Tire recommendation for 1997

[GregM]

As nice as the H spoke are the car just doesn’t look like a 97 with them and the purist in me wants the originals back in the car.
36851
Obviously I need new rubber as I won’t drive with original tires.
36852
Just cruising and not taking to track or anything.

Who has the best bang for the buck?

[Racngrn]

I am doing the same thing and had a wheel shop restore my original 17s which had the original vintage 98 Michelins wrapped around them. Completely useless though only 12k miles. Options for these 17s are very limited. I worked through Jon at Parts Rack to get a set of the modern version of the original Michelin Pilots. Better tire for certain and his price and quick ship is the best around. Like you, this is a cruising car, not a track car. I'm anxious to get them wrapped around the refreshed wheels. Yours look very nice - as does your car. Wish I had a BW in my garage. Good luck

[Viper87]

I was able to get my hands on some Toyo Proxes TQ P345/40R17 Tires for the rear (slightly larger) and stock size Toyo's for the front. I was able to get a full set of 17" wheel tires for under $900.

[GregM]

Under 900!! From who? That’s sounds dirt cheap as I thought the Michelin’s are closer to $1500 ?

[harley56]

Did you try Tire Rack? Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ; https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?tireIndex=0&autoMake=Dodge&autoYear=1996&autoModel=Viper+GTS&autoModClar=&frontWidth=275%2F&frontRatio=40&frontDiameter=17&frontSortCode=50750&rearWidth=335%2F&rearRatio=35&rearDiameter=17&rearSortCode=51400

[Viper87]

Under 900!! From who? That’s sounds dirt cheap as I thought the Michelin’s are closer to $1500 ?

I got both rear Toyo Proxes TQ 345/40/17 on EBAY for $446/free shipping and you can get the same for the front for $396 from Tiresdirect.net or go with street tires that will last longer on the front w/a 50k mile limited tread warranty (TOYO Proxes 4 Plus 275/40R17 $302)

I had done a lot of searching for tires/option for 17's and this is the best deal I've come up with. The Ebay listings are limited quality as these are back ordered. Mine came in with a new '18 DOT as well (I was worried in the back of mind on that)

I wasn't interested in spending 1,5XX on tires since I just purchased the Viper and wanted to start enjoy driving it. I've seen good reviews on the Proxes and it fills the rear fender gap better. I don't plan on driving in the rain ever and if they only last 5k miles or so I don't plan on putting 5k+ every 5 years maybe 4 so that works out great with the life span on the rubber/tread wear for my purposes. Also, the Proxes are essentially street legal slicks so more traction is always welcome.

[nismoflip]

Hi. Do you mind sharing a picture? I want to stay with the 5 spokes on mine as well.

[Viper87]

Here's a couple pictures I took previously
36855
36856
36857

[nismoflip]

Beautiful! Thank you, sir.

[99RT10]

I like the H spoke rims on the Gen 1/2s, but it is hard to beat the Toyo tire deal at 900

[Viper98912]

Original Michelin PS2's from Tire Rack

[Bill Pemberton]

Viper 98912 is spot on, that is the tire one should be getting , and both Jon B ( PartsRack ) or Luke Pavlik ( ext. 4362) at the TireRack, can help. I personally would not recommend running around on DOT Drag Racing tires, as an everyday donut on a Viper -- heck read Toyos own specific warning! Great note on this thread 98912, and now just join us a new Member , since Michigan has a great VOA Club.

[Viper98912]

Viper 98912 is spot on, that is the tire one should be getting , and both Jon B ( PartsRack ) or Luke Pavlik ( ext. 4362) at the TireRack, can help. I personally would not recommend running around on DOT Drag Racing tires, as an everyday donut on a Viper -- heck read Toyos own specific warning! Great note on this thread 98912, and now just join us a new Member , since Michigan has a great VOA Club.

I used to be a member back in 2012 before the split; the reason I stopped is because I honestly got no return for my money. Sure, the magazines were nice, but I really didn't have time to join the events that the club hosted nor was it really my thing. So those were some pretty expensive magazines.

