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History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
Well, some are probably going to think this is super dumb, but I just bought a really nice set of Gatorbacks. They have no cracking or dry rot. 2 of them look brand new. 2 are maybe 75%. Anyways, I'm going to put them on my 19k mile, 1986 IROC. The car rarely leaves the garage, and when it does its basically to local shows. My 87 needs rubber, so I'll use the tires that are on my 86 now, for the 87. Anyways, these Gatorbacks are on 4th gen salad shooter wheels that are SUPER NICE, but unfortunately there probably isn't a person anywhere that wants a nice set of them, so I don't know what I'll do with them lol. Anyways, I bought everything for $320, so I feel like I got a great deal, especially if I can sell the salad shooters. So if anyone needs a set, give me a shout!!
So, it may be dumb to put 30+ year old tires on my car, but like I said it rarely moves, anyways. I just don't think there has ever been a better looking tire for these cars. And these are the 245/50VR/16
And, i can mount them myself at our dealership where i work, so i don't have to worry about someone not wanting to mount old tires. I think some tire shops won't even mount tires that are over 10 years old
Tires look great!!!.....but 'look' great and 'are' are 2 different things. If your just letting them sit on the car all good. But if you do take the car for a drive, be very very careful. Like they always say, accidents happen close to home. Even a short drive is ify. I wouldn't take them on a highway (4 lane). I had incredible looking Eagle F1 GS-D3's on my car, 16+ years old. I called various tire manufacturers (Goodyear, BF, Nitto, Etc, Etc) and big sellers (Tirerack, Tire Discount). Everyone agreed it wouldn't be safe driving highway speeds. Yes I know they all sell tires, but it isn't the 'look' of them, it's how they degrade with age. Just be careful is all.
Great score! I have a set of looow mile 245/50/16 ZRs on an original set of 1990 formula wheels. May put them on my 89 formula 350 asc vert for pictures.... if I ever paint it.
I would check the production date on those tires. I purchased a full set of new BFG Radial T/A tires in the fall of 2005. I ran those tires with 2000+ miles per year (mainly summers) until 2018 when cracks began to appear in the face of the front tires. I replaced them with BFG tires again. Remember, the tires saw little time in the sun where uva &ufb could affect, also.
I would be so worried on 30+ year old tires. They may look decent, but u do not know the conditions the tires faced over the years.
I think the OEM tires add to the all original appeal. I installed mine on a spare set of rims, and I run Hawk's 17's for daily use. Best of both worlds. These look like lots of tread still. Nice find.
If you take them to a tire shop, tell them it's for a show car. Ask for the valve stem to be mounted between the Good Year as well. Then all 4 wheels will be the same. (old car show trick for that extra point).
I think the OEM tires add to the all original appeal. I installed mine on a spare set of rims, and I run Hawk's 17's for daily use. Best of both worlds. These look like lots of tread still. Nice find.
If you take them to a tire shop, tell them it's for a show car. Ask for the valve stem to be mounted between the Good Year as well. Then all 4 wheels will be the same. (old car show trick for that extra point).
Mark.
I agree with Mark having 2 sets. Best of both worlds. I also have a set of gators which have basically no miles on them. Will only use them for show only
Well, some are probably going to think this is super dumb, but I just bought a really nice set of Gatorbacks. They have no cracking or dry rot. 2 of them look brand new. 2 are maybe 75%. Anyways, I'm going to put them on my 19k mile, 1986 IROC. The car rarely leaves the garage, and when it does its basically to local shows. My 87 needs rubber, so I'll use the tires that are on my 86 now, for the 87. Anyways, these Gatorbacks are on 4th gen salad shooter wheels that are SUPER NICE, but unfortunately there probably isn't a person anywhere that wants a nice set of them, so I don't know what I'll do with them lol. Anyways, I bought everything for $320, so I feel like I got a great deal, especially if I can sell the salad shooters. So if anyone needs a set, give me a shout!!
So, it may be dumb to put 30+ year old tires on my car, but like I said it rarely moves, anyways. I just don't think there has ever been a better looking tire for these cars. And these are the 245/50VR/16
And, i can mount them myself at our dealership where i work, so i don't have to worry about someone not wanting to mount old tires. I think some tire shops won't even mount tires that are over 10 years old
Here's some pics...
I ran those wheels on a couple S10 4 wheel drives that I had TPI swapped .They fit that application really well. That may be a place to find a new home for the wheels, although I agree you will have no trouble selling the caps.
What a find! Congratulations... I wish these were reproduced for those of us who would like to run the original VR/ZR Gatorback on our cars.
I would do it just for the look alone. I contacted Coker Tire last month and was told they are not looking to reproduce these in our 245/5016 size... but
they sell the 225/6015 Gatorbacks that the Mustang GTs ran in that era.
Had them on my new 87 T/A.
Total junk and wore out fast!
Worthless in the rain and needed to be replaced at 13k miles.
Back then about impossible to find a 16 replacement............
@67restoproj Hey those date codes don't match your car. Totally wrong. I mean the judges will deduct points. I'll trade you some tires, um, really good ones too. :-p
Allow me to be the first to say, be care--, oh, wait! No worries, Cowboy, truth is, everyone is jealous. If they'd have found them, they'd also have purchased them AND installed them, too. Great find! Enjoy them while they're still holding air.
Yes, created for the all-new, 1984 Corvette. Developed for good wet-weather performance, nicknamed "Gatorback" because the tread pattern resembled the backside of an Alligator. C4's size was 255/50-16. 245 was chosen for 3rdgens. And even though it showed up on some Trans Ams in 1984, it wasn't publicized for 3rdgens until the debut of the 1985 IROC.
They were excellent, IMO. But they've garnered a lot of hate throughout the years, which is normal for most products, usually due to something personal.
They wore well, unless... But any tire will wear poorly if driven like that. I got 50,000 out of my original set. But I couldn't afford them after that. They cost between $200-$300 each in the 80s/90s. Most Goodyear tires are still in that price range today, so you can imagine how expensive that would've seemed back then.
@67restoproj Hey those date codes don't match your car. Totally wrong. I mean the judges will deduct points. I'll trade you some tires, um, really good ones too. :-p
Yep, I still have the original Gatorbacks that came on my car when I purchased it used back in ‘96. Two years after I bought the car, I took them off and put them in storage. When I get the car running again, I’m going to buy a second set of rims and mount them on there just for car shows. I sure wish they offered reproductions. They look good on these cars.
Well at least I'm not the only one that experienced rear tire failure 
No worries, Cowboy, truth is, everyone is jealous. If they'd have found them, they'd also have purchased them AND installed them, too. Great find! Enjoy them while they're still holding air.
But any tire will wear poorly if driven like that. I got 50,000 out of my original set. But I couldn't afford them after that. They cost between $200-$300 each in the 80s/90s. Most Goodyear tires are still in that price range today, so you can imagine how expensive that would've seemed back then.