It has been well over a decade since I last went tire shopping for a thirdgen. The selection has really thinned out leaving only a couple realistic choices. Bought this car with BF Goodrich T/A VR4s on it. They looked very bubbly. I would compare them to a drag tire sidewall in appearance. Bottom two pictures don't show the bubbled tires as bad as they looked to me in person. Ended up getting the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2s.

 

Great choice I love mine, they're not as easy to break loose as my previous set of tires which is huge.

 

I agree. The old tires would always break free a little on the 1-2 shift but these don't at the moment. I assume the traction will fade some as they wear like most tires so I can't compare them apples to apples against the 1/2 worn old tires. They look so much better on the car then the old ones did.

 

I actually replaced my Hankooks even though they had plenty of miles left on them because they lacked traction. So the comparison between sets of tires (in my case) is a fairy true representation of each set of tire's ability to grip. The the BFG's look cooler too!

 

VR4s were great when they were new. They look fat with a bulging sidewall because the actual tread width and section width is wider than most 245/50R16s. They haven't been made since about 2006, so any that are still around are going to be well past life expectancy. Still have about 1/2 the tread on the set mounted on my Formula. Up until recent years they stuck like glue, now you can roll into the gas and spin them for a block or two if you're into that kind of thing.

 

I believe the new BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2s have a wider measured tread width then most tires including the VR4s but I was only able to find one source for specs on the VR4.

 

Atta Boy!
I miss the old Gatorback and GSC Goodyears