Re: What Tires to get??

["therealdmcvegas" <DMCVegas@xxxx>]

--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Dick Ryan 
<deloreanbiker@xxxx> wrote:
> Don't overlook the Cooper Cobra GT's. Quiet and very
> nice ride. NOT racing tires - if that's what you have
> in mind - but great American made road tires.
> 
> Dick Ryan
> VIN 16867

I'll second that on the Cooper Cobra GT's. 2nd set of tires that 
I've had on my car, with the first being Yokohama AVS 
Intermediates (no longer manufactured).

In comparison, the Coopers have a lower speed rating 
(112mph?), but hold up just fine. I've keept them @ 120mph+ for 
20 minutes or so, and did not notice any chunking, cracking, or 
other damage after stoping.

While treadwear is the same, the Coopers do have a lower heat 
rating (B). Which is perfect to me. Yoko's would take too long to 
heat up, and always had problems gripping in the cold. Unlike 
my Coopers. If the grip is poor due to temp, or very oily 
pavement, I've never had a problem heating them up. And it only 
takes a second to two to burn them out to get them warm. Once 
they're warm, they become very sticky. And when they get hot, it's 
very hard to loose grip, either by accident, or by showing off. :) 
Although I must say that the Yokos did appear to displace more 
water. Apparent by how high I could shoot spray out from my front 
wheels in comparison.

I also had a hellacious problem with trying to get Yokos to grip 
properly durring emergency braking. Even in hot weather, with 
dry road conditions, the rear end of my car would slide around 
quite a bit. And twice I spun 180s when I was going over 50mph. 
With the Coopers, it's night and day. You will still feel the inertia 
of the rear trying to swing, but the car doesn't move, and I've only 
had to move my steering whell about an inch or so to counter the 
effects. Which was another interesting little thing I noticed. After 
inspecting the road, Yokos would only lay down a minimal 
amount of rubber, if any at all when braking. Where as Coopers 
will lay down a fairly decent amount. It's almost as if the Coopers 
will melt in order to preserve grip, but the Yokos would resist, 
and just slide across the surface. I've since heard that some 
folks don't like them, as they have a high plastic content in the 
formula. But who knows. And I've also heard that if not balanced 
properly, these tires will have a VERY short lifespan.

On the other hand, my car is now much more prone to wind 
gusts on the interstate at high speeds (car@65+, wind 
gusts@30mph+). But that could just be a problem with worn 
suspension on my car. Wear and tear does happen after all.

I have also heard great things about the Pirelli's, and the 
Michelin Pilot XGTs. When I first got my car, these were the tires 
first reccomended to me (but at the time, Michelin was not 
making anything that fit the DeLorean). So when it came time for 
a new set, I made the comparisons, and went with Coopers. 
Price was a factor with Michelins @ $115+, and Pirellis @ 
$130+. While the price may vary for you, I paid $68 for the fronts, 
and $72 for the rears mounted and installed. Plus, I perfer the 
RWL myself, and mismatched tire sets are a pet peeve that drive 
me crazy. I've heard nothing but great things about the Pirellis, 
and the mismatch is a perfect combination for the D as I've 
heard quite a few times, from quite a few people. And since 
they're all solid back, you shouldn't really notice. But it's more of a 
personal thing for me.

Otherwise, if you're going to be doing quite a bit of sustained, 
high-speed driving beyond the speed rating of the Coopers, then 
I'd reccomend going for a more expensive tire. Otherwise, 
Coopers are a great buy for those on a budget, and/or anyone 
who commutes in their daily driver.

-Robert
vin 6585