Any interest in OE Michelin's for Gen 1 and 2 (17 & 18in)?

[Tom and Vipers]

Michelin Classic makes a couple sizes of MXX3 and Pilot Sports available through Coker Tire but not in Viper sizes. (Coker is licensed to produce Michelin Classic tires in the USA.)

I talked to Coker and they said Michelin never throws a mold away and theoretically could add Viper sizes to their availability list.

I realize lots of Viper owners are into tires and wheels and are continuously questing for the latest bling - the real question is how many want to maintain a Viper with the proper tires and wheels.

Even if they made the tires available, it is almost certain that only 275's would be available for the fronts.

I wonder what other cars used these Viper tire sizes? (what is the market for them?)

 

[FrankBarba]

Original OEM Tires for Gen i & II will be highly sought after when the AACA invites Viper to attend their meets, or
if you go to Chrysler Nationals. Could be the difference.....

 

[Tom and Vipers]

So do you lose points for dry rotted, but correct tires?

I still can't believe there are NO 17's made whatsoever in Viper sizes.

 

[MoparMap]

I think there would have to be some kind of demand for that very reason, no other options. My mom has gen 2 wheels on her 94, but is still disappointed with the lack of choice. She had a set of Kuhmos on the car when she bought it and switched to Michelins (because it was the only thing out there), but doesn't like them near as much as what was on it. I understand it's hard to make a business case to keep producing them regularly, but it's a shame that they just disappear like that.

 

[FrankBarba]

Tom & Vipers.....Yes you do loose points. Just like you'll loose points for not having the little green ground cap. I have 4 sets of OEM
tires that are not dry rotted. they might be hard as rocks but they will get you the win. You know that a lot of owners are car showers...
Not enough Vipers to make 17" Tires, unlike the Corvettes.

 

[Peter K.]

Please be aware that Michelin, like Pirelli, will make these tire every few years.
The Lamborghini Countach world has to wait 10-12 years before a batch is made.
So, when you see Michelin produce a run of tires, grab a set. It will be a few years before they are made again.

BTW, Coker is a ripoff. You are better off checking with Longstone Tyre in the UK. Most of the same tires but sometimes they have a deal or free shipping to the US.....especially if you call them.

 

[Tom and Vipers]

Speaking of squirreling away some vintage tires, I have a new set of Yokohama 175/70r12 A008's with the tape still on the tires. They are about 26 years old. (I purchased 2 set from an old local tire dealer, used one set and they gripped awesome.)


I have a Studebaker Super Lark 1963 with 40 year old Uniroyals on it and there is NO rot. Tires sound like wood when I do a burnout.

 

[AZMotorgod]

I would be as my first choice would be to keep my car as stock as practical ('96 GTS).

Not that some of the newer wheels aren't nice, it's just that I would just rather keep the stock ones. Can you make that happen now I am in desperate need of new tires!

 

[Tom and Vipers]

96, that has 17's right?

I haven't heard back from Michelin Classic yet where I asked them about the 17 and 18's - as said previously, they may make runs every 10-12 years.

But until then, your only option may be to scrounge used tires. A lot of the Viper wrecking yards typically will not sell tires, however, with the current state of affairs, maybe some will - especially if you could show up in person with cash and no receipt.

car-part.com actually has listings for tires.

You might have to resort to buying peoples wheels with mounted tires, just to get the tires.

If you drive conservatively, you can consider using tires that have some cracking. This is a personal decision and I confess I do it all the time - especially when the tire has new tread depth - but then I'm 63 and very conservative due to cops and road hazards like rocks, horses, and jack-knifed 5th wheels on blind corners.

 

[MoparMap]

How you store them can have a big effect on longevity and life too. I have a pair of M/T drag radials for my 67 Dart that I keep in my basement when they aren't on the car. They're a few years old now but still soft as gum. Granted if they're your only set of tires it gets a little harder to store them. But if you buy a fresh set on a new production run then you can keep them around for a while without them going bad.

 

[Tom and Vipers]

The 17in are available in Pilot Sport 2 in Europe:

 

[jwolf]

Looking on TireRack they do not list a single set of street tires for the 18" Vipers, only race tires.

 

[MoparMap]

Looking on TireRack they do not list a single set of street tires for the 18" Vipers, only race tires.

The irony there is sometimes the race tires are cheaper than the street tires, haha.

 

[KERS-VPR]

BF Goodrich Rival S. are street/track tires from Tire rack

 

[Magicboy2]

Looking on TireRack they do not list a single set of street tires for the 18" Vipers, only race tires.

Note that the Toyo Proxes R888 do meet DOT requirements, therefore they are a street legal tire. They just don't recommend them for other than warm sunny dry days.

 

[Luisv]

BF Goodrich Rival S. are street/track tires from Tire rack

+1 on the BFG Rival S. They just revamped the compound for the 2016 tire. They are available in the 335/30R18 tire. The 275 front is easier to find.

The BFG are street tires.

 

[AZTVR]

Looking on TireRack they do not list a single set of street tires for the 18" Vipers, only race tires.

BF Goodrich Rival S. are street/track tires from Tire rack

+1 on the BFG Rival S. They just revamped the compound for the 2016 tire. They are available in the 335/30R18 tire. The 275 front is easier to find. The BFG are street tires.

Interesting that the Tire Rack software doesn't list the BFG Rival S as options for the Gen 2 Viper 18" sizes. I just checked.
However, definitely their site shows the Rival S are in stock in 335/30ZR18 and 275/30ZR18 sizes

 

[Magicboy2]

Interesting that the Tire Rack software doesn't list the BFG Rival S as options for the Gen 2 Viper 18" sizes. I just checked.
However, definitely their site shows the Rival S are in stock in 335/30ZR18 and 275/30ZR18 sizes

*********. I just bought the Toyos because they were the closest thing to a street tire that TireRack listed for Gen 2 18" Vipers. Would have much rather had the BFG Rivals for the same money.