Problem Getting Coker 205/75R14 Mounted on my Wire Wheels on a 57 T bird

[TJShea]

Hello. Once again I am stumped. I bought a 57 T bird last March. It has wire wheels. They are 56 spoke. I know they they are not "original," as out early birds did not come with them as an option. The ones I have I believe are later than the 60s as they have the larger number of spokes. There are no identifying marks/labels, etc on the rims that I can find. It has Hankook Optimo P205/75 R14 tires right now. They were installed about 7 years ago by the previous owner. I was just given a new set of Coker Classic 205/75 R14, wide white walls. Both tires are radials, the Hankooks and the Cokers.
The person I bought the car from said he had Coker radial tubes put inside when he had the Hankook tires installed as wire wheels could easily leak. The new Coker tires were delivered to a tire shop that was listed as installers for the tire. However, when I went there to have them installed, they refused to do the work. They sent a photo to their district manager, he said the car was "too valuable" for them to work on????? And they were the ones who originally installed the Hankook tires 7 years ago. That didn't change their minds.

I then tried Discount Tire, as they are listed as dealing with Coker Tires. They would install the new tires, but they would not install tubes. They said they would do the work, but if the wheel leaked, it would be "my issue." They also told me that if it leaked they could not reinstall the old tire with the tube that they would be taking off!!!! I was told that you cannot install a tube with a tubeless tire...but that is how it was installed 7 years ago. sheesh!

I have no idea if the wheel will leak with just the tubeless tire. I know many folks have the wire wheels with tubeless tires. Anyone have an answer?

This page contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated. As an eBay Partner, and Amazon Associate I may be compensated if you make a purchase at no cost to you.

 

[MRansom]

I do not have an answer, but cannot understand their reluctance. My 56 has wire wheels with radial tires & I assume they have tubesi side. Tires are older, but in good shape, and will requirereplacement.

 

[TJShea]

I do not have an answer, but cannot understand their reluctance. My 56 has wire wheels with radial tires & I assume they have tubesi side. Tires are older, but in good shape, and will requirereplacement.

Me either. I don't understand the issue either It did not seem to exist 7 years ago.

 

[Ward 57]

Lawyers must have gotten involved somewhere down the line and they don't like real wire wheels. just make sure the inner lining in the wheel is in good shape and you could even get some flex paste self curing rubber past and cover each spoke inside the wheel and you should be good to go with tubeless.

 

[TJShea]

Lawyers must have gotten involved somewhere down the line and they don't like real wire wheels. just make sure the inner lining in the wheel is in good shape and you could even get some flex paste self curing rubber past and cover each spoke inside the wheel and you should be good to go with tubeless.

Never thought of flex seal Might be a good option

 

[thessler]

I think you might be over thinking this. Spoke wheels will leak unless you make up some concoction and apply it yourself because a tire store won't, then they might not leak.
Radial tubes are designed to install in Radial tires, they won't leak. I would just go to a local tire shop not a chain store and hand them the tires and tubes and put them on, they will be fine. Forget authorized installers it's just a tire.
Just a thought, Tom

 

[TJShea]

I found a place that deals with vintage cars. They will do a proper install. Just never ran into this before Years ago I had a Triumph and a Model A . Both had wire wheels. No radials on the Model A, but the Triumph did. I had tubes installed with the wire wheels. This was in the Seattle area and I used a great place called Les Schwab. They didn't even charge for the Model A.

I think you might be over thinking this. Spoke wheels will leak unless you make up some concoction and apply it yourself because a tire store won't, then they might not leak.
Radial tubes are designed to install in Radial tires, they won't leak. I would just go to a local tire shop not a chain store and hand them the tires and tubes and put them on, they will be fine. Forget authorized installers it's just a tire.
Just a thought, Tom

I found a place that does work on vintage cars. They will do a proper install, to include tubes if necessary. Someone above suggested flex seal on the inner wheel to cover the wire nibbles. I see ads for that where there is a paste that turns virtually to rubber That may work although I would be concerned about getting it on even. I also have heard/red about using a type of rubberized tape or even Gorilla tape. . The shop works on quite a number of vintage cars, so I figure they know what to do. Just surprised that the place that mounted them last time will not even work on the car now, and the place that deals in Coker tires will not use the radial tubes inside of the Coker radial tubeless tire mounted on wire wheels.

 

[John R. Dulin]

You might have to find a classic car specialist. Most mechanic's, tire distributors, body shops, etc. are set up for and familiar with modern day autos, and don't
know how to work on or fix a 50 or 60 year old classic car. They depend upon computers to give them the answer, tell them what is wrong and how to fix it.
I have no maintence and repair problems, YET! with my 1978 T-Bird; but have had two shops who refused to touch my 57!

 

[jack-in-sac]

Thanks. I am in the Las Vegas area. I found a place that deals with vintage cars. They will do a proper install. Just never ran into this before Years ago I had a Triumph and a Model A . Both had wire wheels. No radials on the Model A, but the Triumph did. I had tubes installed with the wire wheels. This was in the Seattle area and I used a great place called Les Schwab. They didn't even charge for the Model A.

I am glad you found a spot for the mounting. It sure seems like there shouldn't be a problem. Sometimes i wonder if the people who write these regulations have any practical experience with what they are regulating. Anyway, Glad you are able to get work done.

 

[iwinyouwin]

Many rural and near rural areas that service farms will be able to do this. I am in the Chicago area and went to a Farm and Fleet in the western suburbs and they put tubes and tires on when I had the wire wheels. Granted that it has been a few years and I switched to aluminum wheels a couple of years later when I had two bad (non-original) wire wheels and repairing them was as expensive as buying replacements.

 

[MYTFAST]

take a look at this site Tubeless wire wheels,Please read this!! (britishcarforum.com) and then also google search using.. auto wire wheels with tube inside tubeless tire ....and read the list of responses you'll get revealing many different opinions!

 

[Critterpainer]

Chain stores and older cars don't go together. Actually I would let Coker know that the tire shop that they sold the tires to would NOT mount them. Most chain stores will NOT fix or install an out-of-date tire on a rim, even if its just as a "roller". Also they want to know the factory lug nut torque or they will overtighten them. That does not work well on my Metropolitan 30 pound lug nuts. Much tighter and the stud will snap. I also mount my own clincher tires on my Model T.

 

[TJShea]

Chain stores and older cars don't go together. Actually I would let Coker know that the tire shop that they sold the tires to would NOT mount them. Most chain stores will NOT fix or install an out-of-date tire on a rim, even if its just as a "roller". Also they want to know the factory lug nut torque or they will overtighten them. That does not work well on my Metropolitan 30 pound lug nuts. Much tighter and the stud will snap. I also mount my own clincher tires on my Model T.

Thanks. The one place would mount them, they just would not put the Coker radial tubes in the radial tires on the wire wheels. And, if the wire wheel leaked without a tube they would not replace the tube and tire they took off. The original place, who, 7 years ago, mounted the tires I am replacing, now would not work on the car at all. They felt if they damaged it putting the tires/wheels on it would be too expensive to fix. They took a photo, sent it to their district manager, and he told them they could not work on it.

Took everyone's advice and found a place the specializes in vintage vehicle repair and restoration. They will do the work, and fix some the things I had been putting off. Plus, they took the fender skirts off, unlike the other places that wouldn't touch them....