VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 New Tires

Getting ready to install new Lester tires on my 32. Just wanted to know if balancing is required?

Absolutely!

I didn't have to balance new Lesters on my '31 Special Sedan. They are good looking tires, very smooth and with no problems. They fit in the fender wells without being de-inflated, some tire brands do not.

Which ones? How about Goodyears?

So are these 18" tires balanced on a the same type computerized spin balance machine as modern tires? Someone told me to use beads? I had never herd of that before.

I had the tires on my 32 spin balanced and the weights were put on the inside per the recommendation of Coker Tire.

A friend of mine (a biker dude) had the tires on his bike ballanced with some form of beads that went inside the tube. Not sure how it works but he didnt want any weights on his spokes.

4.75 x 5.00 x 19 B. F. Goodrich tires on my '31 Cabriolet are too wide to get in or out of the fender wells if fully inflated. On a recent VCCA tour with this car there was no air in the spares and I carried a battery operated compressor. Another problem with the BFGs is that they keep getting a muddy looking residue or oxidation that's not easily cleaned off.

I put 4.75x 19 on my 31 coupe that were Goodyear. I know that the 4.75x5.00 do not go into the wheel well without being flat. The 4.75 with air are still a little tight getting them into the wheel well.

A friend recently purchased some 525/550x18 tires from Coker and they are impossible to get the "muddy" look off the whitewall. Coker recommended wetsanding with 600 grit paper to see if the discoloration goes all the way thru the whitewall or is only on the surface. I remember a posting previously that discussed a similar problem but could not find it via the search button. If anyone knows the result of that post I would be interested in the conclussion.

Westley's makes a good tire cleaner.

One other thing I like about the Lester tires is that the spare wheel clamps fit the shape of the tire perfectly.

Are we saying Goodrich or Goodyear? I would like to put Goodyears on my car when it is completed because the tread pattern is correct. Don't know about Goodrich.

Lucas tires Delivered 6 new Lester white walls Last Friday. I had them mounted and after I cleaned the blue coating off the white walls I found defects with the tires. I sent Lucas photos yesterday of the defects in the sidewalls. All six have defects as well as over two year old production dates. Lucas checked there current stock and has told me they are all defective as well. Lucas said they are going to ship a new set directly from the manufacturer based on the the cracks in the sidewalls. Will see where this goes, I will keep you guys posted.

Shipped direct from the manufacturer? Do they mean China or where the tires made in the USA?

Benjamin Franklin Goodrich, at the time I bought them from Coker they were advertised as just like original B F Goodrich Silvertown tires but the tread and side letters are different and there is a flat surface in the outer sidewalls that makes them fatter. On a '32 I have 550 x 18 BFGs, another different tread pattern, just the right size for the car in my opinion, but I can get away with that because the only spare wheel is on the back. And there's been no muddy residue problem with the 18" BFGs.

I believe they said the manufacturer was Universal. The tires I have are 525/550/18 Lester white walls and stamped "Made in the USA".They will fit in the 32 side mount fender wells. After working most of my life around heavy trucks and equipment I learned that even new tires must have meticulous inspection before installation.By the way, Nothing stamped "Made In China" will ever be installed on either of my Classics.

Good going! By the way, every tire on either my old cars or my modern vehicles were also made in the USA. No "Made in China" crap tires on my cars either!

I'm glad to here that Mr.Dog. I Just wish more people felt that way.

I have been using the Lesley's cleaner. My tire dealer informed me that it is too harsh and while it does clean the whitewall it will cause the whitewall to check and crack. Having used it for the last ten years and I can verify that he is correct. They suggested regular household cleaners such as Simple Green, which I tried and it seems to do a good job.

Thanks for the info 6840 on the White Wall cleaner. However if you read my complete post you will see that My tires with sidewall cracking are brand new with zero miles just purchased from Lucas Classic Tires.

I have used Wesleys Bleach White on my tires for over 40 years with no problem with cracks.

I New replacement tires are not cracked as well

Perhaps the composition of the newer whitewalls has changed. I usually try to follow mfg recommendations so that if a problem develops the mfg will be willing to assist. My whitewalls do look good from 20 feet so maybe I'm being too fussy.

As I have said these tires are brand new,0 miles. If any of you have recently purchased new tires you may want to inspect them for a hairline cracks in the sidewalls

Same here!