Full review

This is a review of the BFGoodrich Radial T/A tire.

The BFGoodrich Radial T/A tire has been around for over 40 years. Though they continue updating the tire — they recently released a new model in 2020 — BFGoodrich celebrated this tire model’s 40th birthday in 2016, making it North America’s very first performance radial tire.

We performed comprehensive research on BFGoodrich’s tire to write this review. By analyzing the specifications, test performance, and customer reviews, we measured the quality of this tire.

Don’t have time to read everything? Here’s a quick summary of our review as well as pros & cons listed.

In this review, you will analyze the materials, build, performance, and durability of this tire to help you determine if it fits your needs.

Keep reading to learn more about the BFGoodrich Radial T/A tire.

BFGoodrich Radial T/A Overview

The BFGoodrich Radial T/A tire suits fans of old-fashioned cars. The appearance serves well on hot rods, muscle cars, classic vehicles, and custom automobiles. If you don’t live in a snowy area and drive gently on your tires, you can use them year-round. They are budget-friendly as well.

This tire employs a wide and low profile. Its raised white lettering lends its vintage appeal. Also, the black sidewall features the high modulus stabilizers that BFGoodrich is known for.

The tread block phasing and variable groove angle geometry add traction and reduce the noise levels. However, this tire lacks the traction and performance necessary for year-round use in snowy regions. Customers who live in areas with little ice or snow will benefit more from these tires, especially since they have excellent wet and dry traction and control.

Performance

The dry performance of the BFGoodrich Radial T/A tire is impressive. Even when the tread starts to wear, these tires excel on the road. Furthermore, they offer secure braking. Many users noticed a moderate understeer on dry roads.

For the most part, the BFGoodrich tires perform well in wet conditions. They have strong traction that helps with braking during a rainstorm, and they only spin if you open the throttle. Unless the tread wears significantly, these tires grip well on slippery roads. Overall, they suit a rainy climate well.

Since they have an all-season rating, we also researched their performance in snowy conditions. Their traction in snow depends on the weight of the car. For example, a lightweight car has little grip and needs weighted sandbags for traveling. Also, they struggle when it snows over three inches. If you wore the tread, you will probably need to get separate snow tires.

Before wearing the tread, they have a short braking distance. However, you will need to apply more than the recommended pressure to brake. In wet conditions, some users found trouble with quick braking. Regardless, most people praise their braking performance.

Handling

In dry and wet conditions, the handling is secure. Most people find the handling performance equal in either condition. The width of the tire improves this feature. Also, the grippers on the tire improve the traction and handling in wet conditions.

Furthermore, they respond well to steering. However, you will want to keep both hands on the tire in the rain just in case.

Also, they stay stable as you turn corners, even at high speeds. Depending on your car, they might not handle sharp turns well.

Noise and Comfort

The BFGoodrich Radial T/A typically has low road noise levels. They offer a smooth, quiet, and comfortable ride. The tread contributes to these features significantly. However, the poor treadwear means that they can become noisy if not maintained well.

Durability

Most of the complaints made against the BFGoodrich Radial T/A tire refer to the white lettering. This classic look is what many vintage car enthusiasts are after when selecting this tire over others.

Unfortunately, it seems the white letter does not stay white for long. Many users have complained that the lettering quickly turns brown and is impossible to clean once it has.

This tire features unique tread block phasing and variable groove angle geometry, intended to lend itself to the all-season, high-performance, and low noise claims BFGoodrich makes. While many praise this tire and how well it rides, there are still several complaints that the tire wears too quickly.

One of the biggest contributors to many of the negatives of these tires is the treadwear. While the tread can have a long lifespan when you drive gently, everyday use in extreme weather can cause it to wear quickly. Overall, the soft tread adds grip, but not durability.

Furthermore, BFGoodrich does not provide a tread life warranty. Once it wears, you will need new tires. You also do not get a road hazard warranty.

However, they do have uniformity warranties. During the first year or 2/32” of wear, you can submit a complaint about the uniformity. Also, material and workmanship defects get a 6-year warranty. You can get free replacements during the first year of use or 2/32” of wear.

The life of these tires depends primarily on how you use them. Slower, weekend driving in dry conditions will extend the life compared to using them regularly in wet or snowy weather.

Price

Many customers have praised the tire for its great value. The actual price varies by provider and tire size, with BFGoodrich Radial T/As going for anywhere from the low $100s to over $200. Overall, they are affordable tires for all sorts of cars, especially if you want the classic vintage look.

Recommendations

According to user reviews on Tirerack.com, the BFGoodrich Radial T/A has earned 3.885/5 stars. Though the overall ratings are not spectacular, these tires have an excellent value. Users love them for the performance, appearance, and price.

The BFGoodrich Radial T/A is a popular tire among vintage car enthusiasts thanks to its classic look and available sizes. Though designed with muscle cars in mind, this tire also suits modern vehicles. It is also available for low prices, making this a popular tire choice for many.

If you are looking for a high-performance tire, you might want to look elsewhere. For all-weather tires with better performance, consider these options:

• Goodyear Eagle Enforcer All-Weather (pricier)
• Kumho Solus HA31 (cheaper)
• Nokian WR C3 (similar pricing)

However, the alternative tires do not have the retro appeal of the BFGoodrich ones. If you are into aesthetics over performance, you cannot go wrong with these tires.

Conclusions

While the overall reviews appear to be mediocre to good, this tire is still a great buy. Customers can expect a great value and warranty. They are attractive and perform well in wet and dry weather. If you live in a non-snowy region and like vintage cars, you should consider these tires.

According to many, these all-season tires may not truly live up to their all-season claim, but the performance, pricing, and availability are hard to beat. This is particularly true for vintage car enthusiasts or owners of older model vehicles.

As previously mentioned, you might want to try the Goodyear Eagle Enforcer All Weather, Kumho Solus HA31, or Nokian WR C3 tires for better performance.

References

BFGoodrich Radial T/A Tire Reviews | Mavis Discount Tire (mavistire.com)

TireRack.com Tire Reviews

BFGoodrich Radial T/A | P225/70R15 (tirerack.com)