Ron U.S.M.C.

The M/T Sportsman S/Ts in 255/60r15s just came in today and I thought I would post some photos and give my first impressions.
Love the tread. It’s not as deep as the Cobras were but not by much.
Really like the black sidewall although the letters could have been raised a bit more.
Love the fact I have the Mickey Thompson name on my car.
Took them from a launch with my 3.42s and they spun for a second and hooked, they “Barked” nice and loud on the 1st to 2nd shift .All in all a nice grip for an all season tire and a light rear end but the posi helps.
I guess it’s possible there’s a break in period for a new tire.
There is no tread warrantee on any M/Ts that I know of and these are no exception so we will see just how long I can have fun with them before there end.

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

How does the 255 sit/fit compared to a 235? These are only on the rear?

Ron U.S.M.C.

Only M/Ts on the rear so far. The front Cobras still have tread. Besides the M/T's were not real cheep. Even if I wanted to it would have to wait.
The 235/60r15s are on the front with a 7in. wide wheel.
The 255/60r15s are on a 8" wide wheel rear.
The suggested wheel for a 255 is from 7in. to 9in. putting the 8in. dead center.
I'm sure you've see this photo a dozen times but here it is again. This is exactly the way I want them, but with M/T's front and back.
The 255s is an inch taller than the 235s giving it a little rake.
Side note = I'm investing in the M/T name and hoping these will be the new tires Ill be using for a long time. Its still up in the air until I see if there worth the extra money.

luvofjah

iTrader: (2)

Nice! Plan on going same route in a few months... Currently running Cobras too, and they have performed well, but it's time to upgrade! And your car looks great with a slight rake, hopefully mine will too!

Ron U.S.M.C.

My only complaint is, even though I have the black wall out I still want to be able to see the MICKEY TOMPSON SPORTSMAN S/T so it needs to stand out.
They did not do a very good job at that.
From 5 ft. you can read it but not as well as the COOPER COBRA's.

I'm going to call the tech named Mike on Monday and suggest they fix the lettering. I mean if you run M/T's you want to be able to show it, and I would think they would want that also.

redneckjoe

looking very good Ron! is that a 26" tire?

i always like white letters out tires, but i guess thats an old look these days?

Ron U.S.M.C.

I have contemplated using white letters "out" many times.
A touch to much.
The 235/60r15 is a 26in tire and the 255/60r15 is a 27.
I have the MOOG 5665springs and KYB Gas a Just shocks. The springs lifted the car a tiny bit but have settled in so the tires give it the rake.
Other than the close up photos I just posted the tires are Cooper Cobras. They have the same dimensions as the M/T's.

redneckjoe

i like the rake. looks just right to me. i dont like them all jacked up in the rear.

i've been using the MT drag radials, and i'm very happy with them.
im considering a 27.7" tall tire in the rear this year for better traction. looks like it'd be fine.

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

That's a good looking car Ron!

I also like the rake but personally prefer the white-lettering out. Have you recalibrated your speedometer?

I know when I go to 17 or 18" rim, I probably won't be able to find any tires with white lettering.

Ron U.S.M.C.

My spedo. is still 10 mph over because of the gear ratio change and tire dimensions. I just compensate. Here's a photoshop showing what it would look like if I used white letters out.
Opinions welcome.

redneckjoe

tough call. i guess its personal prefference?

Ron U.S.M.C.

Since I only have the M/Ts on the rear for now I'm going to run the black wall out.

luvofjah

iTrader: (2)

I think it is what it is... anyone who cares enough to read it will notice they say Mickey Thompson and know they're better than the Cobras... I like the "plain"ish sidewall.... Not filled up with graphics / fancy fonts, etc... mostly smooth.... & if my car were red like yours, I'd keep it red / black... If you want it noticed, turn them white letters around!

Rafael

redneckjoe

i heard Daryl Waltrip talking about years ago they would take razor blades and trim the raised letters off to slip through the air cleaner, lol. sounds a bit extreme to me, but maybe theres a reason behind the letters not being so pronounced?

Ron U.S.M.C.

Thanks, I appreciate your guys thoughts on the matter and as finicky as I am about the car, it makes me feel better about it. .

3rdgenmaro

iTrader: (9)

I agree.

Ron U.S.M.C.

I've gotten a few compliments from the guys down at the shop when I went by there to BS.
I have come to like the way the M/T S/T's lettering on the black wall is .

I'm very happy with them. Grip is nice off the line for an all season tire.
I'm going to be keeping the black walls out.

Ron U.S.M.C.