I did wave to the club from my Viper when I went down the Woodward cruise last year.

[BK99GTS]

In my view the Gen 2 is a timeless design.....except for the wheels. They date the car and become a distraction similar to how a CRT computer monitor does in movies. Some movies are timeless and then you see the that old monitor on the desk in the background and before you know it, that's all you see. Not the biggest fan of the H spokes but wouldn't swap them out for the originals. My opinion save the $1000.

[GregM]

Part of what attracts me to the 96-97 GTS Coupe is it’s lineage shared with the original Shelby Cobra Coupes. It’s a historically significant vehicle that is 20+ years old. It doesn’t look dated with the original rims; it looks correct. JMHO. The H spokes are gorgeous but I want it to look like a 97 GTS Coupe...
36897

[Racngrn]

Cool cutaway drawing. I had not seen that before. I'm a fan of the original 17's as well, though my 8 spoke SRT rims in 18/19 aren't the worst. Love the BW Vipers.

[GregM]

Glad U like cutaway...This is way cool too. The original six back in the day...
36912

[Bill Pemberton]

Viper 98912,

This is the Largest Viper Organization in the World, but we are a small, passionate group, and the Michigan Region does a lot of fun things and times change since 2012. The one item I think you must ask yourself, since you are on this website asking questions, searching for answers , hoping for help now and in the future, is keeping this source alive, important? If folks , who own Vipers ( hence, they have a very vested interest ) do not want to join with their fellow owners to keep this information library alive, along with Sponsors and companies willing to assist a very small niche market, please ask yourself where will you and I be in years to come if we need a part, assistance or want a company still working to keep our cars in tip top shape. Not to mention a National Convention every two years, to hang out with other Viperholics to find out secrets to keep the beast running , improving it, or just hanging with friends met on this site? I honestly think you will find you get all your membership dues back just using this Forum, and not even including discounts at many places for members. Think about it, as the benefit is for you and all of us, and the basic membership is quite reasonable ---- and check out your local Region, plenty of change has occurred with many Regions in the last 6 years.

[Bill Pemberton]

Please , gentleman , call either Jon B or Luke as referenced above and get a proper set of matched tires. Driving a Viper with a set of Drag Radials in the rear and a set of completely different rubber ( different tread design and compound) in the front is not safe in my estimation. Take the time to go read the small book of warnings Toyo expresses with this tire. Big reason to check in with folks who have helped us over the years and whose reputation depends on assisting Viper owners now and in the future. Some of you are just getting your Vipers and with so many cars running ABS now, you could be extremely surprised in an emergency situation with extremely different compounds with braking , cornering ,etc. - with no ABS , lock up in the front is not uncommon with older Vipers.

Be safe and get a solid set of 4 donuts, now , while you have some high quality choices.

[Patentlaw]

Please , gentleman , call either Jon B or Luke as referenced above and get a proper set of matched tires. Driving a Viper with a set of Drag Radials in the rear and a set of completely different rubber ( different tread design and compound) in the front is not safe in my estimation. Take the time to go read the small book of warnings Toyo expresses with this tire. Big reason to check in with folks who have helped us over the years and whose reputation depends on assisting Viper owners now and in the future. Some of you are just getting your Vipers and with so many cars running ABS now, you could be extremely surprised in an emergency situation with extremely different compounds with braking , cornering ,etc. - with no ABS , lock up in the front is not uncommon with older Vipers.

Be safe and get a solid set of 4 donuts, now , while you have some high quality choices.

Listen to him please. Being in Vipers for way over a decade, I can tell you he is absolutely right. There are a huge number of threads where people smash their car within the first two months. Don' t let this happen to you.

And yes, they were all well meaning folks, careful, safe and, at the best, have a slightly smashed car and at worst, injured.

[Viper87]

I don't think the stock 17 wheels look terrible or severely date the Viper. I think it looks more correct and I don't see anyone saying how terrible a testorosa or countach looks with their wheels, they think they're an amazing design. I think the Viper is a timeless piece. That being said, I also like bigger wheels and probably will go that route at some point.

