Cooper Cobra Radial GT's Any better than BFG Radial T/A?
255/60/15
27.1" tall - sporty & better than current size, closer to the 28" rears to fill bigger front wheel wells better
1,885lb load rating - best I've seen in this size
235/70-15
28" tall same as rears, fills ft wheel wells better
1,896lb load rating - not much more than 255/60
440AB tread rating, a bit softer than "highway/touring" tires, should be a better gripper
*the classic look! Get this in the taller / higher load rating 235/70-15 & swap it to the 15x8 5 5 lugs when I convert? or run slightly less load rating in 255/60-15 now & / or later on the 15x8 5 lug swap? (better fit on 8" than 235/70)
$100/ea
Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/T Radials
255/60-15
1,885lb load rating
$130
*I would've guesed this to be best gripper of the bunch, but had to look it up on a US DOT pdf to even find the treadwear rating, 440AB, same as Cooper Cobra. You know, these look identical to the Cooper Cobra aside from the very outside treads being in the shape of an "M" for Mickey! Same tread wear rating and same load rating!
Also very high load rating for this size.
*not available in the truck oriented 235/70-15
BFGoodrich Radial T/A
255/60R15
1,885lb load rating
400AB treadwear/wet traction (softer than Cooper Cobra & it's sibling the Mickey Thompson Sportsman, more $ 150/ea)
235/70R15
1,896lb load rating
$130/ea)
(Really between these 2 sizes it comes down to wider grip vs easier steering+filling up fenderwell aesthetically better without lowering suspension slightly)
Maxxis Marauder MA-S1 235/70-15
At 1,926lbs, highest load rating in this size
Reviews say semi-noisy to really noisy for an all season tire.
360AB treadwear/wet traction rating - 30,000mi treadlife, big plus, I want most road grip possible not longevity. All season very grippy looking street tread. one review said it squirms a little in turns.
$100 ea
255/60-15 is rated at 1,874lbs
In searching for a tire in that size with an XL rating, the only things I could find where a Hankook Tire and this other Maxxis Tire:
MAXXIS HT-770 BRAVO SERIES 235/70R15-XL
1,929lbs Load Rating
Increased casing stiffness XL rated truck tire
640AB treadwear/wet braking rating (high mileage tire)
$104/ea
* perhaps it would be a bad idea to mix and match a stiffer claimed truck tire like this on the front with a high load rating 60 series wide width muscle car tire in the rear? This seems like it would be an awesome daily driver tire for 3/4 ton trucks that get worked, running 15x7 all around
https://youtu.be/0k0xMklkvlE
I did note however that this tire has basically the same weight load rating as the others that I was considering. It does specifically advertises stiffer casing. It will fit my 15x8 rims, but ideally a 15x7 would be best. I'll give this some careful consideration, but I wonder if the 1/2" shorter sidewall 255/60R15 would corner just as good as this thicker casing taller profile tire? Or is it just as thick as the other ones with a similar load rating?