Four months now and love the tires.
I was so used to the bold lettering of the Cooper Cobras.
M/T did a great job with this all season, and I can tell the difference in tread compound and the tread pattern itself. Nice grip. I can still bark them though and I like that.

luvofjah

iTrader: (2)

Ron, cool, I think the car is your daily driver... ??
How's the traction in the rain ? Same / Better than the Cobras?

I'm still planning to get these new MT's just before paint...I may go with the 235 / 245 combo, not as drastic as a rake, I'll probably order the 235's first and try them with the 245 Cobras I have now and see...

Rafael

Ron U.S.M.C.

I like your plan about running the M/Ts in the front first and staying with the 245/60r15 rear size. It will give you a chance to see them as they will be when you switch to the M/Ts in the rear.

As far as the rain is concerned there not bad. Seem to have a better bite from a stop then the Cobras did.

I still have to feather it a little because of the gear ratio but that’s to be expected .

luvofjah

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, 3.42's in mine... Never had a problem with the fronts / Cobras, but the rear end itself on my car needed overhauling... It's all been redone, and behaves much better in the rain than before... I got new Moog stock height springs, cargo in the back... at the moment car is empty, but will be lugging around some subs and amps... I will replace the rears shortly after I see how the stance is with the 245's... either get a set of MT's 245's or 255's... for 15x7" rims...

luvofjah

iTrader: (2)

Got my Mickey Thompson tires on....

First off, hat's off to Ron, every time I see his car, I just think "fun" and I want to drive it!
It looks really nice, the paint, the wheels, the rake, etc... he was the inspiration for what I did....

Long I bought the existing Cobra's about 10 years ago... I got 245/60/15's all around... which I later found were about .94 inches taller than stock... Personally, never had any rubbing, the back looked fine, but the front always looked a bit too big being car was a Formula and not much to speak of for GFX... Just thought the tires up front were too big / stuck out too much...

Then I run across Ron's car... sweet ride! I've been exchanging posts and pm's for over a year now and it was time to get new tires... Though the Cobras had served me well, I've had many people look at them and comment about how cheap a tire it is... not that there is much choice for performance 15" tires... so I was eyeing the MT (which really are in the same ball park when it comes to price), and Ron pulled the trigger first... Nothing looks worse to me than a sagging *** thirdgen. Keep it level or a slight rake... I wanted a slight rake, so instead of the 255's Ron got in back, I went with 245's (which the original Cobras were all around), but I went with the stock size 235 / 60 / 15 up front... and though the difference is slight, It does look a bit better / smaller up front than the 245's did.... I got new Moog springs a couple years ago, Cargo Coil progressive in the back, and being the back is empty (it will soon have subs / amps) it is sitting a tad higher than it will eventually... again, just slight difference... but I'm happy with it...

Cobra's, 245's all around....







Mickey Thompson's... 235 front, 245's rear...

Ron U.S.M.C.

Congratulations on the Mickey Thompsons.
The difference hit me right away.


The 235's up front look much better and with the springs and slightly taller tires in the rear it looks great to me.


A little bit of weight in the rear with the stereo equipment and it will look even better.


Nice job !


And maybe the M/T's will shut those guys up.

luvofjah

iTrader: (2)

Working on making it look as nice as yours, in black of course

Trans is done, getting new Torque arm / Crossmember & aluminum water pump installed this weekend.... I'll begin cleaning up engine bay and new aluminum radiator too... my headlight died (already replaced bushings a few years ago), got new cardone replacement motors... then finally a new steering box (in a month or 2)... Then get the inside done, then paint!

My current Spohn torque arm clunks, so went with UMI... It should be quiet and I can once again enjoy the car and see how the MT's Grip

Thanks for the inspiration Ron!

Rafael

luvofjah

iTrader: (2)

Another view of the Mickey Thompson's (had muffler painted black and installing UMI torque arm & crossmemeber)...

Ron U.S.M.C.

Nice. I love the tread on that tire.
You have the same L.P.W. Ultimate Cover I have , but I don't have the axle braces installed.


If you don't have one yet buy a tread depth gage for a few bucks and keep track on tread where.


IMO, Mickey Thompson coming out with this tire is great.
Its hard to find decent 15in tires in that size for the street and I love having the Mickey Thompson name on my car.
I even bought there cap.

luvofjah

iTrader: (2)

Sadly, I don't drive it much... the 10 year old Cobras I sold for $140 had about 1500 to 2000 miles on them (a few burnouts) and plenty of tread / no dry rot / stored inside... buyer was aware of age...

I hopefully do plan do drive it more after it's done (getting closer!)
Found a new 600 style steering box, getting aluminum radiator and then work on interior / stereo, etc... (got all the parts, just need to wire / build fiberglass door pods, etc...)

Rafael