Hot Rods Radial Tires that dont suck

As part of getting my 34 coupe registered here in Japan I need some new tyres. Im looking for suggestions on what doesnt look like ass. Currently it has some BF Goodrich Radial T/As which I would run again but getting them in near impossible here at the moment.

Sizes are 225/70 R15 and 155/80 R15.

Any other suggestions that will suit the look of this coupe?

Thanks fellas

 

TIRERACK.com Has the brand and size you have listed in stock and available to my Zip Code, Wisconsin USA. Check to see if they will ship to your Zip Code.

 

Hello,

Of all the different radial tires on the market, the best riding and handling comes from Michelin or Pirelli. We have had those on most of my wife’s station wagons and sporty cars. On our 327 powered 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery, in the last years of ownership, we had two different sets of brands that were outstanding and not with the letter M or P.

The first set was a Yokohama set of 4 tires that tucked under the fenders well, were wide enough to fill up the wheel well opening and only had a few piles of rubber on the floor after tire shaving. Our neighbor had some Yokohama tires on his car and they looked good and when we drove around, they gripped well, stopped well and the afternoon coastal fog left some mist on the roads, but did not affect the overall handling.

The only comment was that the positives did not outweigh the negative which was they wore down fast. We did not race around, slam on the brakes or take off with a power move. We knew they had to last as we did a lot of driving around So Cal. But, even after tire shaving, correct balance and full alignment in the front end, with new components, they wore down too fast.

So, the next set was a great choice. Bridgestone made a good street tire that did not require much rubber left on the floor. So, that meant from the factory, it was fairly round. Then the tire tread felt a little stiffer, but on the road, rode as well as the M and P more costly tires. The cost was not as high as the top of the line, but they were great tires from a very well-known and historic tire manufacturer.

These were on the 327 SBC 1940 sedan delivery for three years and when we sold the sedan delivery, the new young owners thought we had put on new tires for the sale.

Jnaki

The cost was appealing as they fit our pocketbook. But it was the quiet road handling feeling that was the most important. Old cars tend to ride a little rough and these tires just grabbed the surface and felt good, in all conditions, rain, mist, thick fog and even snow, without chains in the winter mountain road trips.


Comparing the two brands Y. vs. Bridgestones, it was hands down for the last tires the sedan delivery had as we waved goodbye to it in 1976. Plus, the sidewalls did not have large letterings imprinted, but looked good standing still or on the road.

These days, it is back to the M & P game again on my wife’s daily driver station wagon and the last three station wagons she has owned. A long time ago, she did get a sporty sedan, prior to the string of station wagons, that had low, wide and great handling Bridgestones.

She was in comfort heaven on her daily drives, visits to friends and there were no complaints about hitting road bumps. They just made the car like it was glued to the road in any driving conditions. Plus, the local tire dealer/installers could get them in a day or two if needed.

Note: It was difficult to have different sizes on the back and fronts. But, for the time, each set was the perfect combo for her sporty sedan. Luckily, there was no need for tire changes during the time we owned the sporty sedan. It was her favorite handling sedan she ever drove, comparable to her small classic, sporty car.

 

Diamond Back Auburn Deluxe Radials

 

Can’t do bias in Japan?

 

SAME 34 ,THIS WAS ABOUT 44 YEARS AGO

 

I hear good things about the tires and availability of the diamond back auburns as well

 

I got those sized tires in the BFG brand with shaved sides from Diamond Back not to long ago. Don't know about their current supply?

 

Might help if you give us some idea of what you actually could get, over there....most of us are not too savvy about domestic Japanese car parts availability.

 

Unless its important to you to have a certain name on the sidewall of a tire, I'd just get what is available in Japan and shave the name off the sidewall. I can't imagine the shipping costs for a set of tires if they aren't already available in your country. If you are gonna ship that far, you might want to look at some of those Piecrust slicks for real originality.

 

So your looking for off shore tires?

 

I just switched to Diamond Back Auburn deluxe after about 15 years of running Coker Bias tires. I’m absolutely kicking myself in the ass for not doing this years ago. They look great (like a Bias tire) and ride and drive great like a radial. As for what would look good on yours I’d say the typical Big&Little set up in Black walls. Here’s what mine look like and I’ve put probably 4000 miles on them so far this year.

 

I got a old fl too

 

LOL yeah, it’s a beater but I love it! It’s a ‘76

 

Mines a 83

 

I sure have....

 

Isn’t that a twist ​

 

@Russco Looks good. What sizes you running on your 40?

 

Me too.

 

My rear tires wear out but not the fronts so much. Weird

 

M FLH is a 76 as well. You wouldn't happen to have an extra one of those red/white/blue saddlebag badges laying around?

 

No, I sure don’t and I’m always worried about something happening to them. I have had more than a few people ask about those or the entire bag even.

 

Goodyear, Cooper, Michelin, Pirelli, Continental, Bridgestone, and Yokohama all have plants in the US.

 

Thanks all, really appreciate the input. Have ordered some tires and will post pics of them when they arrive. Living in a small town and over an hour from the nearest larger place means ordering online then waiting, a common issue for many of us

 

Thanks @jackandeuces . Great to be able to have pics like that. Wonder when it was originally chopped and who did all that.

 

I just put some Korean made tires on the front of my '34. They were pretty much all I could find in the size I wanted and with a good date. I was amazed at how good they rode. Kinda changed my mind about off shore tires.

 

All of my cars and trucks have Yokohamas.

All were made in the US.

 

I didn't read all this post, but does ANYONE "shave" radials in Japan? Or are you just going to deal with the crapiness of "out-of-round" tires?
(JimA had a great post on shaving radial tires... before he was banned anyway,)

 

Steel wheels look best on these cars, especially chrome.

Four Master Craft Avenger GT (Cooper) from Diamond Back. Have them check them for shifted belts and shave the sidewalls so they look like Bias Plys. You want the tread width to be the same as wheel width.
2) 225/70r15
2) 245/60r15

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