I need new tires for the '87 IROC-Z and the '82 Pace Car. The factory sizes for the Pace Car are 215/65-15. Since those tires are not very performance rated and a little too thin, I decided to buy OER IROC rims in the factory 16x8 size for the '82. While it's not stock, I think I can pass them off and most people won't notice. With that, I need eight tires in the 245/50-16 size.

I've narrowed it down to the BFG Sport Comp 2 or the Cooper Zeon RS3. Does anybody have experience with the Coopers on these cars? I know Roush worked on these tires for their supercharged Mustangs, but I haven't felt them on the road o know if they stick, are loud, wear ok, etc.

Also, will I have any issues putting the IROC-Z size tire on the '82? I haven't even looked to see if there's anything in the way that may impact the installation and use of this size tire.

 

Scott, if you go 245/50/16 on the '82, you may want to consider adding a Wonderbar.

 

I plan on adding a Wonderbar and replacing the sway bars with the 36mm and 23/24mm bars. I may also need to replace the shocks/struts from what my father has on the car.

 

I've had the Cooper RS3-A on my 1985 IROC five years this month. 25000 miles later I am still impressed with the tires, including most of two Power Tours, The Tail of the Dragon, and lots of twisties thru the WV, NC, and VA mountains. I noticed last fall the fronts are starting to cup a bit. The remaining tread will easily and safely get thru this season. On Power Tour 2013 they were steady as a rock thru an Alabama thunderstorm like I have never seen. My Corvette buddies are impressed with the car and the tires.

You mentioned the Roush Mustangs so you might've seen this, it helped me pick the Coopers:
http://www.motortrend.com/news/tire-...ires-zeon-rs3/

Cooper also makes a summer tire in the RS3. I went all-season due to the WV climate.

I would buy again in a heartbeat.

 

The 245s should be fine on the Z, just don't crank the wheel too far. Think three point turns in tight spaces. Without the stops, you'll probably be able to steer the sidewall into the fender liner and probably the inner fender. I've got BFG Comp T/As on the Iroc and Formula, both the fat sidewall will rub metal at full lock. Part of that is because the BFGs tend to be a bit wider than some brands. It's not a huge deal, just make sure the fender liners are screwed down tight, and watch the tight turns.

235/60R15s on stock 15x7 Z28 wheels really aren't bad. I wouldn't have any qualms about running them again.

 

Yeah, I'd consider 235/15/60's on the stock wheels, too.

 

235/60R15 was the stock HO tire, so the fit is factory. BFG Radial T/As with the RWL out look pretty good to me. Ran that setup on both of my 83 & 84 Sport Coupes, my 92 S10, and now my Z wheels and BFGs are rolling on my buddy's 1983 Monte Carlo.

 

The car currently has 235/60-15, but I thought it would be better to have 8" wheels instead of 7", and 245s instead of the original 215 or upgraded 235s. The picture above is a photoshopped image of the car with tinted windows, and lowered at least an inch. By putting the IROC wheels on the car, it also lowers it a total of 1/2". The 215s and the 235s are 26.1", where the 245s are 25.6". While it's minimal, it'll help in the overall appearance as I go forward with my upgrades.

I forgot that I will probably upgrade the exhaust system and install sub frame connectors. Pro Touring - Here I come.

 

Heh heh heh... Fine. Be that way.

 

Scott, I don't know about the Coopers, but I love my BFGs. My set is great, albeit they're 275/40/17. They do look somewhat period correct and have a clean sidewall for modern tires (most tires these days have all sorts of stuff molded on the side). I previously had Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500s in 245/50/16, which performed very well but did not look the best. They also had a million things imprinted on the sidewall.

Since you're not stock, it may look cool to do 255/50/16, which the BFGs are available in. The sidewall look is very era correct and would be a subtle upgrade.

 

BFG Sport Comp 2 are really good on stock rim size.

 

If I knew these existed when I was looking for tires I would have bought these. They are D.O.T. legal and probably the stickiest 245 50 16's you can get.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-New-Nitto...ry!60631!US!-1

 

I ordered the Cooper Zeon RS3 this weekend. Discount Tire didn't have them in stock in the 16" size so sometime this week. I also received the wheels today. They look so nice!!!!

 

Beautiful!!!


Just curious Scott, what made you go with the Coopers?

 

IROC G posted a link to a Motor Trend comparison. Also, the Roush Mustangs, with their 670+ hp, use these tires, so I figured they must be a decent tire. The pricing also helped when I paid $580 for all four, with free rotation and balance for life, and replacement warranty. Then there was a $100 rebate and another $30 rebate for a total of out the door pricing of $450 for the set!

 

I like the red stripe you applied to the lip of the wheels in the photoshopped pic. Are you going to have the new wheels striped? I think that subtle little detail will help to attain the "stock" appearance that you're hoping to retain.

 

I will be adding the red stripe. Yes

Does anybody know where I can get custom center caps that have the Z28 logo instead of the IROC-Z logo?

 

nice wheels! substantially less than I paid for my Coopers five years ago. I hope you like the tires. Oh, summer compound?

 

I saved this link awhile back.
https://3dcarstickers.com/

It's from a thread here on TGO. The OP has images in the thread.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/auto...nter-caps.html

 

Cool. Thanks

 

I realized I never showed the red stripe here since I did add it to the wheels.



Also, the IROC-Z goes in today to get new tires again! The Cooper Zeon tires look like a sedan touring tire and I immediately thought they might not look right on the car. Well, they don't look right, but they also don't handle right. The car is very soft on corners now and feels like a Cadillac. I called Cooper and they said that the RS3 G1 tire is an all season tire, so that might explain the look, but they couldn't explain how they're getting over 1g with such a soft sidewall. Cooper offers a 45 day test drive on all tires, so they were more than willing to allow me to return them.

Off to get the BFG g-Force Comp 2s installed.

 

The Cooper RS3-G1 and RS3-A are all season, but the RS3-S is their summer tire. Try those before going with the BF. I think their naming of the tires creates a lot of confusion. All 3 are Zeon RS3, but they are all different based on the last letter added on.

 

Also if you don't mind post up a finished pic. Would love to see the car.

 

It doesn't look as if they make those in a 245 50 16. The only choices you really have are the BFG comp 2 and the Nitto NT01. The Nitto NT01 is D.O.T. approved and from what I have been reading the drawbacks are they last about 10k miles, cost $800 (VS $600 for the BFG's), and suck in the rain. The pluses are they weigh 2-3lbs less than the BFG's and are stickier.