I've only seen good things about the Toyos and I've never felt like I was on the edge or not safe. My daily driver for 15 years which was at one point super charged with 3:73 gears and staggered sized tires didn't have ABS either. I know it wasn't a Viper but it had power and no nannies and larger tires in the rear than the front and I put 130XXX miles on it. I feel very comfortable with the tire set up I have.

[Fatboy 18]

Glad U like cutaway...This is way cool too. The original six back in the day...
36912

Awesome Pic, they got all original Six cars back together at Goodwood UK in 2015
36935

[GregM]

Love that picture! It’s amazing that #1 car has remained unrestored.

[GregM]

Tire Rack only shows the Michelin Pilots. I want a matched set of street tires from Toyo. Who sells them?

[Bill Pemberton]

Car came with Michelins , so that is a lot closer to the originals and great for all around driving. Not sure what you are talking about a matched set of tires from Tokyo, assume you mean Toyo? Toyo does not have the right tire in your sizes , as seriously doubt anyone with true tire knowledge will recommend a drag radial on all 4 tires. Call Jon B ( Parts Rack ) and see if he knows of other options, but the Michelins are likely your best bet?

[Fatboy 18]

The Toyo R888r are a circuit track tire and fast road tire. The tire compound is soft, so bottom line is they do not last as long as a set of Michelins.
The R888r is not a Drag racing tire.

The Michelins will handle better in Wet weather as due to the tread pattern they will cut through water better than the toyo in road conditions.

But remember, even with michelins, you don't want any with old date codes.

You are lucky in the USA as I am using the Earlier Toyo R888 here in the UK as Toyo is not stocking the newer R888r in our country. Its also very hard for us to get Michelins as they are produced in limited numbers.

[GregM]

Yes I meant Toyo. I’d like an all weather though I don’t plan on running in rain. I would go with a summer radial.

Stupid question: what size from factory? The Pilots are original sizes? Staggered 275/40 front and 345/35 rear?

Anything I put on the car is going to “time” out. Doubt I’ll do more than 1000 mikes annually. Hate to spend money on mileage warranty I’ll never use.

[Bill Pemberton]

Toyos do not have the right size in the R888rs, and frankly the only choice in a close size is a set of Drag Radials. That to me is not a common sense approach, as the sidewalls are softer and this is a tire with a ton of warnings due to it's specific usage. Not anti Toyos , as I ran them for years on one of my race cars, and have a set ordered for the one I have now. the Michelins are the right approach for your car, especially considering your desire to be close to original spec , but also for safety and drivability in varied weather conditions --- one can get caught in rain even though many try to avoid it. The Michelin is pretty darn good in the rain and everything else you seem to desire?

[GregM]

Toyos do not have the right size in the R888rs, and frankly the only choice in a close size is a set of Drag Radials. That to me is not a common sense approach, as the sidewalls are softer and this is a tire with a ton of warnings due to it's specific usage. Not anti Toyos , as I ran them for years on one of my race cars, and have a set ordered for the one I have now. the Michelins are the right approach for your car, especially considering your desire to be close to original spec , but also for safety and drivability in varied weather conditions --- one can get caught in rain even though many try to avoid it. The Michelin is pretty darn good in the rain and everything else you seem to desire?

Just kills me to spend that kind of money on tires that will time out.

[Bill Pemberton]

Well, you spent a lot of time and money to find your Viper, probably best to get a set of tires that will be good in most conditions , so you don't kill yourself using inappropriate rubber -- sorry , just my humble opinion. Over 20+ years of selling these beasts I have seen more folks have accidents over tire choices not appropriate for where they live , how they drive the car , etc.. Honestly most of us are just trying to give you solid advice for your classic machine, and cutting costs on the one thing that is helpful with this high performance machine just seems counter productive. Besides, you may find out you want to hang out with more and more fellow Viper owners and your miles could accumulate differently than you imagine?

[daveg]

Just kills me to spend.... .If you don't spend the money,,, it just may kill you.

[GregM]

Thanks to all for the sage advise...