Opel GT Winter Tires

[Sparky73]

There has been a lot of things going through my mind lately. I recently picked up another Opel GT (1970) that I got free of charge. My first plan was to part it out, and use the money to fix up my 71'. Well.. after picking it up, I realized with a near rust free body and rockers/floor boards that are like 98% rust free, it was WAY to good to part out. My new plan is to restore BOTH cars

Anyways.. my 1971 I purchased for $2500, with 2 other parts cars. It ran, drove, everything.. just had been sitting for a few years. After about 3 months of having it, and driving it on occasion, I had a soft plug go.. so I ordered new plugs and head gasket set (since there was coolant in the oil.. and I figured I might as well replace anyways). Well now I may and hopefully be getting a new job, full time, with benefits and a lot better pay. The only problem is it's about a 45 minute drive, and with a few calculations, it would be costing me around 80-$100 to drive to and from work everyday in my truck.

ANYWAYS, I am thinking of fixing the motor, replacing brakes, putting on new tires, and just rebuilding the Solex carb.. and using that to drive to my new job.. if I get it. My only worry now is the fact that I live in Michigan. During the December-March months, the roads aren't great. How DO the GT's handle on the wet snowy roads? Don't get me wrong, if we get a huge storm.. I would definatley use my truck. But for mild days and such.. I would use the GT for the gas mileage.

Hopefully the few fixes needing to be done, shouldn't take more than a couple weeks. I am usually pretty busy, so I can't work on it for more than a few hours a day.. if that.

Any comments or suggestions appreciated

[Paul]

With an open differential and a rear wheel drive traction in snow is not that good. I recommend you buy a set of "Winter" tires from Tire Rack... they really DO make a difference. No use ruining a perfectly good GT trying to return home from work on a day you didn't take the truck and it snowed unexpectedly.

Since you should have an extra set of wheels, you can just keep thme around for the winter months and not burn them up in the summer time...

[Sparky73]

Originally Posted by Paul With an open differential and a rear wheel drive traction in snow is not that good. I recommend you buy a set of "Winter" tires from Tire Rack... they really DO make a difference. No use ruining a perfectly good GT trying to return home from work on a day you didn't take the truck and it snowed unexpectedly. Since you should have an extra set of wheels, you can just keep thme around for the winter months and not burn them up in the summer time...

I planned on doing a winter tire. Either something that is made for snow/ice -- or just a larger tread or something. My only problem is that I have yet to find some place that sells tires for my car. My rims are not stock, and are I believe are 13x7. I know they have 205's on them right now. The tires are fine and hold air, but due to sitting.. have a few little cracks in them. Straight up.. I don't really trust them LOL.

[mschmalenberg]

Jon
You will be better off replacing the Solex with a Weber, you will also want to protect the car from salt as best you can, washing and drying often. I may have a extra Weber carb. out in the garage I will look tomorrow.

Mike

[coolchrisp]

Copper Cobras come in a 205/60/13. that is what i had on my GT when i drove it in the winter. they worked awsome.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Sparky73 My rims are not stock, and are I believe are 13x7. I know they have 205's on them right now.

Dude, wider is NOT better for winter driving... I know with ALL the GTs you've owned... you can't tell me you don't have a "Spare" set of wheels that you can use to mount a set of REAL winter tires and I'm not talking about an "All Season" tire or a "+4"... Look at The Tire Rack - Your performance experts for tires and wheels. They have a set of Bridgestone Bilizzak WS-50, in 185/70-13, that will make you a beliver in dedicated winter tires....

[PROPEL]

Even with only one season of salt/winter driving, you WILL notice the effects on your GT. The salt gets into places you just can't rinse out easily. But if you must drive your GT in winter, at least, leave your car outside most of the time. The rusting process occurs whenever the car starts to thaw out (like in a garage).

I had no problem driving GTs in snow (back when I used to do it). You just have to get used to the iced/fogged windows and the sound of snow scraping the undercarriage. Btw, Mantas handle WAY better in the snow. Narrow tires are better. Blizzaks rule.

