Re: What’s being used for street tires
[Re: Neil]
#3237919
06/11/24 02:57 PM
06/11/24 02:57 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 532 Charlotte, NC
Kowal
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 532
Charlotte, NC
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M/T Sportsman S/T radials are better than the BFG Radial T/A tires if you're trying to stay with a white letter tire.
M/T radial tires are made by Cooper also. I run M/T radials as well, they are a much nicer ride than the T/A’s. Both Cooper and M/T are owned by Continental Tire. BF Goodrich isn’t making the 15” T/A’s anymore, that is now done by Coker as I understand it.
Last edited by Kowal; 06/15/24 07:39 PM.
'69 Hemi Charger 500, ‘70 U code Challenger R/T (These and a bunch others at www.dkowal426.com) P.J. O'Rouke: "The old car ran perfectly, right up until it didn't."
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Re: What’s being used for street tires
[Re: A727Tflite]
#3237942
06/11/24 03:49 PM
06/11/24 03:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,417 Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,417
Marion, South Carolina [><]
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I like Cooper Cobras. I have a set on my 454SS, a good friend has them on his '70 Challenger R/T, and I'm fixing to put a new set on the '69 road runner.
CHIP '70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60 '69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60 '71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75 '73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75 '90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt '06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
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Re: What’s being used for street tires
[Re: Kowal]
#3238206
06/12/24 05:25 PM
06/12/24 05:25 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,324 Prospect, PA
BSB67
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,324
Prospect, PA
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BF Goodrich isn’t making the 15” T/A’s anymore, that is now done by Coker as I understand it. What is your evidence or source of info for this statement? They are still listed on the BF Goodrich web site and can purchase them at any dealer. I have used BFG for years and just put a new set on. No problems.
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Re: What’s being used for street tires
[Re: BSB67]
#3238230
06/12/24 07:34 PM
06/12/24 07:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,665 Port Huron, Michigan
MI_Custumz
master
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master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,665
Port Huron, Michigan
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BF Goodrich isn’t making the 15” T/A’s anymore, that is now done by Coker as I understand it. What is your evidence or source of info for this statement? They are still listed on the BF Goodrich web site and can purchase them at any dealer. I have used BFG for years and just put a new set on. No problems. I just got 15" BFG a few weeks ago.
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Re: What’s being used for street tires
[Re: A727Tflite]
#3238304
06/13/24 09:41 AM
06/13/24 09:41 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,370 Benton, IL.
DaveRS23
Special needs idiot
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Special needs idiot
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,370
Benton, IL.
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I mount and balance a fair amount of tires, used and new. If they have your size available, front line Michelins are the best tires that I come across. They are all I run on my personal stuff. Just remember that the mass marketer's Michelins are not necessarily the same as the front line tires.
We use Michelin Defenders on our cars and trucks. They simply take less weight to balance and are consistently ROUND. So many tires that I come across now are not round. Many are kinda egg shaped. And no amount of weights will take that vibration out of the vehicle.
And if you need a relatively common size, don't forget the late model wrecking yards for good used tires. Typically $150 to $250 a set for 80% to 90% tread tires. And occasionally 100% tread tires from new vehicles that were salvaged which happens more often than you would think.
Master, again and still
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Re: What’s being used for street tires
[Re: DaveRS23]
#3238334
06/13/24 01:30 PM
06/13/24 01:30 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,114 Michigan
A727Tflite
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,114
Michigan
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I mount and balance a fair amount of tires, used and new. If they have your size available, front line Michelins are the best tires that I come across. They are all I run on my personal stuff. Just remember that the mass marketer's Michelins are not necessarily the same as the front line tires.
We use Michelin Defenders on our cars and trucks. They simply take less weight to balance and are consistently ROUND. So many tires that I come across now are not round. Many are kinda egg shaped. And no amount of weights will take that vibration out of the vehicle.
And if you need a relatively common size, don't forget the late model wrecking yards for good used tires. Typically $150 to $250 a set for 80% to 90% tread tires. And occasionally 100% tread tires from new vehicles that were salvaged which happens more often than you would think. It still surprises me how many tire stores still use an old balancer design. Over 25 years ago I found this out with the introduction (to me) of the Hunter Road Force Variation balancer. It has a roller that loads the tire with approx. 700 lbs of load. It catches tires with varying sidewall stiffness. Tire is round but, a soft section then a firm sidewall section can make the tire “hop”. It will balance perfectly but will hop down the road.
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Re: What’s being used for street tires
[Re: A727Tflite]
#3238367
06/13/24 05:02 PM
06/13/24 05:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,370 Benton, IL.
DaveRS23
Special needs idiot
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Special needs idiot
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,370
Benton, IL.
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There may be instances where the road force balancer would be better. I used to have some tires balanced that way. But after balancing several sets myself and then having them road force balanced just to test, I could never tell a difference when driving the vehicle. So, I haven't had any tires road force balanced in years.
Again, there may be a place for it. But it sounds like you are talking about tires with 'issues' that go beyond what is 'normal'. If road force discovered a 'soft spot' in a tire, I would not want to try to 'balance' it out of that. Good used tires are only about $50+/-. I would move on to the next tire. Personally, I have not experienced that myself, unless the out-of-round that I do see frequently is how a soft spot exhibits itself. That is possible. Either way, my opinion is that anything that compromises the roundness of the tire is not going to be 'fixed or covered up' by balancing. Any kind of balancing.
