TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:32 pm

I've decided to stop ignoring the cracked sidewalls on my '50's tires.

I can get the Avon Tourists that I have on there now from Longstone Tyres in the UK, shipped, with tubes for $950 for a set of 5. I like those tires.

At Coker I can get five 500/525-16 B.F.GOODRICH BLACKWALLs shipped for $921. Probably as good of a tire, but they get $42 EACH for tubes, which I think is just plain stupid. Shipping is about the same $$ from either also, believe it or not.

Anyone run the Goodrichs?

Coker can also supply Excelsiors for about $100 less, but still with $42 tubes.

Actually, I bet I could get the tubes from anywhere for a lot less than Coker.

LS tubes are about $19.

Thoughts??

PS: Don't even think about suggesting radials........ :roll:

Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:51 pm

Have you looked here?

They can vulcanize white walls onto black wall tires just incase the only suitable replacement you can find is a black wall. Is there anyone retreading this type of bias ply tires these days?

Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:02 pm

Actually, I should have specified; the tires I have now are blackwalls, and I want to replace them with blackwalls.

I really think the tires I have now are old and the sidewalls are dangerously cracked.

Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:02 pm

Hi John, I use 6x16 tubes in my 5.25x16 tires and they work fine. Last time I bought them from Coker, they were $12/tube.

-joe

Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:24 pm

Yes. You can run a wider sized tube in a tire just fine. I learned this when we were kids on our bikes. Never got a flat from a thorn or whatever after that. Same diameter, but wider. I would do it anyway.

Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:48 pm

Hello-

I'm not fimiliar with Avon tires. What's their repuation?

Thanks,

Paul

Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:34 pm

My Beetle came with Excelsiors 500/525-16 , they have a nice looking sidewall and ride great. I just looked at Cokers website and the tubes are $13.95 each http://store.coker.com/f15-16-500-590-15-16-tr-13-tube.html

Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:48 pm

John, you may want to buy the tires from Coker and tubes elsewhere. Ask where the tubes are made, if they say E.E.C. you don't want them. I had several that were BAD. One tube literally blew up in my face when I put a few lbs. of air in it.

Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:54 pm

The tubes Coker lists for the Goodrich tires are $42, but I'm sure there are others that will work.. and much cheaper.

Tue Jul 14, 2009 7:20 pm

John,
Check with your local motor cycle tire dealer, they sell tubes that will work for a reasonable price and are usually a stock item.
Rich

Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:07 pm

The members here who have posted photos of their cars with the Excelsiors all look great. I have the Firestone 5.00/5.25-16s from Coker on mine, and I think they look a little hefty and would look better on a barndoor than on a Beetle.

Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:56 pm

Excelsior's, baby! 8)

Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:17 am

Those Excelsiors don't look bad, and not all that different from the Avons. But I don't like the really big lettering. OTOH, I can get the E'cels for about $60 less each than the Avons....!

About $650 shipped with tubes from Coker, tubes the list for that tire are $14 ea...

Hmmmmm :-k

Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:31 am

It doesn't really make much difference what brand of tyre you have. They're 16" cross plies, so they're going to handle dreadfully (compared to radials), whatever the brand, and unless you're commuting every day, they're not going to wear out.

It therefore comes down to looks and cost. I've got Avon Tourists on mine, and I'm very happy with them. If I were buying another set though, I'd be very tempted by the Excelsiors, as they're cheaper. You could also consider the Dunlop C18's, which are the same price as the Avon Tourists. I used to run Dunlops on my '65, and was very happy with them.

Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:41 am

Those of us who do drive our old cars find that these reproduction tires are made of a soft compound, and do wear out at twice the rate of a modern radial, if not quicker! But old tires should be replaced every 10 years for safety, and at the mileage we do drive our cars, that works out about right.

Wed Jul 15, 2009 12:01 pm

Rockin motorcycle tires baby!

Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:04 pm

johnshenry wrote: Those Excelsiors don't look bad, and not all that different from the Avons. But I don't like the really big lettering. OTOH, I can get the E'cels for about $60 less each than the Avons....!

About $650 shipped with tubes from Coker, tubes the list for that tire are $14 ea...

Hmmmmm :-k

John, I've been struggling with the same decision for my 51. I'm going with BFGs because of appearance. Just my opinion that they look better.

Coker sent me close up picts of the sidewall and tread patterns of both tires. The picts they have on their web site are generic, and may not match up exactly with the tires they send you.

Gary's `50 sunroof has Dunlops if I recall. They are a beautiful tire, similiar to BFGs but I haven't seen them for sale in the States.

Dustin

Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:16 pm

52brezelfenster wrote: johnshenry wrote: Those Excelsiors don't look bad, and not all that different from the Avons. But I don't like the really big lettering. OTOH, I can get the E'cels for about $60 less each than the Avons....!

About $650 shipped with tubes from Coker, tubes the list for that tire are $14 ea...

Hmmmmm :-k

John, I've been struggling with the same decision for my 51. I'm going with BFGs because of appearance. Just my opinion that they look better.

Coker sent me close up picts of the sidewall and tread patterns of both tires. The picts they have on their web site are generic, and may not match up exactly with the tires they send you.

Gary's `50 sunroof has Dunlops if I recall. They are a beautiful tire, similiar to BFGs but I haven't seen them for sale in the States.

Dustin

Are you getting black or white BFGs??

Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:17 pm

I like the little ribs along the top. Looks vintage. Do the other tires have that as well?

Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:25 pm

johnshenry wrote: 52brezelfenster wrote: johnshenry wrote: Those Excelsiors don't look bad, and not all that different from the Avons. But I don't like the really big lettering. OTOH, I can get the E'cels for about $60 less each than the Avons....!

About $650 shipped with tubes from Coker, tubes the list for that tire are $14 ea...

Hmmmmm :-k

John, I've been struggling with the same decision for my 51. I'm going with BFGs because of appearance. Just my opinion that they look better.

Coker sent me close up picts of the sidewall and tread patterns of both tires. The picts they have on their web site are generic, and may not match up exactly with the tires they send you.

Gary's `50 sunroof has Dunlops if I recall. They are a beautiful tire, similiar to BFGs but I haven't seen them for sale in the States.

Dustin

Are you getting black or white BFGs??

Black BFGs.