Is 205/60/13 dead: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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July 4, 2011 1:42 p.m. TR8owner Reader

I have 6 X 13 rims on my 1980 Triumph TR8 but now can't find any high performance 205/60/13 street tires. I had wanted to keep the original size 13 wheels but may have to upgrade to 15 minilites or something equivalent. Was looking for Sumitomo HTR 200 in 205/60/13 but it looks like they may have stopped making them.

The only thing I can find is a tire called Cooper GT, which I had never heard of, or Hoosier race tires.

Any suggestions for the 205/60/13 or should I just forget about it and update the wheels/tires?
July 4, 2011 1:46 p.m. Hasbro Dork

Toyo R888s and RA1s

http://toyotires.com/tires/sports-car-tires
July 4, 2011 1:49 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

I wouldn't use the phrase "high performance tires" and the name "Cooper" in the same sentence.

The Cooper GT is a pretty basic tire, not a real performance tire.
July 4, 2011 1:51 p.m. triumph5 Dork

Cooper's were at one time considered to be in the same leage as Michelien. They would be a period correct name tire upgrade for your TR8. The performance, I don't know. But they were pretty good in their time, not an "off-brand", wack-job named tire. Just a relatively small company.. I'd have no problem putting them on a TR8.
July 4, 2011 1:58 p.m. Streetwiseguy Dork

Legends race on a 205/60 15 Federal tire now. The used to have a series specific BFG Comp TA, and the Federals are faster than the Comps were. I know thats not saying much...
July 4, 2011 1:58 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

I drive on Coopers a lot, because one of their manufacturing plants is in my home town.

They are OK on my truck. I might use them for rain tires on my racer, but not for anything that I wanted a high performance compound.
July 4, 2011 5:30 p.m. Streetwiseguy Dork

The Zeons are a reasonable performance tire for a reasonable price, but you woluld never mistake them for a race tire, thats for sure. The 2XS is nla, and the replacements start at 17's, so to me, that means they are poseur tires.

The Cobras are for Camaro drivers with mullets, plus the 205/60 13 is NLA as well.
July 5, 2011 10:37 a.m. TR8owner Reader

In reply to Hasbro:

I think Toyo's are the way to go if I keep the 13 rims. I should have mentioned that my TR8 is hotted up to about 225 hp so the standard 185/70 tires of the period are definately under rubbered.
July 5, 2011 10:39 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork

true.. but will be good for destroying with all that extra HP
July 5, 2011 4:29 p.m. hotrodlarry Reader

That sounds like the same size tire that the Legends cars use.