When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Wheels and TiresNeed help with wheels or tires? Got fitment issues? Have questions about tire performance and handling? Ask all of those questions here!
Re: What tires match original gatorback the closest?
Choices for 245/50R16 tires are getting pretty slim. A lot of people didn't like the performance characteristics of the Gatorbacks, however they did have a good look to them (wide tread section, squared off shoulder, unique tread pattern). Goodyear doesn't make a tire in that size anymore and of the few tires left, none of them really have the same look. The BFGoodrich Sport Comp 2 is probably the highest performance tire available in that size, and certainly is a better performance tire than the Gatorback ever was, but just doesn't look the same (looks narrower on the rim).
Re: What tires match original gatorback the closest?
I also love the look of the original Gatorbacks. And, like the above post mentions, there aren't many options available anymore in the 245/50/16 size. As for what "looks" the best for what is available, I can give you my opinion.
My current 88 IROC vert has BF Goodrich G Force Sport Comp 2's.
My last 90 IROC-Z had General G-max RS tires
I am selling an 86 IROC-Z right now with BF Goodrich G Force Comp 2 A/S tires
Of these, I actually preferred the General G-max RS. They have a great look all around. They also ride awesome, and are really sticky.
Re: What tires match original gatorback the closest?
Every name brand and off-brand has offered a tire with a directional tread pattern at one time or another. A few slightly resembled the Gatorback, but most did not.
The closest in appearance currently on the market is from Federal, the FZ-101W. I've contacted Federal, but I didn't get a reply, or it might've landed in the junk folder. Regardless, it appears to be only available globally, but not in the US, and its only 3rdgen-appropriate size is for an 18" wheel, so that one's out.
Another similar in appearance is currently from Goodyear, the Eagle F1 GS EMT, and its only 3rdgen-appropriate size is 245/45ZR17, which will fit the new 17x9 reproduction wheels. It carries a Goodyear price, though, which is similar to what a reproduction Gatorback would probably cost, if that ever sees reproduction, so it's really expensive.
To see what's currently available in 245/50ZR16, directional and asymmetrical, the best place to search is ebay. Type 245 50 16 tires into the search engine, and you'll find about a dozen name brands(some with multiple offerings in that size) and several off-brands(most of which are probably affiliated with name brands). And to find even more, do a web search for that size. So there are still a lot of tires available in that size, just that most of them don't resemble a Gatorback. Goodrich, Kumho, Falken, General, Cooper, Toyo, Nitto, Federal, Riken, Hankook, Sumitomo, etc.
For street use, the off-brands are likely to perform as well as the name brands, and they'll cost far less.
Last edited by LAFireboyd; 08-30-2020 at 08:14 PM.
Re: What tires match original gatorback the closest?
I'd edited my above post to add this, but I'll just make another post for it here.
Here's an off-brand, Nankang 245/50VR16, that I got from Big-O back in the mid-2000s, very affordable, and it was very good on the street, probably the best I'd had on the car since the Gatorbacks. During the 90s I had a set of Parnelli Jones tires that looked just like this, but weren't as good, and a set of Goodrich Comp TAs that also looked like this, but also weren't as good. Nankang is a better-known import brand today, but I don't think this tire has been available for many years now, so if anyone were to find some, they'd be well-aged.