Radial tires
 

Has anyone found and used radial tires ? Good or bad ?

Re: Radial tires
 

Their pricy Work good on modern cars Don't know about on A's

Re: Radial tires
 

A lot of guys here are using radials. Mostly 16 inchers. They seem to like them. I'm holding out till I can afford a set of 19 inchers.

Re: Radial tires
 

I haven't found any 19s yet. Must not be looking in the right places.

Re: Radial tires
 

Try Coker Tire for one Macs I think

Re: Radial tires
 

Other threads here have been very positive about them. 19 inchers, I thought.

Re: Radial tires
 

I have COKER's so far so good....

Re: Radial tires
 

If you drive a lot, switch to radials! The difference in ride, handling and braking is like the difference between night and day! I had four 15" Jeep rims lying around and just for fun bought two Goodyear Wranglers from Walmart and bolted them on the rear! What a difference! I then ordered new cast iron brake drums for the front (the studs are too short for both a wheel spacer and rim), installed longer studs and mounted two more Wranglers on the front! Even though the car is stock and the radials make it look like a hot rod, I will never go back to bias ply! I have already found two 16" wire V8 wheels and when I find two more I will put 16" radials on the car!

Re: Radial tires
 

Coker Tire sells both 19" and 21" steel belted radial tires. The Roadster Pickup was the first car we did and then put them on a 29 sedan to see the 21" size both work very well. They don't make them in White Wall yet.

Re: Radial tires
 

Do you use inner tubes?

Re: Radial tires
 

Are these the ones (made by Excelsior)?

Re: Radial tires
 

They were right there, I didn't look far enough.
My main question was how they were liked or disliked. Apparently everyone likes them, thats good to know.
I remember how terrible some of the cars in the 50s and 60s handled and rode, and when radials came out how big a difference they made in them.

Re: Radial tires
 

Yes, to inner tubes and Excelsior.

Re: Radial tires
 

We like the ride quality, and because we put so many miles on a car the tread wear warranty of 50,000 miles is very nice. You would have to buy the regular tires two and a half times to get that much wear.

Re: Radial tires
 

John,
How do the rolling diameters compare for the 21" radials vs. stock?

Re: Radial tires
 

It is a little larger, but don't recall the exact dimensions and that car is stored at the ranch so won't see it for a few days. These tires are a little larger than the Goodyear 450-21" but because they were put on a fordor sedan they work well. You also get a little more tread on the ground because they are a little wider than the original. I did get it into the fender well on the roadster pickup but it is a squeeze.

Re: Radial tires
 

Did you use radial tyre specific tubes? There used to be different tubes for radial and bias tyres.

Re: Radial tires
 

Yes, got the tubes from Coker when I ordered the tires. Very nice tubes with metal valve stems and they are radial tubes.

Re: Radial tires
 

Does anyone know how the radial inner tubes differ from bias tubes? Thanks

Re: Radial tires
 

Summitt offers free shipping, possibly Jeg's also. Both handle Excelsior.

Paul in CT

Re: Radial tires
 

The radial tubes have a marker indicating they are rated for use with radial tires. I guess the flex of the radial tire is greater than a bias tire so they have to handle more movement.

Re: Radial tires
 

they are sized in metric

Re: Radial tires
 

Hey Tom,
'differ' Q.....
Yeah, they differ a lot as they are THICKER and built to support the radial tire in its' flexing behavior. Nice piece of equipment and gives nice ride, IMO.

BTW , when I bought my 16 inch steel belt radials from Coker about 2004, I went up to their main office in norcal. I was shown a little device that is used to prevent chaffing of the tube stem from the wheel. It is well worth knowing of this item and it dose its' job well ! My tires are like new yet. Of course, I only have approx. 2000 mi on them, but hard city driving miles :) !

Re: Radial tires
 

John,
Any pictures of how they look on your Fordor?
Thanks.
Steve

Re: Radial tires
 

John, What size are the tires on your RPU?

Re: Radial tires
 

I installed the Excelsior radials about 6000 miles ago on my 31 Slant window sedan and what a difference! car drives like modern now. On the way home from a car show this past summer my left front tire went flat and because the sidewalls are 8 ply the tire was like a run flat! no kidding. I was able to very safely pull off the road. The reason for the flat? the new tube split at the seam! anyway the Excelsiors are well worth the money. If you are considering new tires drive someones car before you purchase and you may want to spend the extra bucks. My total tire cost was $1,174.00 with tubes from Mac's

Re: Radial tires
 

I also have the 19" Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial tires from Coker on my 1931 Sedan. (I also purchased the required radial tire "tubes".)

They are great; much improved handling/steering/stability over bias ply.

Cost is twice that of bias ply tires but they are supposed to have twice the treadlife; I cannot yet validate that claim.

I've had them for 3 years/6000 miles and they show no obvious sign of treadwear so far. I will buy them again when needed and I highly recommend them.