You could also move to California. It is kind of nice to drive your cars year-round and not have to worry about rust. Cute girls, too.

[opelnut_1]

I drove my first 73gt year round, an like has been said good SNOW tires are a must. I also added 2 sand bags in the back when it got really bad. only once did I build up enough snow an ice on the underside it actually lifted the front wheels up and had a loss of steering, the back was still pushin. scarry

[Sparky73]

Thanks for all the quick replies guys!!

I realize salt causes rust, and I've got a code to our local car wash place.. so I usually get a weekly wash anyways. "Touchless Wash" which also does the underside too.

I will look up them tires, what's an average price for them?

Also.. like I said. I won't be driving it everyday. If the snow is bad enough, I'll suck up the gas cost and drive that. This will basically be for non-snowy - light snowy days. We havn't been getting a whole lot of snow lately anyways.. at least for Michigan!

[RallyBob]

Like everyone else said, skinnier is better for snow. I prefer 165/80-13's on 5" wheels. They cut through anything.

My preference for 'real' snow are something along the lines of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta Q (studless) or the Hakkapeliitta 2 (studable). On glare ice a wide 'ice' tire is better but since we seldom drive on hockey rinks, narrow tires are the better choice for snow and slush.

Blizzaks tend to perform as good or better on ice than the Nokians, but not as good in deep snow.

I did 7 winters with my Ascona on 165/80-13 Hakka 10's (old style), and never got stuck. In fact a yearly tradition for me was to take my car out on the morning of the first snow storm (after everyone else has gone to work) and hit 110 mph on fresh snow. After that, 60 mph feels like walking...

Bob

[coolchrisp]

Originally Posted by RallyBob ...In fact a yearly tradition for me was to take my car out on the morning of the first snow storm (after everyone else has gone to work) and hit 110 mph on fresh snow. After that, 60 mph feels like walking... Bob

Sounds like fun...

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by coolchrisp Sounds like fun...

It is!
http://www.mathermotorsports.com/pix...e/03-02-07.jpg

[opelnut_1]

SWEET!!!!!! Although body roll looks bad!!!

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by opelnut_1 SWEET!!!!!! Although body roll looks bad!!!

That's with 380 lbs springs and Bilsteins too (stock springs are 135 lbs). Basically, if you have grip, you'll have body roll. And with those studded tires on there, I had more grip than I had power!

[Dale .D]

Originally Posted by Sparky73 There has been a lot of things going through my mind lately. I recently picked up another Opel GT (1970) that I got free of charge. My first plan was to part it out, and use the money to fix up my 71'. Well.. after picking it up, I realized with a near rust free body and rockers/floor boards that are like 98% rust free, it was WAY to good to part out. My new plan is to restore BOTH cars Anyways.. my 1971 I purchased for $2500, with 2 other parts cars. It ran, drove, everything.. just had been sitting for a few years. After about 3 months of having it, and driving it on occasion, I had a soft plug go.. so I ordered new plugs and head gasket set (since there was coolant in the oil.. and I figured I might as well replace anyways). Well now I may and hopefully be getting a new job, full time, with benefits and a lot better pay. The only problem is it's about a 45 minute drive, and with a few calculations, it would be costing me around 80-$100 to drive to and from work everyday in my truck. ANYWAYS, I am thinking of fixing the motor, replacing brakes, putting on new tires, and just rebuilding the Solex carb.. and using that to drive to my new job.. if I get it. My only worry now is the fact that I live in Michigan. During the December-March months, the roads aren't great. How DO the GT's handle on the wet snowy roads? Don't get me wrong, if we get a huge storm.. I would definatley use my truck. But for mild days and such.. I would use the GT for the gas mileage. Hopefully the few fixes needing to be done, shouldn't take more than a couple weeks. I am usually pretty busy, so I can't work on it for more than a few hours a day.. if that. Any comments or suggestions appreciated

Why work if it costs you 100 $ a day to comute.must be per week . .Drive the opel ,at least you'll get 35 mls per gallon.

