'86 car needs tires and shocks: recommendations?

[sy308]

Further inspection of car reveals tires that are just too poor in my opinion to be reliable, although they WILL still pass inspection. Also the shocks are original and have some leakage.

What tires brands are most likely to be reasonable compromise for performance, cost and quality?

What shocks are recommended to provide best overall comfort and performance or be closest to OEM??

Thank you.

[MIK911]

Last year, i tackled this same project with my '86 Coupe. Here's what i ended up doing:

Tires: Bridgstone RE-730. Not the hottest/latest/greatest tire avail, but a good compromise between cost/performance. I like these tires alot. Cheap too (approx $100/ea). Mounted on Fuchs 7+8x16

Shocks: Bilstein HD. Best prices thru SHOX.com

Since i was doing the shocks and lowering to euro spec, i also upgraded to Turbo Tie Rods, and of course alignment and corner balance.

The car drives UNREAL, compared to before the work was done.

Good luck
MIK

[89Targa]

I did the same thing earlier this year and it made a dramatic difference.

Shocks: Bilstein HD (purchased from our host)

Tires: Bridgestone S-03

Good luck.

[Don Plumley]

Bilstein HD's are the most popular way to go and just a few dollars more than the stock Boge struts. I have this planned for the front end of my '87 in a month or so. Kumho's are popular tires as well - especially by the Autox crowd. If you are thinking resale, you might go with a Bridge, Yoko or Dunlop as Kumho's are not too well known outside of autox/track circles.

Turbo Tie rods are a very important update to make your steering feel more crisp. This will of course necessitate a front end align. While you are at it (the five most expensive words in car maintenance and home remodeling), you might want to repack the front bearings and check the condition of your soft brake lines. Since you'll be flushing anyway (right?), it's a much easier thing to do. Unless you plan to sell the car, in which case you probably want to do the very bare minimum.

Good Luck,

Don

[vesnyder]

I needed the same for the tires I went with Yokohama AVS Intermediates. $350 for the set as compared to more than $600 for the S-03's. Great tire as well.

[sy308]

This car is a Carrera with already the 22/29 torsion bars. Would it not make sense then to replace rear shocks with Bilstein SPORT and the fronts with HD or is it necessary to use SPORTS there too??

[chuckr]

The Bilstein Sports are the best way to go if you want to get a bit better shock that the HD.I have the Sports and the RE730's on my 83SC and really like the shocks and tires !
BTW.... I have the HD's on the front,no problems,handels great