Clay,
If it looks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, it doesn't necessarily
mean it's a Silvertown duck.
The tires made by BFG several decades ago are not necessarily the same tire
carrying the same name today. Reproduction tires just look the same, which
is why people buy them for restored cars. They may come out of an original
mold if still available or a repo mold. They may not have the same materials
as before or the same quality standards or the same manufacturing processes.
They are probably not made by the original manufacturer. They may not even
be made in this country. Always review the UTQG rating, consisting of three
ratings: Treadwear, Traction, and Temperature. And also the speed rating. If
they are DOT legal, they should be safe enough, depending on your driving
style. But restored cars are usually driven much more cautiously, less
often, and shorter distances, which is what these tires are intended to do.
They are sold for their good looks, not their performance.
Dave Homstad
56 Dodge D500
-----Original Message-----
From: Forward Look Mopar Discussion List
[mailto:L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of imperialman
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2004 7:21 PM
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] And the wheel goes round round round... Radial tire
convo continues...
I have been following this tire discussion with great interest.
By coincidence I have been doing some much needed tire shopping for my 60
Crown .
I have pretty much made up my mind to go with bias ply tires. I really
like the looks of the B.F. Goodrich Silvertowns that I think were original
equipment tires on my Imperial. They are sold by Coker and I guess would
qualify as a reproduction ? tire.
Now after reading this message from Dave I am perplexed.
Is this B.F. Silvertown not a good tire ?.
Is this Silvertown a "show only " tire?
Goodness knows it can't be a inferior tire
because of price!
Clay Smith
60 Custom Imperial
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Homstad" <dhomstad@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2004 2:37 AM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] And the wheel goes round round round... Radial tire
convo continues...
> Here's the deal: all tires are not created equal, whether they are bias or
> radials!
>
> On my daily driver (a retired CV police car), I replaced the tires that
came
> on it (cheap replacement tires), when they wore out, with a set of quality
> Michelins of the exact same size and same inflation pressure. The
difference
> in handling was so great that I almost lost control due to oversteer on
the
> first few sharp corners I went around. The new tires had very stiff
> sidewalls compared to the old mushy sidewalls of the tires I replaced. The
> old tires were so soft that they would twist on the rim in a corner,
> requiring more turn of the steering wheel compared to the new Michelins.
Now
> the car handles much better and rides smoother. The initial "oversteer"
was
> me, not the car, because I had to re-learn its handling characteristics
all
> over again. The bottom line is that much of the difference of personal
bias
> (pun intended) on this radial vs. bias tire issue is due to the quality of
> tires chosen. Most of the WWW radials out there that we use on our old
cars
> are built for their looks and ability to hold air, not for their handling
> qualities or tire life. If you want good handling, buy GOOD tires.
>
> I bought a set of wire wheels for my 56 Dodge a few years back. They came
> with a mounted set of Firestone 721 radials that had very little wear, so
I
> put them on my car. I felt handling was slightly improved in a straight
line
> and on corners, but it also felt a little mushy too. The main problem was
> that these Firestones were square. They were so out-of-round that they
> almost shook my dental fillings out at highway speeds. I tried to get the
> dealer to warranty replace them (just after the big problem with
Firestones
> on Ford SUVs), but they stubbornly refused. This is my second experience
> with Firestones, both bad. I went back to my previous bias-belted tires
and
> I am satisfied. These are G78 -15 WWW Remingtons. They are belted and
> slightly lower and wider than the 1956 original (tall and skinny 83
profile
> 7.75 - 15) tires, and I think this gives better handling than the
originals.
> They will follow a pavement grove slightly, but they don't "jump around or
> sideways" as some folks have reported. Again, repo tires, either radial or
> bias, built for show looks and not quality may result in poor handling
> characteristics when compared to a modern bias tire, or even compared to
the
> original tires back when the car was new.
>
> If you replace a poor tire, either radial or bias, with a better quality
> tire, either radial or bias, and notice an improvement, you have learned
> nothing other than the new tire is better, either radial or bias. But the
> quality factor is usually overlooked and most people see the radial vs.
bias
> as the deciding factor. The only true test is to compare quality tires of
> both designs, with similar size and profile and proper inflation
pressures,
> and then decide which is better. But who is willing to spend big money on
2
> sets of quality tires for a test?
>
> Quality is everything when it comes to tires. I am not aware of any "repo"
> style tires, radial or bias, that I would put on a daily driver that would
> give good handling and tire life. Repos are made for show and parades and
> that is all. Most personal reports I have heard are mediocre handling,
poor
> tire life, and even blow-outs after extended highway driving.
>
> Dave Homstad
> 56 Dodge D500
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Forward Look Mopar Discussion List
> [mailto:L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Josh
> Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 9:39 AM
> To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [FWDLK] And the wheel goes round round round... Radial tire convo
> continues...
>
> I thought I would throw my .02 cents in... with both the 56 Buick Special
> that I once owned and with my 59 Dodge Coronet, I had radial tires. The
> Buick handeled the worst, even after a complete front end rebuild and a
> professional alignment, it was a pain to drive, It had power steering but
it
> almost felt like the tires were always under inflated. The Dodge has also
a
> complete front end rebuild, soon to have another due to Ka***r's poor
> quality parts and a bushing that goes clunk (well it has been 10 years and
> 30k miles) it too has never felt quite right, like the tires were low on
> air. It didn't handle as piggish as the Buick, but as these tires are
almost
> ready to go, I think I will put on some bias ply WW tires.
> Also, if you recall, in the mid 70's the Pontiac Trans AM bosted of it's
> "Radial Tuned Suspension" and even had a plaque on the dash stating such.
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