Is 205/60/13 dead

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?

Toyo R888s and RA1s

http://toyotires.com/tires/sports-car-tires

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

true.. but will be good for destroying with all that extra HP

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

Just joined this site. I just bought 4 Sumitomo tires in like brand new condition. I only needed one but the seller would not sell unless I bought all. They have about 400 miles on them and are like new. I will sell two if you are still looking (was going to keep one as a spare, but if you really want 3 I will consider. price is $70 each plus shipping from Rhode Island. Contact me at rumorsband@hotmail.com if interested...please put Sumitomo in the subject line or I'll probably delete as junk.

George

Nankang makes a tire in that size. I have a set that came on one of my TR8s. They look decent, but I am still restoring that car and haven't driven it yet, so I can't comment on their road manners. Most TR8 owners are opting for the 15X 7 wheels and 205/50/15 tires just because of the lack of quality 13" tires. It's not just us. Look at any forum dedicated to Jensen Healy, BMW 2002, or any other car that came with 13 inch wheels. They are all going to 15 inch rims. Quality 14 inch tires are getting scarce as well. If you insist on keeping the stock 13X5.5 wheels, your best bet is the Toyo. Just don't expect 30,000 miles out of them. If you take care of them and store the car on jack stands over the winter they should last two or three seasons for you, but at $600 a set, your well on your way to buying a set of Rota RBs and some 15s. You can go even bigger if you want. There is lots of room under there, especially if you roll the fenders. One of my TR8s has 16X8s with 225s and I could have gone much bigger in the rear.

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

You aren't from here are you? Their headquarters are three miles from my house. I get Bridgestone/Firestone pricing or I would put coopers on my dd also.

I've got some Coopers on my Cobalt SS and they grip better then the stock tires or the last set of brand not recallable... and they've lasted twice as much milage wise too. Come spring i'll be getting 4 more.

Which Coopers, Dwarf?

44Dwarf wrote: I've got some Coopers on my Cobalt SS and they grip better then the stock tires or the last set of brand not recallable... and they've lasted twice as much milage wise too. Come spring i'll be getting 4 more.

It is not that Cooper makes bad tires, but the Cooper available to the OP is a wholly unremarkable chunk of rubber. I remember when I was looking for my RX-7, Toyo seemed like the only decent 13" left.

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

I have a buddy working for Cooper in Texarkana - Cooper also owns Avon, which does produce performance tires.

The Avon brand is a staple in the UK, not sure why it's not bigger here. http://www.avonmotorsport.com/

As a datapoint I looked at the price of Avon's DOT legal ACB10 (205/50/13) at http://rogerkrausracing.com/pages/pricing.html . $220

Regarding the 13" dilemma, RA1s are about all I've found. The selection is thin for anything smaller than a 15".

Here's RA1 plus another low performance tire.

Streetwiseguy wrote: 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...

^^^ This. Find your local Legends track and buy their takeoffs for cheap

I had a TR8 new in 1981. The tires I run on my tire trailer would outperform the tires it came with. If you want period correct performance, shop Harbor Freight

Coker Tire has some performance 13" tires. YMMV