I'm interested in everyone's opinions on the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 295/50R15 from an overall appearance standpoint to a viable option to the BFG.

thanks
-Mike


please no chickenhawk jokes......hee...hee....

Oh, and how many prefer blackwall to RWL.

Opinions?

RWLs are really 1980s style. Sorry, but that's the last time they were cool.

The only other RWL tire that's cool are the factory-type little RWLs, and they're far from 'performance' tires.

If you want performance, look at performance tires. The two you're considering are mediocre, at best.

Look at tirerack.com - check the ratings and reviews for tires in the size you're looking for. If you want traction off the line, get a good drag radial. If you want all-around performance, look at what Nitto and Toyo and Yokohama offer. I assure you that once you've driven your car with some serious modern high performance tires mounted up, you'll never go back to Firehawks or Radial T/As again.

Tire technology has come a long way the past 10-15 years, and you should take full advantage of that.

Appearance wise, the BFG is much better looking and more period correct looking for an aftermarket tire.

discounttire.com can be another good source. Goodyear is again making a few good tire models, but Scotch's comments about Nitto and others are spot on if what you are after is a real performance tire.

no one makes a great tire in 295/50/15, but Toyo used to...discontinued

no one makes a drag radial suitable for street use in 295/50/15 or 26x12x15

I just had a set of Nitto 275/50/15 555R drag radials mounted up, I don't like the look compared to the wide ass Toyos (they were even wider than any other brand 295 I've seen...13' section and nearly 11" tread). So far the Nittos aren't hooking for **** in the cold either.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wheelsnext.com/images/%255Cwheels%255Cthumbs%255CTOYO_PROXESST_TREAD.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wheelsnext.com/tires.html&usg=__WDbYHOrXL26R7xXnyixKwWpnxMo=&h=121&w=121&sz=7&hl=en&start=66&um=1&tbnid=BNp2RqfbIb71-M:&tbnh=89&tbnw=89&prev=/images%3Fq%3D295/50/15%2Bhankook%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.mic rosoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26sa%3DN%26start%3D54%26um%3D1

I've got them, and they are a good street tire - but they are all-season, not meant for tremendous grip at the track or launching.

I have mine white letters in - not a bad looking tire, but nothing really special about it either.

BFG's are not available, it's one of the few 295/50x15's you can find.
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/medium/New_Billet_Specialties.JPG

I had Firestone 500's on my 67 - black walls - was a good tire - looked nice.

I have the Indy 500's on 3 cars. 2 of them have the white letters out, the other has the letters in. I like them the best out of any tires I've had including the BFG's. I think they look better and they most certainly have better road grip.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/BlueSS454/69%20Charger/P3220174.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/BlueSS454/70%20SS/70SS023.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/BlueSS454/Cuda/P8162094.jpg

I like the MT line of street tire.

Mickey Thompson #672-6031
Sportsman S/T Radial Tire
P295/50R15
Raised White Letter

http://www.jegs.com/i/Mickey-Thompson/672/6031/10002/-1?parentProductId=1164461#

i thought the firestone didnt look bad at all.


Cooper also make a 295/50/15. This is a 265/50 for reference. Think Kelly Springfield owns them like they did Remingtons (remember those?)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/kalthoff1/camino007.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/kalthoff1/camino006.jpg

Hi Guys;

Thanks for all your varying opinions.
OK, I'll be frank here ( or maybe John, Pete ...lol...) seriously, I'm pretty much 'ol school, stuck in the seventies and eighties. My 'Velle is pretty much a cruiser, though runs well, fairly low buck & stock (economics) 'cept for Holley Q-jet replacement & an L78 Crane cam slid in during a rebuild in '88. She runs well through her old manifolds thru a 2.5 x-pipe Dynomax muff setup.
She's not used at the track, though they look nice, a drag radial is not really in the cards, I'm looking for a good dependable street tire preferably without an import name ( hoping not to step on too many toes).

thunderstruck507 I like your pics, and need info on your setup. I noticed you had run BFGs. Were they 295/50s ? Looks a tad wide, what backspace are the 10" slots? That is what mine looked like 30 yrs ago, but with 10" Cragars with 5.5 bs & Firestone N50s. Those are long gone, stolen, and I'm trying to regain the "look". ( you can all stop laughing now).

I'm on the fence but am leaning toward a blackwall. Letters can be turned & painted (?) ( I don't care for RWL rolling on inside).

Without many 295s out there ( close to an N50 maybe 1" shorter 1" narrower) Firestones have done me well over the years.

I've used Coopers, but honestly "Cobra" just doesn't work for me ( maybe blackwall) ( and yes, I remember Remingtons well...lol...).
Best deal I've found around is $124 for the Firehawks (though honestly I'm not too sure I care for the "Indy 500" logo either. If anything I'd rather Daytona but a Dayton is out of the question too.

'nough rambling....more comments !

I had Indy 500's put on the Chevelle last year and really like them as a good street cruising tire. I have the RWL out and think they look good. I give them a :thumbsup:.

I had Indy 500's put on the Chevelle last year and really like them as a good street cruising tire. I have the RWL out and think they look good. I give them a :thumbsup:.

Thanks Twins Fan

my tires have always been 295/50/15 until this pair of nitto drag radials

backspace on the slots I'm not sure...I just know its not right, they stick out a little 70s style, 5.5 backspace would tuck them up nice

bfg is the only tire I've liked rwl out on, I don't like the look of the tread or rwl on the firestones

supposedly the mickey thompsons are just relabeled cooper cobras, and they look about the same to me but much more expensive