct. I had a set of 18 BBS RK Plasma's with the 10 inch rear on my 01. I had them transfered to my 04 when I bought it. No issues with suspension or body hitting wheel. They did not require any spacers either. As for tire with in the rear they are 275/35's/18. I may replace them with either same profile or larger since there is plenty of room left. The big question was, will the stock 01 wheels fit? Yep, they fit. (have snow tires on them). I found that putting high performance snow tires on the car once the temps fall below 40 you have better traction when compared to summer tires since they get hard when it is cold out. Besides that, you never know when you will come across ice on the road surface and summer tires and ice do not mix well. When the salt hits the streets, the cobra stays home.

[Butcher]

[QUOTE=ausie]The only way you would have issues with wider wheels is that the inner offset is not correct. QUOTE]

Yes, of course. But if you can't tuck them into the wheelwells, not only does it look uglier than a speckled puppy, then you start tossing debris all over the car. If I had offset the 10.5" rim it would have hung out of the wheelwell. I really came close to piddling with an 18", just for one reason or another I didn't.

Jimmie

[InfamousSVT]

All I can say is WOW! :thumbsup: I sure hope it works for you, and if it does, fill me in on how he did it please sir :)

JimmieHere are the pics of my 315's and 10.5 wheels! I put some .25" spacers on it just to be sure, but my cousin believes I should be able to take the spacers out and it'll be just fine. I'll wait in see on that though!

The third photo shows the IRS bolt that everyone either grinds down or replaces with a low-profile bolt. I got the Steeda bushing kit, which included a low-profile bolt and increase use of the wider tires!

[davelegguy]

That looks good but I would be worried taking a curve over 120 mph

[InfamousSVT]

That looks good but I would be worried taking a curve over 120 mph
Taking a curve over 120mph?! I'll leave that kind of speed for the straight shots!

[Butcher]

Taking a curve over 120mph?! I'll leave that kind of speed for the straight shots!That definitely looks excellent old man :) Are the wheels stock? I would figure you'd need a 1/2" of backspace at least, but you said you used a .25 spacer. I run mine in straight shots personally, and I wont use any spacer, personally.
Bottom line is, if it works for you, is functionally safe, straight line or curve, and you like it, hey, I'm all for it. I'm glad you could get what you wanted to do with it. :thumbsup:

I am building an 8.8 solid diff at present for my 2004 and am having a set of Bogart billets getting cut to run on that axle for straight line runs currently. I could'nt get mine done with the IRS. I wasn't building for appearance, 8 second 1/4 mile runs. I'm hoping the 10.5 Hoosier slicks I have ordered for the wheels will tuck inside the wells, or I'm going to torch out the wheelwells and semi-tub them to fit the slicks on my 2004. Yeah, I know, sacriledge, but hey. When I was 15 I had my head in a gluebag to long reading hotrod mag...

Got torque? :bounce:


Jimmie

[InfamousSVT]

I ordered the rims from LateModelRestoration, SCMC vendor:thumbsup: , and they are 17x10.5 with the 315's on them! I only used the spacer to make sure that it wouldn't rub, but I believe I can take the spacer out and I'd be fine, so I'll be doing that in a few weeks when I get some new tires for the front!:)

[RheacerDave]

I like Kumhos. I have 712's on the Cobra and my Focus SVT.

Good all around tire. 285 is biggest they make right now in a 17.
I've raced on Kumho's (Victoracer and V700's) since they came out. AutoX, SOLO I, and Roadrace.