BFG Radial TA
 

I am looking for some inexpensive radials for 15" rims. I don't want a modern looking sidewall. I also do not want white letters. The BFG's could work if I put the white letter in the back but I can't find a picture of what the back side of tire looks like. I can't imagine that they have white letters on the back but it would be helpful to see an actual photo of the back if anyone has one? Also open to a better suggestion than the BFG's if there is one. Thanks

I have one mounted on spare wheel for my El Camino. I can snap a pic for you tomorrow evening if you don't get one before then.

Another alternative: BFG Advantage TA Blackwall

https://i.postimg.cc/L5WGs7zj/137.jpg

Lee, thanks but I don't know if your picture of the Advantage T/A is the same as the Radial T/A

Hi Bill, I've run BFG's for decades myself. Here's one from the last set I had on my 454SS - they are dated 2013 but the new replacements dated 2020 are identical FYI.

Cheers,
Anthony

It probably is: would say RADIAL instead of ADVANTAGE as shown in the above picture. Both are 75,000 mile radial tires. The cost is comparable to the Radial TA.

As an FYI, that white sprinkling on the front is ash...

And, I know you don't want RWL - but these BFGs aren't the cheapest tire in the market...

I've also got the Radial repop Firestone Wide Ovals and I believe their backside is black wall too. Give me ten to go pull my spare and post pics. FWIW, they feel like a regular radial on the road and have the modern sidewall / shoulder look... but, contrary to your OP, they are not inexpensive. BRB.

BF Goodrich Advantage T/A Sport 205/60R15 91 H Tire: $98.99

Walmart

https://www.walmart.com/ip/BFGoodric...b6e02c81a1a491

Thanks. I am guessing the ash is from the recent fires? I hope you made out OK with the fires. Another plus for the BFG's is there are a bunch of sizes, I don't think that is the case with the Firestones.

Hi Bill, thanks! Yes, from the local SoCal wildfires over the past say, month or so. Actual fires weren't near us per se, in that we were ever in mortal danger like others, but close enough for very poor AQ and haze, and of course flying ash. Thanks.

Yes, there's just the few "popular" sizes available, I have the ubiquitous F70R14 (FR70R14)

I'll still post the other photos later of it for anyone else that ever finds this thread useful...

Cheers, and thanks again. Be well & safe all.

blackwall radial 15"...
 

Anyone have experience with Diamond Back tires? I’ve been looking at their “Diamond Back III” which is a BFG Radial TA that they customize, including doing just a completely black “smoothie” sidewall. Not cheap at $209 in 205/60R15 but you get a true BFG with which you can then do what you want (Goodyear Blue Streak lettering, larger NASCAR-style billboard lettering, leave blank, etc etc).

https://dbtires.com/product/diamond-back-iii/

I restore a lot of the baby birds here and the preferred tire among all of them are the Diamond Backs. So I order a lot of those and have them shipped here.
They are popular among the T-bird crowd mainly because they do an excellent job of adding the whitewalls, they don't yellow over time, and they smooth everything else and look excellent. The Coker stuff I've had nothing but complaints about.


The Uniroyal Tiger Paws have been an okay tire. Have had a set on my sons Mustang for about 6 years and it's getting about time to replace them again as they are getting down close to the wear bars. Got about 50k miles out of them with regular rotations and 3-4 drag strip outings with them.

The other drivers I run BFG radial TA's on, mainly because they are one of the few offered in the sizes I prefer to run. They might even find their way onto my sons car as the size it takes seems to be diminishing to just a few choices in 225/60-15's. BFG still makes them.

I have Diamondback's 225/70/14 BFG redline radials on my Chevelle and am happy with them.

Just to add on, both Cooper and Mickey Thompson offer 15" tires in "muscle car" sizes, in raised white letter. The other side is smooth, I have seen these at Pep Boys locally.

https://mickeythompsontires.com/stre.../sportsman-s-t

https://us.coopertire.com/tires/cobra-radial-g-t

Diamond Backs...
 

The Cooper Cobras seem to be the most popular in my area at car shows and on daily drivers. Very similar to the BFG and much more affordable. I put a set on my 81 C10 and really like them.


Tommy

I have two sets of Diamondback redlines on my cars...the '68 Z has a redline based on some Yokohama tire, and the GTO has the redline BFG T/A. They are both quite good as you would expect from a quality radial.

Years ago I ordered 4 Diamond back redlines from a tire shop in Cali. Had them at a local tire shop to get them mounted, the one tire had 20 pounds of air in it when the sidewall blew out. Sent all 4 tires back and never looked at diamond backs again

The tire shop likely won't tell you this, but if they aren't really careful mounting the new tires, and they happen to nick the bead, it will cause a bulge in the sidewall and in some cases blow out. They may not have even realized it.

I've had my own pneumatic machines here for decades and mount/balance my own tires and even as careful as I am, I've had this happen. Messing with my sons VW bug and it's very skinny tires makes it a little more difficult when running the bead around the rim as there is very little room (width) to work with. Even with lube and being careful, I nicked the sidewall. A little glue to help it seal didn't stop the sidewall from bulging out and eventually popped not long after I had it off the machine and sitting on the floor. I had to buy another tire. Just the way it goes sometimes. Bug tires are cheap thankfully, lol.

Cannot say for sure but it's possible that may have happened

Thank you for all the help. For anyone interested here is the pricing for a 235/70x15. BFG TA: $150. Cooper: $125. DB SS Blackwall $189. DB is plus ship. Others include ship. Would like a wider tire than a 70 series but limited by a 15-6 wheel.

The tire (BFG Advantage TA Blackwall) I showed you available at Walmart for $99 a tire:

https://i.postimg.cc/vZQ8rLbV/screenshot-8289.png

It's a 60 series tire which is wider than the 70 series tire.

Take them over to Discount Tire and have them mount them - or your favorite tire store/mechanic

Lee, thanks for that info. I should have also mentioned that I am looking for a tire that is at least 27” in diameter.

I actually just saw that Walmart sells the Mickey Thompson Sportsman Pro BP N50 for $218, and as much as I despise Walmart, that's a killer price.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mickey-Th...42145d1e95a21b

Hankook Kinergy 225/70/15 blackwall. Rides nice, handles good, not expensive (about $90 per, watch for sales). This is mounted on a 15x7 wheel. There is some busy-ness in the texture on the sidewall. I was OK with that since it gave me more wheel budget money.

Tom. Thanks for the pic with the wheel. Nice looking wheel? Cragar? I am looking for tires to go on an old set of Cragar G/T’s.

It looks like the old Cragar G/T Plus, but it’s a new knockoff of the similar 65 Shelby Cragar by Scott Drake/Legendary.

I run the M/Ts on the back of our Foxbody. I went for them specifically because of the smooth sidewall.

The only downside is they don't make them in a 225/60/15 so I need something else for the fronts, or I'm just going to go to 235s.

Compared to the 21 year old Kelly Chargers, it was a whole different car. Hooks much better (which is a given- It's a stock 5.0), rides smoother (doesn't feel like it's trying to "shimmy" over bumps), and the biggest one is that I can drive the car in the rain.