Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Tire Questions

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • byersmtrco
    Super-Experienced
    • Sep 28 2004
    • 1839

    Tire Questions

    Ok, so I'm searching for some good ol whitewall tires. 1" to 1 1/2". What is the big deal? None of my tire sources are helping me here.
    I am going to go (back to) 14's. So I'm thinking 215-75 to 225-75's
    Pretty much standard issue I would think ??!!

    I'm going to do some more searching tonight, all I'm finding is the std 3/4"

    So I'm curious what you guys are running. I don't really feel like poppin 200 a pc for Cokers right now.

    On another note, I've thought about a painted wheel (white of course) with a trim ring and those 57 caps. That way (if) it does look like Vido's a$$ (and I really think it won't) I can always pit the stock 60 sunray dixie plate wheel covers on it and call it a day. I guess I could do that w/chrome wheels too . . .

    Your thoughts?
  • Penelope
    Super-Experienced
    • Mar 4 2008
    • 670

    #2
    Hi John, I have American Classic 215/70/16 wide white walls on 100 spoke LA Wires on Penelope and I think they look great!!

    Bill
    sigpicBill
    Thunderbird Registry 21903 & 33405

    Comment

    • JohnG
      John
      • Jul 28 2003
      • 2341

      #3
      hi John

      * I bought Diamondback radials for about $150@. They ride wonderfully (esp compared to bias!!). My only disappointment is the whitewall part itself. It has some uneveness to it and kind of looks glued on.

      * I have this idea of sandblasting the rims and painting them turquoise (as on the various TBird trim items such as the nose and trunk). I have a couple of sets of hubcaps and am not sure which would look best.

      john
      1958 Hardtop
      #8452 TBird Registry
      http://tbird.info/registry/DataSheet...r~equals~8452)

      photo: http://www.squarebirds.org/users/joh...d_June2009.jpg
      history:
      http://www.squarebirds.org/users/johng/OCC.htm

      Comment

      • Penelope
        Super-Experienced
        • Mar 4 2008
        • 670

        #4
        John, here is a link to what the American Classics look like. They ride nice too!
        sigpicBill
        Thunderbird Registry 21903 & 33405

        Comment

        • RustyNCa
          Super-Experienced
          • May 31 2007
          • 1370

          #5
          Originally posted by JohnG
          hi John

          * I bought Diamondback radials for about $150@. They ride wonderfully (esp compared to bias!!). My only disappointment is the whitewall part itself. It has some uneveness to it and kind of looks glued on.

          * I have this idea of sandblasting the rims and painting them turquoise (as on the various TBird trim items such as the nose and trunk). I have a couple of sets of hubcaps and am not sure which would look best.

          john
          Well, in a way it is glued on I suppose. They take a set of tires, shave the sides and bond the white wall to the tire(at least that is what I remember them saying)

          Here is what a set of Diamond backs 235x50x15 front, 245x50x15 rear, 2.5 whites looked like on my 58. We also had them spaced off the rims .25. They drive really nice and the set I got look very nice. But they ran me just under 200 a tire.




          Here is a link to more photos of them on the car.

          Store your photos and videos online with secure storage from Photobucket. Available on iOS, Android and desktop. Securely backup your memories and sign up today!

          Comment

          • Anders
            Super-Experienced
            • Jan 19 2008
            • 2213

            #6
            Originally posted by RustyNCa
            They take a set of tires, shave the sides and bond the white wall to the tire(at least that is what I remember them saying)
            Is that safe? In high speed?
            sigpic..."Lil darling Ruth":)
            http://www.tbirdregistry.com/#33158

            Comment

            • Dan Leavens
              Moderator / Administrator


              • Oct 4 2006
              • 6366

              #7
              John the debate on what brand of tire and width of whitewall has been debated on this site for many years.My two cents ( after trying several brands ) Coker's are expensive because they have the technology and the rideability that greatly improves our squarebirds. The tire is excellent the white walls solid (whatever size you decide ) and they clean up without too much effort on our part.My 58 has had them on for over a year and I am putting Cokers on the 60, in the spring

              Dano Calgary,Alberta Canada
              Dano Calgary,Alberta Canada
              Thunderbird Registry
              58HT #33317
              60 HT (Sold )

              Comment

              • JohnG
                John
                • Jul 28 2003
                • 2341

                #8
                I guess my disappointment in the Diamondback's whitewall is that it looks a little wrinkly in a couple places. The ones in the photo above look better than mine.

