Re: Tire Shopping for a '54 Clipper
Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2015/4/25 17:26:46
"Tahrs"? If I hadn't spent some years down in North Carolina I'd have no idea what you meant.
I've got Lester 7:00 x 17 x 6 ply rated bias ply on the 1934, that was the stock size for the Eight and Super Eight. They are now about 25 years old (about 19,000 miles) and I'm beginning to think about replacing them, though there is plenty of tread left and even with a magnifying glass I can't find an age crack inside or out (dismounted one last year to inspect the interior). Not a lot of choices in 7:00 x 17 x 6 ply, the Lesters have proven to be excellent, really superb tour tires. My only dislike is the whitewall width is greater than 1934 standards. One reason I've deferred on replacing them is that it's foolish to replace the tires without also replacing the gutter strips and tubes; 34 was the last year for metal threaded valve stems with nickel covers and I've heard horror stories about the reliability of those now available.
On the Caribbean I originally installed 8:00 x 15 Generals (the OEM tire); handling and ride was delightful but there was more rapid tread wear than I though acceptable and asked the vendor (Kelsey Tire) to evaluate. He inspected one, concluded they were substandard, and offered me a set of Goodyear Custom Super Cushion radials as a warranty replacement so I accepted, very impressed with Kelsey's warranty treatment. They are a very handsome tire, period-correct sidewall details, though they ride noisier and rougher and steer a bit harder than the bias ply. Overall I'm very satisfied with them though I'd rather have bias ply in the kind of quality you could get when bias ply was still king. Pictures enclosed.
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I've got Lester 7:00 x 17 x 6 ply rated bias ply on the 1934, that was the stock size for the Eight and Super Eight. They are now about 25 years old (about 19,000 miles) and I'm beginning to think about replacing them, though there is plenty of tread left and even with a magnifying glass I can't find an age crack inside or out (dismounted one last year to inspect the interior). Not a lot of choices in 7:00 x 17 x 6 ply, the Lesters have proven to be excellent, really superb tour tires. My only dislike is the whitewall width is greater than 1934 standards. One reason I've deferred on replacing them is that it's foolish to replace the tires without also replacing the gutter strips and tubes; 34 was the last year for metal threaded valve stems with nickel covers and I've heard horror stories about the reliability of those now available.
On the Caribbean I originally installed 8:00 x 15 Generals (the OEM tire); handling and ride was delightful but there was more rapid tread wear than I though acceptable and asked the vendor (Kelsey Tire) to evaluate. He inspected one, concluded they were substandard, and offered me a set of Goodyear Custom Super Cushion radials as a warranty replacement so I accepted, very impressed with Kelsey's warranty treatment. They are a very handsome tire, period-correct sidewall details, though they ride noisier and rougher and steer a bit harder than the bias ply. Overall I'm very satisfied with them though I'd rather have bias ply in the kind of quality you could get when bias ply was still king. Pictures enclosed.
Attach file:
(115.61 KB)
(76.58 KB)
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