Picked these up stored in climate controlled garage and stored in Goodyear bags.. Nice soft rubber,lines,tags, and Goodyear bags...👌

Anyone that has any info on what cars the 245/50/16 were on, years made, anyway to tell when these were made??








Anyone that has any info on what cars the 245/50/16 were on, years made, anyway to tell when these were made??

 

They're the standard size for the 16 inch IROC rims. And many others back in the day.
This may help with dating the tires.

 

Those tires were originally installed on the 4th gen Z28’s and Formula/Trans Am’s with the QLC RPO. One of my favorite looking factory tires to this day. You looking to sell them?

 

 

I think that tire debuted on mid-generation C4s in 255/50ZR16, before it was available in 245/50ZR16 for 4thgens.

Always wanted a set of those on my Formula's factory wheels. But IIRC, they were in excess of $300/each thirty years ago, which new Goodyears still are today, and reproduction 3rdgen Gatorbacks will be too, if that ever happens.

Still wouldn't mind having them, except my big brakes would have to be converted down to 12", which they can be, but I know I'll never do that, so no point in even thinking, let alone, saying, "maybe someday," because it's never going to happen. People have such thoughts with good intentions, but then stuff just piles up.

It sounds like you feel they're good enough to use, so get a set of 16x8 wheels, mount the tires and install them on your Z28. Shops (that check) won't mount tires over 10 years old, so if you can't do it yourself, then you better know somebody. That's a 3rdgen factory size, so they'll look perfect on your car. Otherwise, sell them for bank to someone who wants to put them on their garage queen, which they only own to eventually flip, so it isn't going to be driven anyway, just uncovered for attention and occasionally started. You can probably go into semi-retirement for what they'd be willing to pay.

But if you do want to use them, then don't worry about what people might say. Plenty of people here on TGO drive on such old tires, just that they would never admit it. But they do it, no doubt about it, regardless of how hard they thump their bibles. Just don't drive like a teen or an adult in midlife crisis, at least, until you have a good feel for them. And if it turns out they're not as safe as you'd hoped, then I'm sure you'll know pretty quickly, hopefully in a good way.

 

I went through many of those after goodyear quit making the original gatorback tires. Really liked them

 

4th gen tires. Every pair I experienced had all the same characteristics of other GY performance tires. They were hard, noisy, smoked easily, and generally were terrible tires to drive on, but it was great if they were on the car next to you at a stop light since they'd spin while you put car lengths on them, all civil like, without the tire spin. They make a car feel like the fastest thing on the planet, because they break loose under rapid acceleration, break loose under rapid deceleration, slip and slide with a hint of moisture on asphalt, etc... I'd describe the feeling as trying to drive around on roller skates, or driving on black ice (not the air freshener).

 

That makes sense, I was told it’s the four digit code which is (0710) so 2010?? Since these are before 2000 it’s (424) which would be 42nd week of 1994. I’m not sure what I’ll do buy and redo a set of wheel and install them or bag them up and store them until I get a good enough offer. I wonder who’d they be more desirable by 3rd gen or 4th gen guys? I’m just glad to have came by them and able to share them here. Thanks for the info guys!

 

Cool tires!

The GS-C tires came on 4th gens, like people have already stated. They are my 2nd favorite "looking" tire, ever!

I didn't realize they referred to these as "Gatorbacks", too....I thought it was only the Eagle VR50 tires that got that name

 

SLP used to sell them pretty cheap with the 16X8 take off wheels from all the cars they converted to Firehawks.

 

I had a stockpile of them from SLP . Would go through about 6 rear tires a summer back then. Great fun!

 

I bought a set of GTA wheels a couple months ago, and they have 2 GSC tires, and 2 EAGLE VR50 tires mounted on them. They're shot, but they sure look cool

 

Safe to say those been sitting around a while eh? Oh to have a time machine....😂

 

Yep, lol. I'd be terrified to even try to put air in them. They are REALLY rotten!!!

 

Yeah that’s a scary feeling I know what you mean. Lol

 

Those are not ThirdGen Gatorbacks.

 

Whoever said they were?