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If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
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I was responding to the thread comments about the tread width, all 50 series tires have the 1:1 ratio of sw to tread, you are correct, the number normally refers to the SW
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Gatorbacks were tire state-of-the-art---30 years ago; today, not so much. Additionally, limiting tire choices to only 16" is restrictive; a change up to at least 17" diameter wheels offers a much wider selection of tires.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
"Just be patient. The rubber trees are planted, and the plan is in place. We expect to have the first batch of reproduction 245/50R16s ready for market in approx another 15 years. Thank you for your inquiry."
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Did any of you ever notice that a 245 from one company can be narrower than another? When I buy tires I look at them side by side if possible or I look at the specs. In some cases, there could be a 1/2" difference on the same sized tire. When they make these repro's do they use the same molds as the originals?
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by Drew
"Just be patient. The rubber trees are planted, and the plan is in place. We expect to have the first batch of reproduction 245/50R16s ready for market in approx another 15 years. Thank you for your inquiry."
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
I guess Federal considers those to be "competition tyres"?
Warning:
Federal Corporation makes no expressed or implied warranty as to the fitness or merchantability of Federal competition tyres due to the varied and severe conditions under which they operate and shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential or special damages arising out of their use.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
When you consider the number of Third Gens that actually use these tires, it seems likely that this will probably never happen...
Take for example the Lincoln MKT, it is an SUV, and I see more of those on the road than I do third gens any more... Keep in mind that production on the MKT is about 5000 per year on average, 2018 only sold 2324... All in all from 2009 thru 2018 they only sold 47,000...
So why do I bring this up? Because I would bet that is about how many 3rd Gen Camaros or Firebirds that are actually left. On top of that the number of "nice" 3rd gens is lower than that, and not all of the cars got the 245/50R16 Tires... In the end, they would only sell a hand full, maybe 1000 sets, therefore there is really not a market for them....
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by okfoz
When you consider the number of Third Gens that actually use these tires, it seems likely that this will probably never happen...
Take for example the Lincoln MKT, it is an SUV, and I see more of those on the road than I do third gens any more... Keep in mind that production on the MKT is about 5000 per year on average, 2018 only sold 2324... All in all from 2009 thru 2018 they only sold 47,000...
So why do I bring this up? Because I would bet that is about how many 3rd Gen Camaros or Firebirds that are actually left. On top of that the number of "nice" 3rd gens is lower than that, and not all of the cars got the 245/50R16 Tires... In the end, they would only sell a hand full, maybe 1000 sets, therefore there is really not a market for them....
I believe you're right about not being made BUT (always a but) those MKTs won't be on the road in 15 years. That EcoBoost won't last. Our 2014 MKT the dealer had for 45 days & finally believed "maybe" the engine needed replaced. LOL. JUNK!!
So, on the tires for the 3rd gens. I believe 60% of the TTA cars would have 1 set, there has to be more 3rd gen cars that would run Gatorbacks than Model Ts & they are making those.
it is ALL going to boil down to price IF ever made. Are they worth $500 for a set or are they $1000+???
They didn't wear so great to begin with, so what is the longevity of the investment?
Odds are, we'll never see them made so this thread just is mostly speculation.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by rarebmx
I believe you're right about not being made BUT (always a but) those MKTs won't be on the road in 15 years. That EcoBoost won't last. Our 2014 MKT the dealer had for 45 days & finally believed "maybe" the engine needed replaced. LOL. JUNK!!
So, on the tires for the 3rd gens. I believe 60% of the TTA cars would have 1 set, there has to be more 3rd gen cars that would run Gatorbacks than Model Ts & they are making those.
it is ALL going to boil down to price IF ever made. Are they worth $500 for a set or are they $1000+???
They didn't wear so great to begin with, so what is the longevity of the investment?
Odds are, we'll never see them made so this thread just is mostly speculation.
The EcoBoom definitely has it issues... My mom has a 2013 MKT, 70,000 miles, and it still runs good, honestly it really seems like a crap shoot with Ford & GM on their motors today... The Ford 5.0 has Tick issues on some cars, the 3.6L GM is garbage, has been garbage since 2008, the 2013-19 are better, but still a garbage engine. Whether or not it is true, I had heard that Jasper engines, who make their own engines & castings, said that they are not going to be reproducing the Ecoboom engines because they cannot get one to last for warranty purposes... It seems that the only engines worth a crap today are V8s, but they refuse to use them in anything except trucks Pony cars, Sports cars, and a few Cadillacs, but for the most part this has been true for about a decade. I guess the exception is the Charger.. I think that is the only V8 Car today...
