Re: Getting new tires on a 34

Posted by Highlander160 On 2008/8/19 16:37:43

I'm new here but an old pro at 34s. I've found it best to not re-invent the wheel (no pun intended) when it comes to restoring these wonderful cars.

On Lester tires: my biggest complaint is flat spots after long storage. Another is, it's true, many of them for years were quite un-true and had to be ground to get em round before balancing.

The old Denman truck casings rode a tad harsh and were not the most attractive tire either.

The current Firestone and it's older brother the Coker Classic were in my opinion the best looking, and while not absolutely perfect, the current crop seems to be really quite nice. I just installed a set of BW 'stones on one car and WW's on another. The WW tires are 750-17, look great, nice size, perfect for a 12, and while they aren't balanced yet are true and smooth to over 40mph. Maybe I got lucky.

Last year I put a set of Bedford double WW tires on a Deusy. They replaced some Lesters of unknown age and the difference was night and day. We always drove that car pretty fast and it handled really well. And no more flat spots even after a long winter storage.

As far as radials and other upgrades I seldom to never do that. I find good alignments and proper steering condition (no slop) to be the best way to enjoy "what it was" vs what it can be. This is a good topic to discuss air pressures. I like 28-30 depending on the car and tire vs the usual 32. While 2psi seems minimal, with the size of these tires it's a bunch. 2-4 psi lower can make a big difference in road feel and harshness, and in some cars improve handling. Just my experiences I thought I'd share.

And BTW, is that the car in your avatar? Rear mount spare? Where can I see more of it? Remember, I'm new here.