So I'm sure there has been posts about em but i was wanting to hear other experiences with the slap on white walls... i bought a set from lucas tire for my Lincoln... havent put em on yet though. Any tricks besides the common sense instructions i should know about? And i would LOVE a set of real bias ply wide whites but im poor so had to go this route to get the look i want... so give me the 411! Thanx!
Just make sure they lay down evenly all around. Back in the 60s, I used a rubber mallet to tap them down after partially inflating the tire. Might take two or three tries to get them just right. Never had a problem with the ones I used. The only problem I ever had was when I tried to put 4 inch wide portawalls on radial tires of a 70 Riviera. Too much sidewall flex worked them out and puckered them up. Finally removed them.
Yeah im putting em on som goodyear radials but i got the 2 and some odd inch ones.. dont want floppy tire wings that might come off and beat up my car while driving!
The narrower ones might work, just try them and see. You may not be driving as much and as fast as I did the Buick back when.
I've bought at least 5 sets from Lucas. All different sizes - 14,15,16 inch and have had no problem with any. I'd suggest you be sure to run the designated tire pressure in radials to insure no pukering on the bottom as they have a tendency to push out on the bottom edge toward the tread. On my rat rods, which have bigger tires than one would normally run on this type vehicle, they work extremely well....can't tell they aren't the real thing!
In the '50s and '60s we called them Mickey Mouse whitewalls. It was not a compliment. Is it considered traditional to bring back the bad ideas? Should you rewrite history?
They will work on radials. I have had mine on for 4 years - no problems. Yeah, they we're Mickey Mouse whitewalls, but everyone ran them back in the 50's (at least in my crowd) 'cause that's all we could afford. I think they're neat on a traditional rod/custom because that's what we used back then. Most folks can't tell they're "flappers" but occasionally someone will look a little closer and say something like "man, I haven't seen those in years.......cool"!
They will work on radials I put a set on about 6 months ago. Thoroughly clean tire and buff off any letters etc...Then i applied yellow gorilla snot pressed them down to get the air out . Aired up the tires and done
orderd a pair for some mickey t's radials 15 x 2inch wide from moon eyes after i installed them on the tire i took some really good crazy glue that dried real fast and went around the edge of them so they would be perfect ..them ****ers are still on there tight,even,and forever ...lol....also remove the lettering underneath if you dont it will show threw after awhile ..
you can use a flap disc if you search on here how to make white wall tires its preety much the same thing but ya not doinf the whole tire just the letters ...
What glue did ya use? and will the skinny white show after a while or does that need to be shaved a bit too?
My experience with portowalls on radials was a "customized" front fender and trim on a really nice '48 Dodge coupe when the portowall disintegated at about 65 mph. I wouldn't do it...
i used this glue with a spray activator on them ...cant recall the name ..yes i would clean up the skinnys also...
Funny I bought a set of 16 inch wires. They came with the remains of some old port-o-walls. The old timer and I were talking somehow the port-o-walls came up.....he talked so much **** about them and people that bought them, well, it was amazing. I guess you had to be there.
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