Do Excelsior tires add value?

I'm building a model a roadster to earn funds to try to quit my day job and go full time in the rod shop. It is time to buy tires and with the alliance discount Firestone bias plys are about $600 and Excelsiors are about $1100. I know the radials are going to make a lot better/safer driver out of it, but I'm not sure I can convey that to the potential buyer to translate it into an extra $500 in value.

Would you pay more for a roadster because it has new Excelsior Tires?

 

How about a photo of the roadster? HRP

 

I think, to someone buying a finished car, it would be a selling point that might get the extra $ returned to you. As it will give the car a much nicer ride and handling when you take the new owner for a ride. you will not be restricted to a cruise around the block at 15 mph. You can take out on the highway with the radials and hopefully not get shakes and vibrations.

 

Depends on what the roadster looks like. A "period correct" look? Most buyers would prefer bias ply tires, imo. I could be wrong though.

A "street rod" look? Radials.

 

But, those Excelsiors look like bias plys and the reputation is that they ride REALLY nice. I say go for it, I would say the opposite, most folks would feel more comfortable with the ride AND look of the Excelsiors.

 

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What is going on now is that I have the funding and I am building a spreadsheet of every little part and component. I will order basically everything at once to have it on hand as I build to try and not have to go back and re engineer things so much. Also with large shipments I am finding I can get better deals on costs and also shipping.

 

it all really depends on the car and the potential new owner , some will pay more and some won't. if you are building a car just to sell you have to get the most bang for the $$$ and keep you build cost down. the average guy will buy on curb appeal and not necessarily look at the individual parts, guys who know will look closer

i don't believe you will get the extra money back

you have already been asked for pictures

 

I am building a period car but not being overly strict, like I have purchased a 5 speed overdrive transmission, and will be using a cross steer setup. I worry that not everyone out there is capable of handling a 350 hp hot rod with bias ply tires and strictly traditional suspension. With this in mind I am tiring to build it for a potential buyer instead of the way I would build it if it was mine.

This to me looks like an example of a traditional minded build with some improvements similar to what I have in mind. (and also wearing excelsior tires BTW)

 

Customers who are going to quibble over a $500 upgrade are gone to nickel and dime you to either death or crazieness. Do what you want, I have built many cars for resale eventually, I'm born into the car biz, it is in the blood to not waste money. Some stuff you do just to show your level of quality yet a few bucks at a time? Quality comes from the whole car. If a real car guy is looking at the car, and that's who you want, he will see the small things do add up. But dollar at a time.... not so much.

 

Bang for your buck I would go bias ply,the savings you could use else where.

Whoever buys the car is probably going to ****er on the price anyway. HRP

 

If I were buying that roadster, I'd want bias plies on them. But tires wouldn't be a deal breaker for me once you're in that strata of value. I wouldn't quibble about the tires while spending 20, 30, 40k for a car. So I would go with the bias plies.

 

That's exactly what my thoughts were on the matter.

 

You might get a little more if it had the radials on it, but not enough to cover your difference in cost, especially if they will be brand new tires either way.

I look at tires as expendable wear parts and even wheels as an easy cosmetic change (like a gear shift knob). It's not going to make or break a purchase decision for me at all. It's all something I can very easily change the day I get the car home anyway, so my value decision on what a car is worth is based on the CAR itself, not the bolt-on doodads. I suspect there are some other people who think that way as well.

My advice would be to go with the bias plys and upsell the period authenticity of it. Chances are whoever buys the car will change the wheels and tires within the first 12 months to something they personally chose anyway, regardless of what you put on it.

 

Anyone who's going to buy a completed rod is doing so so he can just hop in and drive.

If I'm driving anything, it will have radial. Anything else is just ego driven stupidity. The radials you're considering look cool and will give your car a much better ride.

Why give the buyer something to complain about, give your car the best ride you can. You're spending a lot of time and money on this car, why quibble about $500. The buyer won't, if the car rides/drives well, it's all good.

I just put a new set of radials on my 55 Chevy wagon, the improvement in the ride is terrific. It doesn't want to jump around when it hits an expansion joint.

