You can also try to order through Summit, a friend did and they were actually cheaper than anywhere else. Another vote for the Firestones, I have had 4 sets with no problems but will be looking at Goodyear Super Cushions when I buy another set of bias plies. And go with the 3 1/4 WW.
If you buy your tires at a show that Coker is at and they don't have them, they ship to your door for free. That's what they did for me anyway. I think I bought them at a GG Pleasanton show.
ok my next question is.....who in sacramento would put them on for me???? or where could i take them?? les schwab wants like 20 bucks a tire, thats a little pricy imho.
Who is this Les Schwab ***** you keep talking to? Any real tire store can mount and balance any tire on your wheels. Just call around for good price (and stand there when they mount them!)
I'd put the General 2 11/16" whitewall on it. They also make that size in the 3 3/4" but I prefer that on the 50-51s over your 54. They are made in PA and have a good record. Less pie cuts and to me overall better product. Here's a picture of it. Oh and they balance truer then the others.
I've got Firestone on my shoebox - over 20 years old! I've got tubes in them, and there are a few cracks and flat spots, but still going strong. Good thing cause Coker is really taking advantage of us car guys with their prices. Gone up 30% since I bought the WW for my T bucket!
I just used soapy water and mounted them myself. I also run tubes with my Firestones, which made it easier to inflate them. Then, I took them to Big-O in my town and they balanced them for $9 a wheel. $36 and I was done! Side note: At the time I had also just had my wheels powdercoated, so the old tires were already removed.
If your wheels are bare now it is super easy to mount them,like Main Prop said. I just did mine today. Hell I would gladly do yours as well if you wanna make the trip. Kinda far though I guess. There is a shop here in town that will balance them for me I think I paid 25 bucks last time. I always have them balance them so that the wieghts are on the inside as well so you dont have to look at those ugly things. If you choose to mount them yourself I have one tip for you, Take a ratcheting type strap and wrap it around the outside of the wheel after you get it on the rim. Then ratchet it just enough to help swell the tire so that the beads spread, when you apply the air you will have to play with it alittle but AS SOON as it beads stop applying air. remove the strap and finish filling the tire. If you choose tubes (easier and better) you wont have to do any of that.
As far as I know, and have discussed with folks here in the mid-west (which is always behind the coast), really WIDE whites were pretty well phased out on custom cars by 58-9 The skinnier 2 1/4 whites or even 2" jobs were preferred, and then by 61-2, if you didn't have skinny whites, you weren't too cool on the street.
thanks man, i copied and pasted this all to a word doc so when i get them i can reference back to this real easy. thanks! see ya at m***? Luke
Im building this car kinda as more of a tribute to my grandma who gave it to me. She always had wide whites, and i want wide whites. Personally on pre 57 cars wide whites is the way to go.
No totally, I agree, but as far as I understand history, gangster walls were not really in vogue on custom cars, as you've already mentioned. The 3+ inch walls were not exactly considered cool after the streamlined body styles came out in 55. Here are some tires that I think would look right at home on your car, considering the *look* of your car that you have going right now. BFG 2 1/2 silvertowns US Royal 2 1/2 2 1/4 'Stones Coker G78-15 2 3/4 (though it may look a little big) I just think you might dig some of these, neat car regardless. My car has f78-14s, which has a 2 3/8 white wall, which in relation to size, would look comparable to a 2 1/2 on a 6.70-15. I forget what sort of hubcap/wheel cover you plan on running though. Regardless, it'll look neat. P.s. When did these get so freaking expensive? I think we bought the BFGs on my list for my brother's mercury for 140 a piece, or something similar to that, and was shocked by how much those cost then. Oh well, we gotta pay the price.
I have the firestone deluxe champion on my 49 ford club coupe. I like the firestones cause I like the pie crust outer tire look. The others are smooth. Yes more expensive but to me have that cl***ic look I want.
Right on man, you can hit me up if you have any issues. As for m*** Im not sure if Iam gonna make it this year. First miss. We will see though.
My 670 3 1/4 firestones came to my house today. Ordered them from summit with some chrome valve stems for a total of $652.65. going to mount them thursday and put pics up friday. thanks everyone for the info. next on the agenda. Lowering blocks.
Looks great! I need to get a set for my 56 Ford. It came with Coker radials when I got it and they just don't look quite right to me.
Firestone can't pay me to run ther tires! In 35 years I had two sets of them go bad. The first set in 5 mile 4 tires blowed apart maybe a 1000 miles on them and the dealer said We done something. Two months later they were recalled. No money I didn't keep the tire with the belt blowed. They were Junk! The next set the car wrecked yes they were both sets and they were both later recalled.No third strike! Maybe they are better tire now but the company does not care! Good luck with what ever tire you run.
Nice looking car. After reading all of the previous threads on tires, I chose to go with Diamond Back Cl***ic whites, because I wanted all the advantages of a modern tire with the look of an older tire (No letters, numbers, etc.). I had a minor flaw in one tire that appeared after mounting, but it was quickly addressed by their customer service with a new tire and a pre-paid UPS label to send back the other tire.
^^ thanks, i just wanna start out with one inch in the front and back and see how it looks and then may drop it one more inch in the rear. I like that *** dragger look.
I love it! Watch out for the front inner fenders, my buddies 53 are super close to hitting so check yours out and see how close you are now. I dont know what the guys with air bags are doin with that but Iam curious. Im with you though the back always looks better a tad lower.
We went with the Cokers on the '55 Ranchwagon and they look great. Clean whitewall, nice piecrust, and just a hair shorter than the firestones. I'll get a pic up when they are on the car. As it's been said, Coker makes them both so it's a personal preference thing and I've used these before with no issues.
The Jalopy Journal
