tires

[jacks58]

I have recently purchased a 58 Special, 4 dr hdtp. Car has biased ply tires that need repalcement. Will the car handle well if I mount Corker radials on the stock wheels? What consideration should be given to shocks? Thanks for your input

[Mika Jaakkola]

Hi Jack,

check out this subject about bias-plys we had couple of weeks ago:

http://forums.aaca.org/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/505463#Post505463

[Barry Wolk]

It was my experience that the stock wheels were too weak for radials. The rigid side wall was just fine with the bias-ply but the hubcaps creaked something fierce with radials. I ordered new wheels from Coker for about $60 each. I weighed the new wheels and they are 5 pounds heavier than the stock wheels. This extra metal strengthens the wheels and the creaking went away. The problem of hubcaps rotating and bending the valve stem persisted with the new wheels. I installed heavy-duty metal valve stems and the problem disappeared.

To compensate for a clearance problem with radials (they have a larger cross-section) the previous owner installed spacers in-between the wheels and drums. I ordered the new wheels with a 3/4" difference in back-set, making the wheelbase 1.5" wider and eliminated the spacers.

Another advantage to new wheels is that they will have the anti-roll ridge that keeps radials from folding under in hard cornering, not that you'd do that or anything.

I like the ride of the tires but they were difficult to balance and vibrate at higher speeds.

[Guest elmo39]

i have had 185r15 radials fitted to my 54 desoto diplomat for 18 years and have had no problems with the hubcaps creaking, the tyres folding under when cornering, nor have i had prolems with balancing ,and they have never vibrated at high speeds and i have driven this car hard at times , i will say that when i fitted the tyres i also fitted radial tubes,which i think is a must with the original wheels.

[Dave@Moon]

I put over 13,000 miles on my 1960 Buick LeSabre (which I think is the exact same wheel as the 1958) with no problems whatsoever. The car handled wonderfully too!

[jacks58]

Thanks for the input. What make of vehicle did you experience the problem with? If a 58, what size radial did you go with? Interestingly enough, a Corker rep has told me the stock wheels will work fine.

[Barry Wolk]

Never said you would have a problem. My preference was to use a wheel that was designed for a radial tire.

The width of the radial tire interfered with the upper ball joint on my Mark II convertible. I chose to eliminate the spacers. That was the reason for the custom back-set.