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(1) 2 »

Tire suggestion needed for 1938/1604
#1
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Patrick Kelley
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Greetings. I need a new set of tires. I've attached photos from the two spare tires I still have on the car. She had 6 of these when the car was aquired in 1959. I don't know anything about them i.e. if they are originals or other. I do like the look of them and am wondering if I can find simular styled replacements. What I have been able to find are what was installed after restoration in 1988. Photo attached as well. The new ones are OK but not as appealing to me as the old ones. Any thoughts would be great. Pat

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Posted on: 2012/9/23 0:05
1604 Super Eight 2/4 Coupe
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Re: Tire suggestion needed for 1938/1604
#2
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su8overdrive
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Bridgestone and Yokohama offer the vast advantages of steel belt radials in bias-ply-sized 7.50/16 LT blackwalls if you want an understated, serious, road car. So you get the best of both world; the proper vintage dimensions with the handling and other improvements of radials. If you want whitewalls, Diamondback vulcanizes these on 7.50/16-sized Yokohama LT radials, as they do on 7.00/15 LT Yokohama radials for those with 1941-on Packards.
The specs for the Bridgestone and Yokohama are identical in both of the above sizes. I selected Bridgestone merely as a
veteran gearhead friend swore by them, and i liked the more Yank-sounding name, in case some nosy parker crouched down to look for the brand name. The irony is that Bridgestone is now part of a Japanese corporation, Yokohama now a Canadian firm.

Should you go this route and not buy them whitewalled by Diamondback, you can always take a die grinder to the raised black letters.

But if matching or approximating the precise tread/style pattern you picture is paramount, the above's moot. The tire you show in the third photo above is a Denman, as that simple tread pattern is Denman's alone. Denman still offered a wide whitewall 7.50/16 bias ply, but curiously, stopped producing the 7.00/15 used on so many 1941-up cars.
Though Denman declared bankruptcy March, 2010, one of the major vintage/Classic car dealers might well have some 7.50/16s still in stock. Denman was founded in 1919. I ran Denmans on my Packards decades ago, got good service, as bias plies go. It was also nice having tires made in the US by a company in Packard's hometown, Warren, Ohio.

Posted on: 2012/9/23 3:21
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Re: Tire suggestion needed for 1938/1604
#3
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Owen_Dyneto
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If you really liked the appearance of the Martin tires, which were not original equipment, you should consider Lester tires. These were until recently made by Martin Tire and have a similar style. They are bias-ply tires and perhaps the most popular brand of bias ply fitted to prewar CCCA Classics and for their type, good road tires.

Posted on: 2012/9/23 7:56
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Re: Tire suggestion needed for 1938/1604
#4
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Tim Cole
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Those old Martins were fantastic tires. The only complaint was that after sitting they would have flat spots until the tires warmed up.

They wore far better than any bias ply tire and approached radial tires for longevity. I knew people who put over 30,000 miles on a set of Martins.

There is a story behind the Martin Tire Company and what happened to it, but I don't recall the details.

They sure don't build em like that anymore.

Posted on: 2012/9/23 10:52
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Re: Tire suggestion needed for 1938/1604
#5
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Patrick Kelley
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Thank you for the suggestions.
I totally remember the flat spots on the Martin tires. Thump Thump Thump Thump.
I couldn't find anything on the Yokahamo and Bridgestone websites for classic tires. I will keep looking.
I did find the Lesters. I think the best fit they have might be the attached. Pat

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Posted on: 2012/9/23 19:54
1604 Super Eight 2/4 Coupe
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Re: Tire suggestion needed for 1938/1604
#6
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Ozstatman
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Posted on: 2012/9/23 20:04
Mal
/o[]o\
====

Bowral, Southern Highlands of NSW, Australia
"Out of chaos comes order" - Nietzsche.

1938 Eight Touring Sedan - SOLD

1941 One-Twenty Club Coupe - SOLD

1948 Super Eight Limo, chassis RHD - SOLD

1950 Eight Touring Sedan - SOLD

What's this?
Put your Packard in the Packard Vehicle Registry!
Here's how!
Any questions - PM or email me at ozstatman@gmail.com
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Re: Tire suggestion needed for 1938/1604
#7
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Patrick Kelley
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I like this Firestone on the Coker site. The 4" sidewalls I think look the best.

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Posted on: 2012/9/23 20:49
1604 Super Eight 2/4 Coupe
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Re: Tire suggestion needed for 1938/1604
#8
Not too shy to talk
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Patrick Kelley
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Baby is getting new shoes!!!

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Posted on: 2012/12/29 14:52
1604 Super Eight 2/4 Coupe
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Re: Tire suggestion needed for 1938/1604
#9
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David Grubbs
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for what its worth, I put Coker tires on my 39 120 and had one flat after another. The problem was that the inner tube was being chaffed by some rust spots around the valve stem hole. Once my tire shop figured this out, I sanded down the inside of the wheel, put some spot filler in the low spots and painted the inside of the wheels. That solved the problem. Apparently the old tires were truck tires and were very stiff sided, and didn't wiggle around like the newer tires did. Something to look for when you install the new tires.

Posted on: 2012/12/29 21:45
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Re: Tire suggestion needed for 1938/1604
#10
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Peter Packard
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G'day all, I would recommend caution with regard to the Yokohama's. I have them on the 38 Twelve limo which I reently imported from the US. The tyres are wearing very well and appear to be well suited with regards to load rating. However the whitewalls appear to have been added as an afterthought and have all split in one or more places, even when run at 40 psi. It does not affect the roadworthiness of the tyre, it's just annoying to look at. I have Coker radials fitted to some of my other Packards and am not impressed with them. They are not recommended for Commercial use which worries me concerning their quality, have high minimum inflation pressures which thump and give a poor ride and wear excessively, all for a high initial purchase price. I love radial handling compared to the twitchy cross ply tyre handling but there are some very dodgy deals out there. Just my two cents. Best Regards Peter Toet.

Posted on: 2012/12/30 4:35
I like people, Packards and old motorbikes
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