Reply to "Racing Tires for Panteras"

Hi Dave:

Not too long ago – for purely aesthetic reasons – I seriously considered flaring my Pantera racecar to give it the Group 4 look.

After checking around on the Internet and not finding any tire sources I got in touch with Dick Lasselle, the owner of that famous factory Group 4 racer that he vintage races on the east coast. Dick said the only tires available to him were Goodyear or Avon vintage CanAm slicks that had been hand-grooved and cost about $1,600/set. That was the end of my car-flaring idea and, far as I’ve found, the only current option for Whiplash if you want to continue on the stock wheels.

Here are the tires I use for my stock body racecar:

VINTAGE RACING (treaded tires)
Hoosier R3S04 DOT radial racing tires (believe me, these are worthless on the street)
Front: P225/50ZR15
Rear: P275/50ZR15 (puny but the largest 15s they make)
Cost about $1,000.00/set

OPEN TRACK/CLUB RACING (slicks):
Front: 23x9x15 Goodyear Eagle G-19 Sports Car Special 807-409-104 (1873 compound)
Rear: 26.5x10x15 Goodyear Eagle G-19 Asphalt Special 813-249-058 (2372 compound)
Cost about $600.00/set

Note that these will only work on cars without larger aftermarket brakes.

For Hoosiers of all sizes I’d suggest you consult with Vance at the Tire Rack at (888) 541-1777 Ext. 314.

Mad Dawg Antenucci says he likes Goodyear GS-CS racing radials that come in 16/17 sizes in Panteras' widths.

For Goodyear slicks talk to Vaclav at Carroll Shelby Enterprises for Goodyear racing tires at (310) 538-1815.

For hand-grooved tires call Roger Kraus Racing if you don’t want to follow Goran Malmberg’s DIY instructions in the (I think) Winter ’04 issue of the PI Magazine. Kraus can also sell you Goodyear or Avon tires but I'm told that Avons are only sporadically available here.

Matt Merritt
#2171

PS: THANKS FOR OUR NEW RACING FORUM!