                Safe? They are still steel belted radials. Mine did work fine while briefly being tested at 105 mph a year ago

                john
                1958 Hardtop
                #8452 TBird Registry
                http://tbird.info/registry/DataSheet...r~equals~8452)

                photo: http://www.squarebirds.org/users/joh...d_June2009.jpg
                history:
                http://www.squarebirds.org/users/johng/OCC.htm

                Comment

                • byersmtrco
                  Super-Experienced
                  • Sep 28 2004
                  • 1839

                  #9
                  Thanks for all the info (replies & pictures) I "might" think about those Cokers. I found a "possible" wholesale source for about $165 per tire (poss shpg chgs though)

                  Then I look @ Rusty's 58, then I want to do something w/rim size. It just looks TOO cool. Truthfully better than those same wheels on the 65. I don't think 65's are a wide whitewall car.

                  Comment

                  • byersmtrco
                    Super-Experienced
                    • Sep 28 2004
                    • 1839

                    #10
                    A Buck-0-Five huh? Impressive!! Thanks for that safety test. I'm glad somebody else runs their's up past the C-Note once in awhile.

                    Comment

                    • dgs
                      Super-Experienced
                      • Feb 13 2003
                      • 962

                      #11
                      Back before I fell into the $$ for my wheels, I was in the same boat. My tires were undersized, worn out blackwalls. The only tires available were 3/4" or 1" WW. There was an off brand, Teck IV or something with an 'IV' in the name, that had a 1 1/2" WW, but they were slightly smaller. 205/75 I think. Don't know if they are still available, they were fairly obscure.

                      The problem is two fold:
                      1. Very few cars run white walls anymore. I can't think of a new car that comes with WW.
                      2. Folks who do want WW, don't want 'em very wide.
                      3. Nothing comes with 14". Heck, 16" wheels are small these days, most cars have 17" and up.


                      That means only us old car guys and the custom car guys are buying wide whites. Limited market, higher prices.

                      The bonded WW is the only way you're going to get wide whites. Bonded is not the right term, I think the term is Vulcanizing. It's a process specific to rubber and I think is very strong. Read the Wikipedia article to learn more about it.

                      If Coker or Diamond Back had to mold their own tires, I bet they'd be several times more expensive. They'd be out of business because very few would be able to afford their tires.
                      DGS (aka salguod)
                      1960 Convertible - Raven Black, Red leather
                      www.salguod.net

                      Comment

                      • bcomo
                        Super-Experienced
                        • Sep 23 2005
                        • 1223

                        #12
                        So, does the Coker radial have the same molded/vucanized WW?

                        I think that tbird430 just bought a set for his 60HT -- maybe he can comment also. I was thinking Coker Radials for the future.
                        Bart
                        1960 Hard Top/430
                        Thunderbird Registry Number 1231

                        Comment

                        • Dan Leavens
                          Moderator / Administrator


                          • Oct 4 2006
                          • 6366

                          #13
                          Bart before I purchased my Cokers and after discussing with Alexander, I went on their website to read up on the process of how they made the tires.They have been around for years and as mentioned, in an earlier post,I am very happy with them.I just pulled the invoice and a year and a half ago I paid about $1000.00 ( balanced and installed ) and put less than 4000 miles on them per year.

                          Dano Calgary, Alberta Canada
                          Dano Calgary,Alberta Canada
                          Thunderbird Registry
                          58HT #33317
                          60 HT (Sold )

                          Comment

                          • byersmtrco
                            Super-Experienced
                            • Sep 28 2004
                            • 1839

                            #14
                            Coker had their problems awhile back. Sidewall sepration and so on. Some friends of ours had (two) Cokers come apart on their 60 HT.

                            After a knock down drag out (lawyers involved & everything) Coker reluctantly agreed to replace the tires. NO reimbursment for shipping (OR) mounting & balancing. Or for the fender skirt that was literally torn off. This was thru one of the local TB suppliers. It was an UGLY deal.

                            These days, I believe the Cokers to be the previous model T/A Radial tire with the WW "vulcanized" (or whatever) on.
                            I'm sure it's a decent product these days. I'm not dumping a grand for tires right now. I need the purchase of new tires/rims and sale of my wire whls to be a wash.

                            Comment

                            • ncbird
                              Experienced
                              • Jan 5 2008
                              • 390

                              #15
                              nostalgia

                              Does anyone remember Portawalls? Had some on my Olds in the 60's when I made 90 cents an hour pumping gas. Did someone say the good Ole days?
                              Grant
                              NCbird on the Coast of NC
                              "Dads Bird" for my father

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              😀
                              🥰
                              🤢
                              😎
                              😡
                              👍
                              👎