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by okfoz
The EcoBoom definitely has it issues... My mom has a 2013 MKT, 70,000 miles, and it still runs good, honestly it really seems like a crap shoot with Ford & GM on their motors today... The Ford 5.0 has Tick issues on some cars, the 3.6L GM is garbage, has been garbage since 2008, the 2013-19 are better, but still a garbage engine. Whether or not it is true, I had heard that Jasper engines, who make their own engines & castings, said that they are not going to be reproducing the Ecoboom engines because they cannot get one to last for warranty purposes... It seems that the only engines worth a crap today are V8s, but they refuse to use them in anything except trucks Pony cars, Sports cars, and a few Cadillacs, but for the most part this has been true for about a decade. I guess the exception is the Charger.. I think that is the only V8 Car today...
MKT, had a tick under load after having cam belt replaced (didn't replace the phasers, when the quite said they were going to). Took the car back in, they said the PTO (AWD transfer case) was bad. Replaced it too.....still made the noise under load. $1800 + $3100 so far. After 45 days the compression in Cyl #3 was low. They said they had a TSB for main bearings & believe it could be either a bad catalytic converter or just replace the engine for another $8k. LOL.
I drove it straight to the Chevy dealer & bought a Suburban. NEVER AGAIN.
To stay on subject. I need two sets of Gatorbacks!
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by rarebmx
MKT, had a tick under load after having cam belt replaced (didn't replace the phasers, when the quite said they were going to). Took the car back in, they said the PTO (AWD transfer case) was bad. Replaced it too.....still made the noise under load. $1800 + $3100 so far. After 45 days the compression in Cyl #3 was low. They said they had a TSB for main bearings & believe it could be either a bad catalytic converter or just replace the engine for another $8k. LOL.
I drove it straight to the Chevy dealer & bought a Suburban. NEVER AGAIN.
To stay on subject. I need two sets of Gatorbacks!
Probably could have lemon law it if it was still under warranty.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
This was just posted on my FB page of a inquiry 4 YEARS AGO! They are ON it!!!! Not......
"John KelseyGentlemen, thank you for your post. This tire is not yet available. We understand the importance of bringing this tire forward. Your posts are appreciated."
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by Bob88GTA
This was just posted on my FB page of a inquiry 4 YEARS AGO! They are ON it!!!! Not......
"John KelseyGentlemen, thank you for your post. This tire is not yet available. We understand the importance of bringing this tire forward. Your posts are appreciated."
Did you ever consider that Kelsey is in another time continuum and the tires are already out, but we won't know for another 4 years?
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by Drew
Hey, it could happen!
somehow I picture LLoyd in dumb and dumber with the “so your saying there is a chance” quote haha 😆
every year in January, I ping John Kelsey for an update and have offered to be his first customer. I get the same canned response each year with maybe there will be more news in the upcoming year. I wish there were other distributors out there with a bit more desire to get this project completed or some companies like classic industries or hawks that could push for these. There is definitely a market for them. People are now paying good money for old junk gatorbacks which is silly.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
According to Rusty, no one wants to pay for the mold. I asked, what's a mold cost? $50,000? $100,000? I said, if so, I could find a hundred guys to kick in a thousand bucks each and finance it.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by ev305tpi
somehow I picture LLoyd in dumb and dumber with the “so your saying there is a chance” quote haha 😆
every year in January, I ping John Kelsey for an update and have offered to be his first customer. I get the same canned response each year with maybe there will be more news in the upcoming year. I wish there were other distributors out there with a bit more desire to get this project completed or some companies like classic industries or hawks that could push for these. There is definitely a market for them. People are now paying good money for old junk gatorbacks which is silly.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by chazman
According to Rusty, no one wants to pay for the mold. I asked, what's a mold cost? $50,000? $100,000? I said, if so, I could find a hundred guys to kick in a thousand bucks each and finance it.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Soooo, talked to Rusty at MCACN today. I said what's up with the Gatorbacks? He said they are still looking for a place to to make them. They were going to make a deal with Hoosier to manudacture them, but Hoosier was just bought by Continental. I said, so what, have Continental make them. He said Goodyear won't allow that to happen.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
My friend very recently went to Kelsey to pick up tires for his 69 Trans am, he asked about the gatorbacks for his 89 tta and 2 other 3rdgens than he wants to put them on.
That's what he told me on Sat on our way up to the show. Sooooo maybe they are fixed an all they need is a place to spit them out now. I also noticed I had a new reply on my (? years old) FB post about them.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by TTOP350
My friend very recently went to Kelsey to pick up tires for his 69 Trans am, he asked about the gatorbacks for his 89 tta and 2 other 3rdgens than he wants to put them on.
That's what he told me on Sat on our way up to the show. Sooooo maybe they are fixed an all they need is a place to spit them out now. I also noticed I had a new reply on my (? years old) FB post about them.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
I talked to Rusty for a short while on Sunday & I think he is getting tired of the question.
I asked about it but it didn't strike up much of a conversation. If they are in the works,
they sure didn't let him know about it yet.
Were you guys at the mcacn show this weekend?
