'97 Tbird Sport - need tire advice

[T-birdy]

Hello,
My 1997 Tbird Sport needs a new set of 225/60R16 tires. I'm in a quandary as to what to buy. I have a '95 bird with Goodrich Premier Touring tires on it that is the nicest-riding car I've ever owned, but it's an LX with 15" wheels. The '97 rides noisy, hard and heavy with 16" Goodyear Eagles on it. I'm wondering if the BFG's would do the same for the '97 as they do for the '95.

I've been reading tire reviews for a couple days now and finding a number of products get great reviews re quiet, smooth, good traction, etc. But for all of them, there's always a few users who wind up with problems with balance, poor traction, cupping (whatever that means), or something that virtually make the tires useless after 10K - 30K of miles.

Makes me think I'm likely better off to put the 16" version of the same BFG's on my '97 that I like so much on my '95.

Any comments much appreciated....!

[DeltaP]

I've found the BF Goodrich tires to be some of the quietest tires I've run in a long time. I have them on most of my cars. Also the fact that I buy my tires at Sam's Wholesale Club and they give a pretty good deal on the Goodrichs. I'd go with them.
I kinda miss my '97 Bird. A complicated suspension but once you change every bushing in there and it dont squeak no more and get it aligned properly, it rides and handles very well.

[97Bird]

First you have to decide how much you can spend on the tires including an alignment. You may want to get the alignment done before you buy the tires in case you have to spend extra money on replacing worn out components! Most 1997 TBirds have a lot of miles on them by now so suspension parts will need to be replaced. Cupping, also known as scalloping is usually caused by worn suspension components which is why you should have the alignment checked before replacing the tires. For one thing, worn shocks can allow the tires to bounce which leads to the cups formed in the tire. Google tire cupping for more info.

[Tweety Bird]

I put COOPER CS4's on my '95 Bird. I also have had them on a mustang. I like them.

Quiet, run well, a bit expensive, I suppose BUT reliable tires.

Also, are on my son's Monte Carlo, and my other son's ZX2 Cool Escort.