Probability of tires being discontinued?

[bretcopsey]

I was just thinking about the rear tires I plan to use-335/35/17-and the possibility that they may become unavailable in the future as the 345/18 did recently. I'm not too worried about the 275/40/17 for the front since that seems to be pretty popular. Might I be better off going with a 315 for this reason?

I would hate to set the chassis up and purchase wheels to run 335's only to not be able to find those tires. Sure, I can buy a set now and let them begin rotting while my project drags on, but then what about the next set I would need.

Anyone's thoughts?

[skeevay]

I just ordered a pair to sit in my garage and rot a while...I sure hope they are not discontinued any time soon!

[USAZR1]

I think what's keeping the 335's alive is the fact they were offered as Original Equipment on Vipers and a few other imported exotics.
IMO,Michelin screwed up offering the 345/18 in a 35 series aspect ratio.
That made the tire too tall at 27.4". Most of your large rear sportscar tires are in the 26" range. On my Callaway Aerobody ZR-1 with 285/35/18 fronts and 345/35/18 rears,the size discrepancy was just enough to confuse the car's ABS system & set a trouble code after five miles. When that happens,you no longer have anti-lock brakes. They should have offered the tire in a 345/30/18 sizing.

[MuscleRodz]

It is kinda my new concern on the 345/30/19's. I had planned on the 345/35/18's until they got discontinued which pushed me into the 19's. The idea is if I want to bolt on 28" slicks I don't have to change much else. It is also affecting my rear gear ratio choices as well. 4.10's with 27.5 inch tire, and 3.73's with 26" tire. At they were used on the Viper. If they get discontinued I guess I can go bigger still, 355's baby!

Mike

[Ralph LoGrasso]

I wouldn't worry too much about a tire being discontinued if it is OE. Both the 335/35/17s and 345/30/19s are original equipment on the Vipers. 335/17s were for the first 4 years I believe (or around there), then 335/30/18s and now the 345/30/19ss are '03+. I'm not sure those 345/35/18s were OE on anything?

[68Formula]

When the Vipers first came out they used 305/40R16. The only tire you could purchase to replace them was Michelin GTZs (the OEM tire).
Guess what? Discontinued!

Best bet is to pick an OEM size for a decently popular vehicle. If you run a search on Discount Tire or Tire Rack for the size you want, they'll list the number of tires for that size. If they only offer a couple brand/types I'd stay away.

[Motorhead]

Back in 1991 I worked for Michelin at the Greenville SC plant. I actually worked on the first production molds for the Viper tires. They were P275/40/17 on the front and P335/35/17 on the rear. At that time they were the widest molds we had made.


Motorhead

[68Formula]

Opps! Guess my memory failed me. I could have sworn that those tires I jammed on my '93 Camaro were the Viper size (yes it was a TIGHT fit!). Wonder what they were originally for?

Also, thought I recently came across an article that indicated the owners of first gen Vipers can no longer find the original size (along with items such as $8000 hoods etc.) Those sizes are still available, so maybe a different car?

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Opps! Guess my memory failed me. I could have sworn that those tires I jammed on my '93 Camaro were the Viper size (yes it was a TIGHT fit!). Wonder what they were originally for?

Also, thought I recently came across an article that indicated the owners of first gen Vipers can no longer find the original size (along with items such as $8000 hoods etc.) Those sizes are still available, so maybe a different car?


Maybe the concept car in '89 had the 305/40/16s?

[Motorhead]

http://www.fast-autos.net/dodge/viperconcept8.html This is the rear wheel and tire for the '89 Viper concept car. It's 335/35/17.

I think the 305's were made by Michelin for the Corvette. They were not O.E., but were designed to fit the 16X9 wheel option. If memory serves me, they pulled 1g on the skid pad on a stock Vette. We had a poster in the break area with a rear view of a C4 with them on it. I always thought they were too wide for the 16X9 wheel. They ballooned out too much for my taste.

Motorhead

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Motorhead, thanks for the confirmation. I was almost positive the viper never ran anything smaller than a 335 out back. Do you still work for Michelin? Any new bigger widths coming down the pike?

[Motorhead]

Ralph, no I left Michelin back in 2000. I went to work building Bimmers. Well, working on the robots that build the Bimmers anyway. My Dad still works for them, they always have discontinued tires for sell to the employees. If you want something bigger they just started building a single wheel tractor trailer tire. Ha Ha.

Back to the subject at hand. Michelin is always discontinuing tires. I would almost bet that all companies do this. Most of the time though, as long as a tire is profitable for a company they will continue making it. Most of the tires Michelin discontinues are the ones that are not selling, or have been replaced by something they think is better. As long as a tire is O.E. on some car or truck you should be able to find it somewhere. At least for a reasonable amount of time. Anyone remember the TRX Mustang suspension option in the early 80's? Have you tried to find any 390mm diameter tires lately?

Motorhead

[vintageracer]

Discontinued tires is why Corky Coker is so successful and wealthy from the collector car tire business. The faster they discontinue poplular sizes the happier Corky becomes!!!