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Anyone else have sidewall bulging issues with Cooper Cobra tires?

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Anyone else have sidewall bulging issues with Cooper Cobra tires?

Posted: 1/29/23 7:51pmMessage 1 of 11
B
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I have Cooper Cobras installed on my 75 with less than 1K miles on them. They were installed by a " Corvette specialty dealer" outside of Philadelphia where I purchased the car, supposedly installed new. Well here we are 2 yrs later and I just have had my 2nd tire fail because of sidewall delamination and bulging. Cooper will not do anything about it because I'm not the purchaser. The dealer I bought the car from is not forthcoming with any info. Long story short I'm bailing out of these junk tires for BFG RADIAL TAs P22570R15s. Interestingly enough, the Cooper tire company has issued several recalls for other tire lines they produce for the same reason, however the Cobra GT line has no recall so they are unwilling and uninterested in doing anything about it. Total lack of concern OR customer service. Out of frustration, I filed a safety report with the National Highway transportation safety administration. Hopefully I can prevent a tragedy someday. Just curious if anyone else has ever seen this issue.....

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Re: Anyone else have sidewall bulging issues with Cooper Cobra tires?

Posted: 1/29/23 8:11pmMessage 2 of 11
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Grapevine, TX - USA
Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1563
Vette(s): 1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air. 2017 Black Rose Grand Sport M7 convertible.

Anecdotal. I'm on my second set of Cooper Cobras and have had zero problems.  I think it is a better tire than the BFG.

   

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Re: Anyone else have sidewall bulging issues with Cooper Cobra tires?

Posted: 1/29/23 8:38pmMessage 3 of 11
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I'm seriously glad to hear that you have had zero issues. 

These tires haven't been abused or mis- inflated in any way, and I think 2 failures within 6 months isn't very anecdotal. I for one, am finished with them. 

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Re: Anyone else have sidewall bulging issues with Cooper Cobra tires?

Posted: 1/30/23 7:28amMessage 4 of 11
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Equinunk, PA - USA
Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2590
Vette(s): 1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.

In regard to the T/A's. I have two full sets on two cars. I have had "0" problems with them. Friends Also have Cobras and to my knowledge have had no discrepancies. .02. 

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Re: Anyone else have sidewall bulging issues with Cooper Cobra tires?

Posted: 1/30/23 9:16amMessage 5 of 11
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Well, glad to know that Y@ll haven't had any issues with these tires! I guess I got the batch made on a Monday or Friday! 

 

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Re: Anyone else have sidewall bulging issues with Cooper Cobra tires?

Posted: 2/8/23 11:49amMessage 6 of 11
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San Diego, CA - USA
Joined: 11/10/2013
Posts: 63
Vette(s): '73 L48 Coupe, 383, M20, A/C, Electric Windows. Matterhorn White Jet-Glo w/ Dark Blue interior. Rochester, Edelbrock, Blackjack Ceramics, Borlas w/ 2.5" mandrel X over, Cooper Cobras on both OEM Steel and Aluminum Wheels.

Not yet B6.

I have them on 2 different sets of rims and pretty happy with 'em.

So far.   😄 

Steve 

 

 

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Re: Anyone else have sidewall bulging issues with Cooper Cobra tires?

Posted: 11/3/25 3:39amMessage 7 of 11
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Yes,
and i just spent over an hour writing a reply all about it but some how this site lost it !!
I could throw my tablet through a window right now, but its VRs fault soo
🤬
In short :
Cobras have had sidewall issues: splitting and bulging, and Cooper knows about it and has warrenteed for it.
These tires are dangerous on wet roads, and the rare few of us that actually care, the Cobra line got outsourced to Mexico (not as bad as others) about 5 years ago; when the white letter font changed.
Ive been running these tires for decades, and i can tell you from having a beautiful car wreck because of these tires, and the current bulge on one of my 275s, the quality is poor.
Shame on GoodYear; owner of Cooper.
There are no quality, US made, 15s anymore.
Nitto make a good tire, buy theyre race tread.
BFG are not US, poor specs and over priced.
I suspect foul play, i know, im crazy BUT youd think some tire company (im talking about you GoodYear) would make a tire for us that has state of the art compound, more than adequate specs, and RWL so we can give them free advertising on our hard earned pride and joys.
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Re: Anyone else have sidewall bulging issues with Cooper Cobra tires?

Posted: 11/3/25 8:13amMessage 8 of 11
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Burke, VT - USA
Joined: 1/23/2002
Posts: 7665
Vette(s):
SOLD - "The Toy" - '70 Convertible
SOLD - "The Beast" - '90 ZR-1 (#682)
SOLD - "Betty" - '28 Ford Model A Tudor
SOLD - "BLKBRRD" - '78 Pontiac Trans Am
"BLUBYU" - '04 Coupe

@B6flyer - hope you have found a good set of skins for your ride. Don't need the worry of having issues with them keeping you from enjoying it on the road. My daily driver (2013 F150) came with Cooper tires on it when I bought it a few years ago (I'm pretty sure they're not Cobras tho'). Other than having them poked a few times by road debris no other issues. I ran BFG T/As on "The Toy" and "BLKBRRD" with no issues. Neither car was a serious road tripper or "track car", mostly just used for casual cruising.



|UPDATED|11/3/2025 8:13:34 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

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Re: Anyone else have sidewall bulging issues with Cooper Cobra tires?

Posted: 11/3/25 8:01amMessage 9 of 11
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Loir en Vallee SARTHE, France
Joined: 8/21/2002
Posts: 160
Vette(s): 1978 L48 Auto. Red with Oyster Leather interior. Owned since 1990.
This is an interesting thread.

I have no experience with Cooper Cobra tyres - I just could never bring myself to put tyres on a Corvette that carried the name Cobra!

But I've run BFGs on our '78 for 35 years, with no issues. Their performance has been excellent, but I know that they do become harder after some years which certainly affects their wet weather performance (I found that out on a "metal" car back in the early 70s!😱) I have never had any of the issues with the white letters turning brown - I'm afraid I think that whole complaint is tosh and down to people being too damn lazy to clean the tyres and wheels after each run out in the car!😡 And, I run them at a different pressure to what most would recommend - I won't get into that, but suffice to say, no abnormal wear and no problems in the 35 years.😀

BFGs pricy? Not really here in Europe. US made? Not an issue of course for me, they are owned by a French company!😄
Stephen J Irons
Corvette Club France
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Red Corvettes Have More Fun!
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Re: Anyone else have sidewall bulging issues with Cooper Cobra tires?

Posted: 11/3/25 1:59pmMessage 10 of 11
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Lawrenceville, GA - USA
Joined: 10/21/2013
Posts: 37
Vette(s): 1978 Silver Anniversary. Restored in 2012. All new 'complete' suspension f & r, engine, trans, exhaust, interior. Car is driven - garage kept but not a trailer queen.
Once Goodyear discontinues the RWL ST, they had no RWL tires. I prefer that to just blackwalls. Consequently, I have run Radial T/A's on both my '78 Corvette and my '85 Monte Carlo SS for decades with zero issues. Have not experiences any "rain" issues with them but unless I get caught in a non-forecasted shower, I never intentionally drive either one in the rain. I run 34 psi in both sets and I get excellent wear out of them. But then I don't put a lot of miles on either one each year. The occasional jaunt to the North Georgia mountains and a weekend Sunday cruise once in awhile.
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