Okay, most of you know I'm already retired...and tired. But what if we had a 1955 Chevy 2-door station wagon sort of a custom/mini van fun vehicle with 215/65/R 15 tires on Crager wheels. Those tires are new looking but over 10 years old. Maybe older. Who keeps track? One rear tire has had a slow leak for some time but stayed aired up when used regularly. Which hasn't happened lately. Said tire looked fine when wagon went to filling station to get gas today. Yep, finally got new fuel lines and new Holley carb on. Runs great.:banana: Back to the tire thing. The leaky tire developed a bulge in the center of the tread the size of a Florida orange. Made it around 6-8 miles back home thumping but not loosing air or tread. Don't think it will make any long trips though. That size tire looks nice with the lowered front and rear. Can't go any larger, especiallly on the rear. Don't want to spend a lot. Yet want white lettered tires again at a decent price and decent ride quality. Trips have been around 150 miles one way. Most locally, 10 to 50 one way. That's why the old tires were fine. But been thinkin about 1000 mile trip to central Illinois. This usually involves 1000 miles joy riding in the month we are there then 1000 home. Okay tire guys and gals, what do you recommend that won't break the bank? This is how it looked before the 2" lowered front springs. Sorry that old woman is in the way. Front tread is now nearly even with fender upper lip.
I bought these for my Bonneville wagon and have been very happy with them: http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fi...ySize.do&tc=YOKPT6&tt=false&pc=40544&sw=false Unfortunately, I think they are only available as blackwalls... They are about $95 each.
As for what won't break the bank.....you only get what you pay for IMO Sounds like cord separation, been there done that, time for new tires asap even if your just doing trips of only a few miles. What you may want and I would suggest may be 2 different things, but here is a quick read'em up info I just found. I never looked into detail but at least it's a start..... http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/tires.htm personally I would go for a all terrain tire, you just never know when your gona run over a Gator at high speed
Thanks. That's a good price. I think there's a few discount tire places 50 miles away from me. I'd really love to have wide whites like 59wagon has. But don't think they'd go with my car theme. Thanks Tedy. You guys are fast. I read the reports. That's why i decided to ask. The more I read the confuseder I get. Seems like tire tread lasts longer yet tires don't last as long. Makes sense to me. I really believe they are like everything else, made to be replaced often. I've got tires on old cars that are 40 years old and still lookin good. Of course they are bias and inside out of sun. I've had to replace my 04 truck tires twice with only 75,000 miles total. All tires still looked like they had a lot of tread yet were cracking. We have a discount tire type shop only 8 mles away where I buy truck and RV tires but not sure about gettin my wagon retired there. Like everything else, after I get new tires mounted I'll find exactly what I wanted at a good price.
215/65/R 15 tires on Crager wheels.-----In raised white letters?????????? Anyone got any suggestions and prices around $100 each on the tires? jmt455 came up with a great blackwall price and decent usage tire. Might get me to Illinois in style instead of in a stinkin pick up truck. I'll check tomorrow. Thanks.
I too await the replies............ Tires on the Chevelle were bought when restoration started in '98 and now have almost 1,000 miles on them. They look great but danged if I'll go anywhere with them. I have seen too many great looking tires, tons of tread, but in that 10 year old range, blown apart.
Here's a point to ponder: Does anyone remember the Explorers that were rolling over? One of the service advisors at the local Mercury dealer told me that the problem was old tires! The tires were outlasting the life of the carcasses, and the tread was wrapping around the axles, locking that one wheel, and over they would go. Every single tire company in the world says 10 years from manufacture is the STORAGE life of a tire, and never more than 5 years of service life, no matter the miles. The heat/cool cycles can cause the tread to devulcanize, causing catastrophic failure. As for a recommendation for you, Denny, I would call The Tire Rack, and see what they suggest. Their people are fantastic. You might be surprised, though, at what is available in a high performance tire. Often, because of the lower tread life, the performance H-rated tires are less money than the touring tires. The old Comp T/A HR-4 was only $80 a piece when a good touring tire was running double that. The Comp was rated for 50,000 miles, versus the Touring tire's 120,000 mile rating. I got 60,000 miles out of them, and was more than happy. Wish they were still available.
I just replaced the "shoes" on the Batwagon one week ago. If you want white walls pickin's are gettin' darn slim. I called tire rack and was told by one of the tecs that their are "0" white walls in their inventory. Good/Year doesn't even make a white wall anymore. Discount tire had two at the 215/75/15 size but nothing at the 235/ size for me. I called Summit and had 4 American somethings marketed by Coker shipped to me. 1.6" white wall which is a tad wider then I'd like but the only other options were wide whites or raised white letters and I'm not ready for either of those on the Batwagon, Jer
Just looked at the tires on my 86 Monte Carlo SS when I changed oil last weekend. They are from 05. Maybe have 5000 miles on them. Around here, if I had a flat no one would even fix it because of the age.
That's another thing I heard. We are being saved from ourselves whether we like it or not. So as i ponder, I can't see getting a very long mileage tire for cars like mine that are driven less. It's that age thing that's giving us problems. I know I shouldn't been driving the wagon but it hasn't been to town more than half dozen times in two years. That's only 8 1/2 miles each way. I wasn't gonna even ask but that's what we're here for. To bother each other with questions. I kinda want narrow white walls yet with the Cragar it wouldn't look right. And plain black tires are what grandpa would buy. No offense grandpas!
Yo Cat. I know of 2 15" tires with narrow white walls. I is a toyo and I can't remember the other one. They both come in215/75/15 as the largest. Don't know if Discount tire has either one? (too much research in too short of time) Jer
Thanks Jer. I've been thinkin that white walls and chrome Cragars wouldn't look kool. I like being Kool. So guess I'll look for white lettered tires. But no matter what, the BOSS suggested I wait till after we spend a month in Illinois. Maybe I can even find a deal up around Peoriee. Lots of car guys up there. I probably shouldn't drive 1000 miles one way with a knot the size of an orange on one tire. I'll check with the BOSS. All this thinking and being bossed is making me dizzy. Thanks!
If you're going RWLs go to tirerack.com and go shopping. Their like ......BELLY BUTTONZ. EVER BODY GOTZ THEM
Well, call me Grandpa! LOL! All my vehicles are running blackwalls.......or have the letters on the inside..........
Thanks sounds good. The more choices the better the deal. I doubt I'll ever wear them out or see them rot. The only thing rotting away here is me!
