Anyone know where I can find the original factory tire make / model that came on an '86 IROC?

Goodyear Eagle VR "Gatorbacks"

The worst tire put on a car....

They were awful. Downright dangerous in the rain and I think the set that came on the car only lasted about 12 or 13,000 miles without driving like a nut. Tires for our cars have come a long way since that turd.

Wow. Well the tires on my car just say "Radial SR". No brand name. Car has 45k miles on it. I got it at 32k.

That's what many people on these boards say. And while I'd agree that tires have come a long way since then, that tire, when designed, was one of the best on the road. But even if not the best, it definitely wasn't awful. And if it was so bad, then why has every tire manufacturer since then been designing along that same path that Goodyear started, or at least, brought to the forefront? Obviously, it was a very good tire.

And driving like a turd, lol, will waste any tire, but if not driving like a turd, any tire will last for many miles, including the Gatorback. Based on my own experience with the tires, they lasted MANY MANY MANY miles--nearly 6-digits-worth for two sets. No other tire I've had on this car has even come close to that.

And of course it performed well in the rain, as it should've because that's primarily what its design was for. It certainly wasn't dangerous. I never had any problems in rain... or snow either, for that matter. But maybe that's because I know how to drive.

That tire even spawned into a racing tire. Auto racing was no longer stopped by rain, thanks to that tire and its offspring.

Are tires better today? Of course they are. But yes, the Gatorback was a very good tire in its day. But it has long since been discontinued, so good luck finding that original tire. Goodyear does currently make a new tire with a tread that looks very much like the original Gatorback's, but it's very expensive, as most Goodyear tires are, unfortunately.

Sorry for the long post. But people have been bashing this tire for a long time, mostly, I think, just because they have a personal dislike for Goodyear, so I decided it's time that someone defended it.

There were better tires available at the same time from Bridgestone, Dunlop and Michelin. The Goodyears IMO were not as good as any of those, but I dont know about 12k miles, they'd last 30k easy.