Would have been cool to meet some of you. Had my 68 GTO there.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by F-body-fan
I talked to Rusty for a short while on Sunday & I think he is getting tired of the question.
I asked about it but it didn't strike up much of a conversation. If they are in the works,
they sure didn't let him know about it yet.
Were you guys at the mcacn show this weekend?
Would have been cool to meet some of you. Had my 68 GTO there.
Yes. I looked for your GTO but didn't see it. Maybe I should have texted you, but everyone is so busy at MCACN, with so much to see and so many people to chat with, especially if you have a car there. BTW, I got the same feeling from Rusty. He usually will be very talkative, he must be tired of fielding these Gatorback questions.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by Drew
At some point, I think you just gotta accept that he only wants to be friends.
maybe even with benefits I wouldn't care if they weren't gatorbacks - could be Wingfoot's or Eagle NCTs were all good Goodyear tires. One would think Coker tire would carry these there's a good bit of repo tires being made in less desirable sizes then 245/50 or 255/50/16's I have 2-3 cars that would be interested in getting them on absolutely sucks that no one offers any "performance" tires in these sizes
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Part of it could be the problem of where & who would they make them? The Polyglass G70's I bought for my GTO are a three party product. Manufactured at a bias ply tire plant in Indiana PA under the watch of Goodyear engineers & Marketed & sold by Kelsey. Pretty cool they were able to bring those to market. I am Guessing that was all put together by Kelsey. I would also guess that the 15" gatorbacks being made today are at another plant & maybe they aren't setup for 16"? Anybody know where those are currently being produced?
I know people get tired of the tire conversation, but I still enjoy it. Its all part of the car hobby for me
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by F-body-fan
Part of it could be the problem of where & who would they make them? The Polyglass G70's I bought for my GTO are a three party product. Manufactured at a bias ply tire plant in Indiana PA under the watch of Goodyear engineers & Marketed & sold by Kelsey. Pretty cool they were able to bring those to market. I am Guessing that was all put together by Kelsey. I would also guess that the 15" gatorbacks being made today are at another plant & maybe they aren't setup for 16"? Anybody know where those are currently being produced?
I know people get tired of the tire conversation, but I still enjoy it. Its all part of the car hobby for me
That's what I've heard as well regarding the 15" Gatorbacks.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by TTOP350
Now the question comes to, will they make the VR or the ZR tires?????
Well....I'd be happy with either one. But since I have two '89s my preference is ZR.
Side note: My '89 vert, came with VRs from the factory. I assume they were simply using up old stock. Also the rear Bilsteins are yellow, eventhough the '89's are supposed to be black.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by chazman
Well....I'd be happy with either one. But since I have two '89s my preference is ZR.
Side note: My '89 vert, came with VRs from the factory. I assume they were simply using up old stock. Also the rear Bilsteins are yellow, eventhough the '89's are supposed to be black.
Is it a really early 89 car? When I bought my 89 GTA the person I bought it from was telling me it still had the orignal tires & I didn't call her out, but I didn't believe it was true. For one, they were ZR's & second the car had close to 50k miles on it. It wasn't until I got the car home & started a thread on this forum that I learned ZR's started in 89 & after reading the date codes on the tires, they did indeed match the build date of the car.. Absolutley worn past the end of the life, but original.
They were pretty early 89 as I recall. I'll have to see if I can find the thread.
I didn't know that about the shocks. They are yellow on my 87 & Black on my 89.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by F-body-fan
Is it a really early 89 car? When I bought my 89 GTA the person I bought it from was telling me it still had the orignal tires & I didn't call her out, but I didn't believe it was true. For one, they were ZR's & second the car had close to 50k miles on it. It wasn't until I got the car home & started a thread on this forum that I learned ZR's started in 89 & after reading the date codes on the tires, they did indeed match the build date of the car.. Absolutley worn past the end of the life, but original.
They were pretty early 89 as I recall. I'll have to see if I can find the thread.
I didn't know that about the shocks. They are yellow on my 87 & Black on my 89.
Re: If they still offered 245/50/16 Gatorbacks, would you buy them?
Originally Posted by 67restoproj
While your waiting search craigslist. I found a really nice pair of 16” for cheap. They were put in storage when almost new.
Made me think I have 2 new (with tiddies) in 255/60/15 that were on my 69 while it wasn't running and on my tire rack now as I don't trust them now
I used to save decent mustang 225/60/15 take off to use on my other 69 back in 80's and 90s - I like gatorbacks
03-12-2019, 11:46 AM
I wouldn't care if they weren't gatorbacks - could be Wingfoot's or Eagle NCTs were all good Goodyear tires. One would think Coker tire would carry these there's a good bit of repo tires being made in less desirable sizes then 245/50 or 255/50/16's I have 2-3 cars that would be interested in getting them on absolutely sucks that no one offers any "performance" tires in these sizes 