Just my opinion, rage on.

 

If it already has a T5, then those radials won't be a deal breaker. The car should ride smoother (I've read this on the internets) so it might sell better. Might get the extra $500 just because of the nice ride.

 

...........Yes.......If you were building that roadster for me, I would say yes, let's spring for the Excelsiors. Since you are building it for a "potential" buyer it might be more wise for you to go with the bias plies and let the eventual purchaser do the switch later if that's what they prefer.

 

So,your saying all of us that drive cars & trucks with bias ply tires are egotist & stupid!

Takes a real **** to say something like that,,,but that's my opinion! HRP

 

Building a car to sell is a very tough way to make a buck. Far better is to sell the project "as is" and get the job of building it for the new owner, to his taste, on a time and materials basis.

 

I like the look of the Excelsior tires and plan to put four on my '30 Roadster. I wish you luck with the build for bucks project..............but really, what do you HONESTLY think you can make for a profit? Do you count your time as having value? Bob

 

I wasn't aware that you could build and sell a car and make enough profit on it to quit a job and build cars full time. You must be counting on a huge mark-up-or you don't pay yourself much. The car's nice, but it seems like you really need business help-and a plan. Lots of threads on it, but damn,it's expensive to start a business and do it right.

 

Well there wasn't a doesn't matter either way to me spot.

If I am looking at a potential car to buy I look way past tires. Tires are not a durable good, they wear out and get changed. If I were buying a car and the rest of the build was spot on I wouldn't let the tires keep me from buying it. If the tires were tha make or break on a car then the rest of the build would be pretty marginal at best.

Oh good luck on the venture, hope it works for you.

 

if I were building a car to sell I would buy regular radials at the tire store.

you speak of 350 HP and show a picture of a car with a flathead. you will be building a 350 HP flathead for a car you are trying to sell for a profit?

 

Anyone that has to justify radials by calling the biasply guys egotists needs to re-evaluate some things.

 

Remember everyone has their angle and I too have mine. This isn't a halfed baked no thought project, rather carefully planned and researched. I don't believe just anyone can do it but some people can. but anyhow I will worry about that.

No flatty's are not for this type of project,I wish they were. I have a warmed over 327 that is going in this car.


One Idea we had was putting the bia ply tires on and then offering to upgrade for the extra 500 clams and then use the Firestone's on the next one. But you only get to give them one first test drive to make an impression.

Or putting the Excelsiors on and offering a discount for the Firestone's. I don't know.... thanks for the input!

 

I've used Excelsior tires on my last 2 roadsters. I did it because I think they help the car handle better than bias? IMO I like the looks and the sizes worked for me. I'm getting ready to buy another set for the roadster I'm currently finishing. These will be going on So-Cals pin drive knock offs. Will be tested on a trip to CA.

 

I think thats the better angle to play it, that way the customer is choosing to upgrade or not.

 

In my opinion, the right tires always add value because tires can make or break the looks and handling of a car.

 

Several posts had the ***umption that bias plies don't ride smooth. I have a 34 Ford pickup with bias plies that is gl*** smooth on the freeway. Just don't let them sit in one place and get flat spotted. When not in use either move the car periodically or put it on blocks.

And your average car buyer is not as sophisticated as a car builder. They won't even notice the subtle differences.

 

I agree, I've had both on my cars and the bias plies rode smoother than my current radials by a long shot.

 

Why would you put a tire on your car that is not as good as another tire?

For the "look"?
To make it "retro"?
Because that's how they used to do it....

The fraction of a difference in looks between the two tires does not equal the ride and safety of the radials.

Hey, you want a hard riding car, have at it. You've got tube shocks, not lever shocks, man I don't know how old school you are...
Same thing with an electric starter and a million other things.

I'm not saying we should all be driving the hideous **** that was all over the magazines in the 70's thru the 90's. IFS and billet and ****, but disc brakes and radials are not going to tip you out of the cool guys.

Of course I've got no freakin idea what I'm talking about, so why does it matter to you.

Buy, build, drive what you want, I am.