1955 Which radial tires are best?

[Texas Tom]

What wide-whitewall radial tires are best for my newly-acquired 1955 TB? The tires on the car when I bought it are 20 years old. Yikes!

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[Lionel]

We run American Classic on our 57. They’re okay but have a slight bulge in the white wall I believe due to the reinforcing cords. Downside they’re worth gold to buy in NZ. !! I replaced the wire wheels with steel wheels due to having to fit tubes in radials tyres. The reinforcing ridges chaffed the tubes even when I without fail used special the talc. See my profile picture.

 

[74 Harley]

@Lionel, did you know that they make radial tubes? It may solve your issue...

 

[Lionel]

@Lionel, did you know that they make radial tubes? It may solve your issue...

Thanks, we unfortunately don’t have any of these in NZ . I’m running tubeless on steel rims now at lower pressures than the wire wheels. We ran around 35/38 psi to try and stop the chafing. We cruise regularly and cover a fair amount of miles each year, I changed the wheels as punctures cost me two tyres around a grand each. Not good!

 

[Chatrat]

My 55 with stock wheels has Diamondback Radials...call them and they will provide u options. Great price and customer relations!

 

[Buffalo Bird]

I also run Coker American Classic whitewall bias-ply look radials. Really happy with them. They don't look completely like bias ply, but close enough to fool most people and the ride is much much better.

 

[doug7740]

What wide-whitewall radial tires are best for my newly-acquired 1955 TB? The tires on the car when I bought it are 20 years old. Yikes!

I just purchased 4 tires for my 1955 Thunderbird. The tire size is 205/75R15, with a 2 1/2" whitewall. The price for the Diamond Back 1 tires was $3.00 more per tire then the price for the Coker Classic Star Series tires. The price to ship the Diamond Back tires to my home was $59.58 more than the price to ship the Coker tires. Since I have Hagerty Car Insurance on my Thunderbird, I was able to get a 10% discount on the purchase of the Coker tires.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

 

[DynoDan55]

I installed DB WW Auburn Premiums last year. They seem fine so far.