What tires match original gatorback the closest?

 

Choices for 245/50R16 tires are getting pretty slim. A lot of people didn't like the performance characteristics of the Gatorbacks, however they did have a good look to them (wide tread section, squared off shoulder, unique tread pattern). Goodyear doesn't make a tire in that size anymore and of the few tires left, none of them really have the same look. The BFGoodrich Sport Comp 2 is probably the highest performance tire available in that size, and certainly is a better performance tire than the Gatorback ever was, but just doesn't look the same (looks narrower on the rim).

 

I also love the look of the original Gatorbacks. And, like the above post mentions, there aren't many options available anymore in the 245/50/16 size. As for what "looks" the best for what is available, I can give you my opinion.

My current 88 IROC vert has BF Goodrich G Force Sport Comp 2's.

My last 90 IROC-Z had General G-max RS tires

I am selling an 86 IROC-Z right now with BF Goodrich G Force Comp 2 A/S tires

Of these, I actually preferred the General G-max RS. They have a great look all around. They also ride awesome, and are really sticky.

Just my 2 cents, but I hope it helps!

 

Every name brand and off-brand has offered a tire with a directional tread pattern at one time or another. A few slightly resembled the Gatorback, but most did not.

The closest in appearance currently on the market is from Federal, the FZ-101W. I've contacted Federal, but I didn't get a reply, or it might've landed in the junk folder. Regardless, it appears to be only available globally, but not in the US, and its only 3rdgen-appropriate size is for an 18" wheel, so that one's out.


Another similar in appearance is currently from Goodyear, the Eagle F1 GS EMT, and its only 3rdgen-appropriate size is 245/45ZR17, which will fit the new 17x9 reproduction wheels. It carries a Goodyear price, though, which is similar to what a reproduction Gatorback would probably cost, if that ever sees reproduction, so it's really expensive.


To see what's currently available in 245/50ZR16, directional and asymmetrical, the best place to search is ebay. Type 245 50 16 tires into the search engine, and you'll find about a dozen name brands(some with multiple offerings in that size) and several off-brands(most of which are probably affiliated with name brands). And to find even more, do a web search for that size. So there are still a lot of tires available in that size, just that most of them don't resemble a Gatorback. Goodrich, Kumho, Falken, General, Cooper, Toyo, Nitto, Federal, Riken, Hankook, Sumitomo, etc.

For street use, the off-brands are likely to perform as well as the name brands, and they'll cost far less.

 

Anyone with a picture of this famous Gatorback tire? I can't recall ever seeing one from back in the day.
I've the BFG Sport Comp 2 myself.

 

The "Gatorback" was a Goodyear EAGLE VR50

 

Cool. Thanks.
Looks like just about any of today's directional offerings would be a reasonable copy.

 

The tread on that FEDERAL tire looks really, REALLY close. But the Gatorback has a pretty distinct "squared off" tread at the sidewall.

 

I'd edited my above post to add this, but I'll just make another post for it here.

Here's an off-brand, Nankang 245/50VR16, that I got from Big-O back in the mid-2000s, very affordable, and it was very good on the street, probably the best I'd had on the car since the Gatorbacks. During the 90s I had a set of Parnelli Jones tires that looked just like this, but weren't as good, and a set of Goodrich Comp TAs that also looked like this, but also weren't as good. Nankang is a better-known import brand today, but I don't think this tire has been available for many years now, so if anyone were to find some, they'd be well-aged.