Technical Any one here running Excelsior Stahl Sport Radials?

By October, I think I'm going to be in the market for new tires. I currently have Firestone dirt track fronts and 7.00 X16's on the rear on my '28 AV8 roadster. It's fenderless, so I love the look of them. I'm just not crazy about how these tires ride.

I've noticed a few guys were running Excelsior Stahl Sport Radials at Flabob TROG.

I know they don't look "traditional" and I'm not worried about that right now. I'm willing to give up looks for a better handling and riding tire.

If you've looked at the price of these tires, you'll know they aren't cheap. Approximately $100 more per tire over the Firestones. Willing to pay more if they are worth it.

Please post any real world experiences running Excelsiors and if you noticed a difference switching from bias ply to radial.

Thanks,

Tim

 

It’s nice to find a look you want. You stated the Excelsiors are radials. Are the Firestone dirt track radials? I’ve read it’s not good to mix.

 

I've run them and no problems,

 

No. The dirt trackers are bias ply as well.

 

I have them on the 32 that has now identified as a roadster and switched bodies.
But that’s OK.

They run great at all speeds.
I did have one original front that was out of round, and Coker warrantied it, bless their heart.
Yes, they look a little modern. So?
If the sidewalls were smooth it would help.
The high cost of bias Firestones is crazy for what is a bottom tier tire that is a lot cheaper for them to produce, and I couldn’t justify it versus the Excelsiors.

 

I've been very happy with the two sets of Excelsior radials I've run on my roadster. WAY better than the Firestone bias plies that I started with.

 

I have them on a full fendered car, and they do ride nice. But I wouldn’t use them on a highboy. I’ve been thinking of sanding the lettering off the sides, but haven’t gotten around to it.

 

let's take it a step further, let's include diamondback auburn deluxe radials in the mix

 

Do they come in 16"? For some reason, I thought they were only 15" or smaller.

 

Ran excelsior on my a couple cars and found them excellent. Only heads up would be to say they were a smidge howlie. Also tried some DB Auburns (550r16 front ant 750r16 rear) and really liked them. Excellent ride and a little quieter.

 

i prefer 7.50-16 rear and 6.00-16 front on a fenderless car. save the 5.00-5.25-5.50 for when you have to tuck in under a fender and still be able to steer.

does firestone/coker still make the 6.00-16 deluxe champion bias ply tire? might have to go to a radial

 

Which 600-16 front are you running (the Auburns or the excelsior), and what do you like better about them? Is the ride better, what about noise off the different tread, how’s the steering and what ratio steering are you using with that size radial on the front, and with the extra unsprung weight, how do you like feel?
Would love to hear about your actual experience.

 

currently firestone bias plies, just prefer the look of a 6.00-16 on a fenderless car. only way i'd go smaller is if i had a fender i had to stuff it into

 

Drats, was hoping to learn something. Specifically, how a radial that tall works on a little hot rod. When the OP asked for real world experience and you said you “prefer” something, I thought you might actually have some real world experience with the excelsiors or auburns in that 600r16 size. My bad. If anyone else has real experience with one of the stated size Auburns or Excelsiors, I’d sincerely like to hear about them and I bet the OP would too.
Cheers.

 

I'm running the Excelsior radials on 32 Cab - both 16" - with a 450 on the front and a 700 on the rear. I think they're great tires . . . once you get past the price part of the deal.

Obviously they are sort of a "tweener" looking tire - about 1/2 the look of a traditional bias ply - but I wanted radials on the car. I've had the car up to about 85 mph is all, so can't claim any stats above that.

Noise: No clue as I run my flathead uncorked . . . tires are about the last thing I'm going to hear. LOL

 

I believe Diamondback will remove the lettering on the sidewall of the tires they sell.

 

I had 750/16 and 500/16 Excelsiors on steelies on my deuce highboy pickup, 500/16 & 700/18 Excelsiors on steelies on my deuce roadster, and am doing another deuce roadster with the same 700/18 and 500/16's on early Ford wires. Also bought a project deuce sedan with new 700/18 and 500/16 Excelsiors mounted on Black powder coated Wheel Vintique steelies. Sold a set of So-Cal pin drive knockoff wheels also with 700 and 500/16 Excelsiors. I have had absolutely no problems, they balance well and run smooth. Only problem has been is getting them from time to time. Oh ya paying for them.

 

I've been running them on my car for couple of years with no issues, good tires.

 

I put a set on my roadster. One of the rear tires, 7.50x16 was way out of round causing considerable vibration. It took eight months to get a replacement tire from Coker. After years of Coker tires this will probably be the last set I'll ever buy from them.

 

I don’t care for the HUGE lettering on the side wall. I guess they could be shaved.

 

Thank you all for your replies. Dirty Dug: Ugh. This is not what I was hoping to hear. I went through this with my front runner dirt tracks. $50 per tire later to get them shaved, they still aren't right.

I would have thought being a new radial with new molds, Coker would it be able to get it right. It amazes me that they can't test these tires to weed out the junk before selling them. They are a premium priced tire.

 

Coker’s ads used to say that their tires were for display or parade use only. Guess that have dropped that little bit of information.

 

I had the same issue with one of the first 7.50x16 rears I installed on my roadster. Very out of round. This was 11 years ago and Coker had a replacement to me within a week.

 

Their ad says this for their Excelsior's? I thought these are DOT approved?

 

Two or three years back I had the opportunity to add some stuff to a container a friend was bringing down to NZ.
I had read some good reports about Coker Cl***ics, so ordered a set for my old style A roadster.
Since then I have read many tales of doom and gloom, so wondered if I had made a bad choice.
Tires are mounted on 39 Ford wide 5 wheels. Tire installer could not locate an adaptor to fit the wheels to the balancing machine. I have located an adaptor, but the wheels have not yet been balanced.
I drove the car last eeek about 25 miles in traffic at up to 50 mph. very smooth - only the slightest hint of any tire shake. Will get the wheels balanced shortly. I am expecting perfection.
I am a happy Coker Cl***ic customer