• Welcome to the CaliforniaSpecial.com forums! - You are currently viewing the forums as a GUEST. To take advantage of all our site features, please take a moment to join our community! It's fast, simple and absolutely free.

    If you have problems registering or can't log into your account, please contact Admin.

    Please Note: If you are an existing member and your password no longer works, click here to reset it.

1968 Vanishing tires

p51

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 2, 2005
Messages
1,025
Location
NorCal
Has anyone else noticed that the selection of tires for R14 (and R15) rims is shrinking?

I currently have Firestone Firehawks Indy 500's on my car... IMO, they are a much better/safer tire than the BFGs. I've had both and the Firehawks stick better on wet roads. Anyway, I just happened to be looking on the web and apparently Firestone no longer makes Firehawks for R14 or R15 rims (!!)

So, the question is, does anyone have any suggestions on where one might buy either NOS or slightly used Firestone Firehawks Indy 500, 215/70-R14? I'd like to buy 1 (possibly 2) for spares...

Thanks
James
 

Mosesatm

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 18, 2005
Messages
9,011
I don't know of any spare Firehawks but for new tires the Cooper Cobras are still available.
 
Last edited:

rvrtrash

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 25, 2003
Messages
3,649
If you think that's bad, try to find a set of performance street tires in 13". :mad:
Before buying an "older" tire, check the date code on it. IIRC, at 7 years they are considered unsafe.

Steve
 
OP
OP
p51

p51

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 2, 2005
Messages
1,025
Location
NorCal
Guys, thanks for the replies.

I knew that tires "spoil" but I did not know it was in the 6-7yr range and I had thought it was only correlated with service time/tread remaining. Apparently just environmental exposure (eg ozone) can also cause deterioration.

http://www.tiresafetygroup.com/tires-expire-in-six-years/

On the flip side, there is some opinion out there that tires stored in certain (tightly) controlled conditions will last a lot longer (last paragraph).

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul.../a25577/how-to-make-your-tires-last-10-years/

I was hoping to find a Firehawk for a spare so that if I damage a tire I can still keep a complete set of white-letter-out tires on the car.
 

franklinair

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2007
Messages
4,740
I've got 4 Firehawks 215/70/14 still mounted on chrome rims, I've had for about 5 years stored with my 'stash'. Tell me how to decipher the date codes and I'll check them out. They all have excellent tread. I could have them all dismounted, but shipping may be a bit pricey.

Neil

PS: I ck'd the date code as per your article. 0206= 2nd week of 2006.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
p51

p51

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 2, 2005
Messages
1,025
Location
NorCal
I've got 4 Firehawks 215/70/14 still mounted on chrome rims, I've had for about 5 years stored with my 'stash'. Tell me how to decipher the date codes and I'll check them out. They all have excellent tread. I could have them all dismounted, but shipping may be a bit pricey.

Neil

PS: I ck'd the date code as per your article. 0206= 2nd week of 2006.

Neil

Thanks ever so much for the offer. But it's probably not worth the hassle taking them off the rims and shipping them across country. I checked my tires. They have great tread, look almost new (only a weekend driver) but they are a 2004 date! Given that the date is so old and what I now know about "use by" date, I'll probably run with my set for a while longer and then switch them out for a complete newer set. Maybe 15" or 16"(??) rims are in my future :smile:

Thanks again,
James
 

Ruppstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
3,032
Funny thing every tire that Rob puts on back of his Black 67 fastback is a vanishing tire!!!
LOL
 

TraveledGTCS

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 24, 2004
Messages
174
I spent the last year looking for Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires to no avail. (205/70 15s) I was looking for the raised white letter ones. I could get black-wall Firehawks but I wanted RWL ones. I'm down to the bare minimum tread on mine now, so next month I will have to get the BF Goodrich TA ones.

From what I understand, Firestone sold the rights to the Firehawk Indys to Coker Tires, they have the Firestone Wide Ovals a bit pricey though, but they are making the Indys. DARN.

My spare is an unused Firehawk so when I have my Special judged, I guess I'll be dock a point or two for the tires not matching. But it's a good tire so why spend another $130.00 for the spare. Besides, I don't go to many MCA shows, so why bother.

Bill
 

harryz

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 5, 2005
Messages
52
So... if I'm going to replace my rims anyway, go for 16" instead of 15"? Or are 16" also getting hard to find?

Harry Z
 

robert campbell

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
4,321
The 16, 17, and 18 inch tire selection is way better than 15's. 14's are becoming very thin for any tire. I personally do not like anything bigger than a 16 on a 1st generation Mustang, but that is me. 16 inch tires have a nice selection of widths and aspect ratio's. Not to mention stickier compounds!

Rob
 
OP
OP
p51

p51

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 2, 2005
Messages
1,025
Location
NorCal
So... if I'm going to replace my rims anyway, go for 16" instead of 15"? Or are 16" also getting hard to find?

Harry Z

Personally I really don't like large rims - especially on classic cars. There are only a few 16" rims I find attractive so if it were me making the choice I'd probably stick with 15" rims. Today there seems to be plenty of tires for 15" rims, just no Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s :mad:
Now whether 15" tires will go away in the future, and when... hard to say. BTW: You can still buy BFGs with RWL at 14" and 15" (but they seem to be getting more expensive). I'd recommend going to any online tire site and just checking for tire availability. Eg

https://tiresize.com/calculator/
 

BigJim

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 2, 2012
Messages
414
I don't know of any spare Firehawks but for new tires the Cooper Cobras are still available.

I'm running the Cobras. Real happy with them.
 

Attachments

  • tire_small.jpg
    tire_small.jpg
    65 KB · Views: 33
Top