[opelbits]

Drive it only on clear days. Bite the bullet and drive the truck when it rains or snows at all. The reason I say this is that it's not how the GT handles, it's the other morons who cannot handle their own car.
A light snow is like a light rain, it can be worse than a heavy one. It's not much, so no one really slows down.
Plus, when the weather is bad, everyone drives their 'SUV' (Stupid Utility Vehicle). But they aren't any better or more attentive than before, so you get to catch a bumper at eye level.

[Sparky73]

Originally Posted by Dale .D Why work if it costs you 100 $ a day to comute.must be per week . .Drive the opel ,at least you'll get 35 mls per gallon.

Okay.. my bad. I did mean weekly. When I went out for the interview it cost me about 15$ in gas for the round trip. Weekly would be $75 to $100.. depending on if I work 5 or 6 days that week. Still, spending around $400 a month on just gas is rediculos in my opinion. That's why the thought of the Opel was even brought up

The job I got now (I'm only 19) pays between 130-200 a week, depending on if I work 3..4..5.. days. After bills and gas already I am only pocketing like 20-40 a week, if I'm lucky. This new job would offer full benefits, which I have none as of right now, full time, and $10 an hour starting pay. To me.. that's good lol.

[Sparky73]

Originally Posted by opelbits Drive it only on clear days. Bite the bullet and drive the truck when it rains or snows at all. The reason I say this is that it's not how the GT handles, it's the other morons who cannot handle their own car. A light snow is like a light rain, it can be worse than a heavy one. It's not much, so no one really slows down. Plus, when the weather is bad, everyone drives their 'SUV' (Stupid Utility Vehicle). But they aren't any better or more attentive than before, so you get to catch a bumper at eye level.

I definitely agree with all of this! I would be taking any precaution needed.. and It's not that I even want to drive my beloved Opel in these months. But with gas prices, and location, I need to do something.

Who know's, if I like the job enough and plan on staying a while, maybe I will consider moving out of the parents house . It's not the first time I have thought of that anyway!!

[Sparky73]

Found these tires as some options for a 205/60/13. Not sure if they are ALL available.. but found most on eBay.

Sumitomo HTR 200 (High Performance Summer)

Cooper Cobra G/T (All Season)

Toyo Proxes RA1 (Road/Race)

Kuhmo V700 (Road/Race)

BF Goodrich Radial T/A (Sport/Touring)

Dunlop GT Radial Qualifiers (Touring)

Just basically a list incase anyone else is looking for this size and comes across this thread.

[BQS4]

Mickey Thompson tires lists these 13" sizes:


13 INCH RIMS Section Width (inches) Overall Diameter (inches)
175/70R13 6.9 22.8
185/60R13 7.3 21.8
185/70R13 7.3 23.5
205/60R13 8.1 22.7
215/50R13 8.5 21.3
P175/70R13 6.9 22.6
P185/70R13 7.3 23.2
P195/60R13 7.7 22.1
P195/70R13 7.7 23.7
P205/60R13 8.1 22.6
P205/70R13 8.1 24.2
P215/60R13 8.5 23.1
P235/50R13 9.3 22.1

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by BQS4 Mickey Thompson tires lists these 13" sizes:

Gene, that must be a fitment guide only, because the only street tires Mickey Thompson has in 13" are the 215/50-13, 235/50-13, and 245/50-13 Sportsman 'I' block tread.

Bob

[BQS4]

Well, looks like their site needs updating, I just cut/pasted from their site

[BQS4]

Also, unles some small chain tire stores have a stash or two, BFG doesn't list any 13" 60 series T/As. I loved the T/As and wish I could still get them in 13"

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by BQS4 Well, looks like their site needs updating, I just cut/pasted from their site

I just checked out their 2007 catalog on their site.

[Sparky73]

I can't find any local stores that sells the Cooper Cobra's. I just called 4 places, and none even carry that size. One place said they could check on doing a special order, but there may be a fee.. depending on 'availability'. Anyone know the cheapest online store? I hate the fact that you spend the money on the tires, than have to pay another 80 bucks for shipping..