Re: Tire Pressure
Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2013/3/27 11:01:18
JW, I'm beginning to have the same concerns about the tires (7:00-17 x 6-ply rated) and tubes on my 34 Eight. I tour rather regularly with this car, close to 1000 miles in each of the last few years, and the tires/tubes are now just about 20 years old and about 18,000 miles. Lots of tread remaining, and before last year's extended tour I gave them a thorough almost microscopic exterior examination and found no issues, they actually looked pretty much like they did when I installed them. But who knows what lurks inside? One reason I've been hesitant to retire is the considerable amount of negative comment about the reliability of the current metal valve-stemmed tubes failing at the valve stem insert. 1934 was the last year for metal valve stems and I really want to keep the original appearance. I know I can get the dummy "slip-over" thingies that simulate the look of metal valve stems and I may have to go that route. As to the tires themselves, this is my 2nd set of Lesters and they have been satisfactory in the extreme though I do wish the whitewall width were just a bit closer to original.
Just to get back on-topic, they are rated for a maximum load of 1465 lbs at 36 psi, so x4 = 5860 lbs. The car's dry weight is 4540 lb. so I feel comfortable with inflation pressures a bit less than max; I use a cold pressure of 34 psi. What little tread wear there is is very uniform side to side. For comparison, on the 56 Carib convertible I have Goodyear Super Cushion polyester/steel corded P235/75 R15s from Kelsey tire. They are rated at 2028 lbs each at 34 psi or 8112 lbs. With a car dry weight of about 5100 lbs I feel comfortable and get a nice ride with about 30 psi. These Super Cushions (pix below if I can find it) have proven to be a very fine tire, my only complaint is that with the agressive tread pattern they aren't the quietest tire around. Being a bit (understatement?) of a purist, I really didn't want radials on this car so I bought a set of 8:00-15 General 90s (which was an original tire offering by Packard) from Kelsey Tire. I have to give a plug to Kelsey Tire here, those Generals wore very rapidly and when when I demounted one and sent it back to Kelsey at his cost for examination, he offered me a set of 4 of these Goodyears at a truly exceptional price and I couldn't resist. Do they actually handle better than the bias ply tires - a bit but nothing really dramatic.
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Just to get back on-topic, they are rated for a maximum load of 1465 lbs at 36 psi, so x4 = 5860 lbs. The car's dry weight is 4540 lb. so I feel comfortable with inflation pressures a bit less than max; I use a cold pressure of 34 psi. What little tread wear there is is very uniform side to side. For comparison, on the 56 Carib convertible I have Goodyear Super Cushion polyester/steel corded P235/75 R15s from Kelsey tire. They are rated at 2028 lbs each at 34 psi or 8112 lbs. With a car dry weight of about 5100 lbs I feel comfortable and get a nice ride with about 30 psi. These Super Cushions (pix below if I can find it) have proven to be a very fine tire, my only complaint is that with the agressive tread pattern they aren't the quietest tire around. Being a bit (understatement?) of a purist, I really didn't want radials on this car so I bought a set of 8:00-15 General 90s (which was an original tire offering by Packard) from Kelsey Tire. I have to give a plug to Kelsey Tire here, those Generals wore very rapidly and when when I demounted one and sent it back to Kelsey at his cost for examination, he offered me a set of 4 of these Goodyears at a truly exceptional price and I couldn't resist. Do they actually handle better than the bias ply tires - a bit but nothing really dramatic.
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