Re: Modern Tire Sizes

Posted by BH On 2008/2/28 13:51:32

chuck -

Your report of manufacturers using discontinued molds to make WWW radials mirrors my concerns about the repro bias-ply tires. In all fairness, I must admit that a friend purchased some Coker-branded wide-whitewall (WWW) bias-ply tires for his '50 Pontiac Streamliner and had no poblems.

However, the price of WWW bias-ply tires - even "house-brands" - in the hobby sector is ridiculous for anything other than a show car. Personally, I'm not very interested in having my cars judged anymore, and I know plenty of other old car owners who feel the same way. Yet, the price of WWW radials isn't much better, especially with their quality now in question.

Now, Diamond-Back sounds like a better alternative, but the price is such that I'd still only spend that kind of money for one set for my '56 Carib (but only after I've repainted it). I put a set of white-stripe (WS) tires on it, and I have to admit that the Carib sure looses something (aesthetically) without the wide whites. I'll recycle those WS tires on one of my sedans, as the radials significantly improved the ride and handling of my Carib.

For the price of a good WS radial tire, I can live without the look of a WWW on a cruiser or driver. Haven't shopped tires lately, but I paid only $40 a piece for WS 235/75R15 Generals at Sam's Club about ten years ago.