2004 Tire recommendations & Window Glare | Ford Thunderbird club group 1955-2005 T-Bird models

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2004 Tire recommendations & Window Glare

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robertfligel
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Robertfligel

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I am a new Thunderbird owner. 2004 one owner car with 55,000
miles and loving it. I live in the Northeast.
A few questions please.

1.The existing tires are KumhO7. Any recommendations for "better" all weather tires that would be perhaps a smoother ride and reduce the creaks and rattles a little better.

2. The night headlight windshield glare from the front and the back is a challenge. Any suggestions of which of the available commercial options/coatings to use for improvement.

Thank you

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Robertfligel said:
I am a new Thunderbird owner. 2004 one owner car with 55,000
miles and loving it. I live in the Northeast.
A few questions please.

1.The existing tires are KumhO7. Any recommendations for "better" all weather tires that would be perhaps a smoother ride and reduce the creaks and rattles a little better.

2. The night headlight windshield glare from the front and the back is a challenge. Any suggestions of which of the available commercial options/coatings to use for improvement.

Thank you
Click to expand...
I also have an 04. The most important thing about tires is the date code. With modern rubber compounds over 10 years since manufacture is getting risky. I have Coopers and they are smooth and quiet. I live in Michigan and never drive in rain or snow. Best of driving with your 'new' 04!
 
When we bought our Tbird last August it had General tires from 2014. To prep it for this summer's driving we got Pirelli P7 AS3 replacements. Quiet, smooth ride, and reasonably priced. Didn't want to pay for the overpriced Michelins.
 
I have an 2005, live in Minnesota and use it as a daily driver 365 days a year. I am using Bridgestone Weatherrpeak all climate tire and they work well in all kinds of weather. Because of the softer rubber compound, they don't handle as well as touring or all-seasons, but still are pretty good.
 
I was gifted a 2002 with 33k about a year ago by my father-in-law. It had 12 year old tires and although I can’t argue with any of the tire recommendations here, I replaced the old tires with Michelin’s and, unfortunately, it made no difference. Soooo…I’d be remiss if I didn’t suggest that you have the front and rear suspension inspected as they are common maintenance issues…IF the previous owner ignored them as badly as my father in law did, they may need attention, especially if the car sat more than it was driven.

Unfortunately, my car had worn-out bushings in the control arms and sway bar links, which can cause the rattling noises. Additionally, I had deteriorating boots on the ball joints.

That said, I ordered the parts, took care of it with the help of a friend, and absolutely love the car. I’m in Massachusetts, and my wife drives it all summer long.

Good luck!
 
I replaced the tires on my 2003 with Michelin CrossClimate2 tires. I noticed better handling & braking immediately, and better traction in the rain. I went up a size and the car runs quieter (just a little, but enough to notice) and am now waiting for snow to see how she handles that,
 
Robertfligel said:
I am a new Thunderbird owner. 2004 one owner car with 55,000
miles and loving it. I live in the Northeast.
A few questions please.

1.The existing tires are KumhO7. Any recommendations for "better" all weather tires that would be perhaps a smoother ride and reduce the creaks and rattles a little better.

2. The night headlight windshield glare from the front and the back is a challenge. Any suggestions of which of the available commercial options/coatings to use for improvement.

Thank you
Click to expand...
Robert, the creaks and rattles are probably caused by your hardtop slightly moving. Many years ago for my 2024 PCR I bought the 3 stainless steel thin strips that are
placed directly on the back, in front of the trunk where the hard top rests. Ford originally included mylar strips for this purpose........ but trust me these strips fit
perfectly , they cover up the scratches that you probably have where the top rests, and they make the hard top super snug. The strips are chromed and are beautiful
when the top is off. They adhere with the adhesive when you pull of the tape from the back of the strips. You should be able to find a vendor.... I would go to
google and look.... they won't be cheap but are worth the investment. Good Luck Fred
 
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