That is just my opinion based on experience. Your mileage may vary.
I did consider buying a 'tire shaver' for a while a few years ago when it seemed that I was seeing a large number of out-of-round tires. But they are expensive and the yards will always take their tires back, so..................
Master, again and still
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Re: What’s being used for street tires
[Re: DaveRS23]
#3238369
06/13/24 05:21 PM
06/13/24 05:21 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,114 Michigan
A727Tflite
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,114
Michigan
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There may be instances where the road force balancer would be better. I used to have some tires balanced that way. But after balancing several sets myself and then having them road force balanced just to test, I could never tell a difference when driving the vehicle. So, I haven't had any tires road force balanced in years.
Again, there may be a place for it. But it sounds like you are talking about tires with 'issues' that go beyond what is 'normal'. If road force discovered a 'soft spot' in a tire, I would not want to try to 'balance' it out of that. Good used tires are only about $50+/-. I would move on to the next tire. Personally, I have not experienced that myself, unless the out-of-round that I do see frequently is how a soft spot exhibits itself. That is possible. Either way, my opinion is that anything that compromises the roundness of the tire is not going to be 'fixed or covered up' by balancing. Any kind of balancing.
That is just my opinion based on experience. Your mileage may vary.
I did consider buying a 'tire shaver' for a while a few years ago when it seemed that I was seeing a large number of out-of-round tires. But they are expensive and the yards will always take their tires back, so.................. I think we are saying the same thing. A bad tire is a bad tire. I have seen new tires installed that were balanced on convention machines. Customer was upset so the store rebalanced them to no avail. Customer goes to a different store that has one of these machines and they find the tire is bad. It passed the scrutiny of the regular store with old equipment. Best analogy is you can balance a square tire and wheel but it won’t ride very nice.
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Re: What’s being used for street tires
[Re: Dcuda69]
#3238454
06/14/24 09:53 AM
06/14/24 09:53 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,370 Benton, IL.
DaveRS23
Special needs idiot
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Special needs idiot
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,370
Benton, IL.
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All this actually goes back to the quality of the tires themselves. Which does not necessarily relate to price. Some marginal tires may be made acceptable with special attention, materials, and machinery. But good quality tires only need a competent tech using a good machine to achieve success. Personally, I don't see the value of going though the gymnastics and expense of trying to 'save' marginal tires. Just move on and replace it/them. That would be best in the long run. At least for the customer. If there are balancing issues, there could also be 'other' problems that are less obvious. But who here has seen a tire tech/shop reject a new tire? It rarely, if ever, happens. They just do whatever is necessary to get that/those tires on the vehicle and out of the shop. Special machinery and materials that try to get acceptable results out of otherwise unacceptable tires really only benefits the tire manufacturers and tire shops. Not the end customer, in my opinion. If more of the marginal tires were rejected rather than 'saved', their manufacturers may be forced to make some 'adjustments'. There may be special situations and circumstances where extra ordinary machines, techniques, and materials are necessary and desirable. But they should not be necessary for typical applications.
Master, again and still
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Re: What’s being used for street tires
[Re: DaveRS23]
#3238458
06/14/24 10:11 AM
06/14/24 10:11 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,114 Michigan
A727Tflite
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,114
Michigan
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All this actually goes back to the quality of the tires themselves. Which does not necessarily relate to price. Some marginal tires may be made acceptable with special attention, materials, and machinery. But good quality tires only need a competent tech using a good machine to achieve success. Personally, I don't see the value of going though the gymnastics and expense of trying to 'save' marginal tires. Just move on and replace it/them. That would be best in the long run. At least for the customer. If there are balancing issues, there could also be 'other' problems that are less obvious. But who here has seen a tire tech/shop reject a new tire? It rarely, if ever, happens. They just do whatever is necessary to get that/those tires on the vehicle and out of the shop. Special machinery and materials that try to get acceptable results out of otherwise unacceptable tires really only benefits the tire manufacturers and tire shops. Not the end customer, in my opinion. If more of the marginal tires were rejected rather than 'saved', their manufacturers may be forced to make some 'adjustments'. There may be special situations and circumstances where extra ordinary machines, techniques, and materials are necessary and desirable. But they should not be necessary for typical applications. I agree with much you say here. What brought my attention to the Hunter balancer was my new 1999 Dakota Sport. When I picked it up off the lot it drove smooth as glass eventually developing this annoying vibration/wobble. Dealer balanced the tires twice to no avail. Took it to the Goodyear store and they balanced them and said all was good and couldn’t do any more. I worked in Powertrain and got to know some of the Zone Office tech guys, one had me go to a dealer that had the Hunter. They ran the tires across the machine, saw high loads, broke the tires down and moved them on the rims and got 3 to acceptable numbers. Replaced the bad one. Problem fixed. So your point is correct - the Goodyear store should have replaced them but wouldn’t. Not sure if out of ignorance or simply financial reasons.
Last edited by A727Tflite; 06/14/24 01:24 PM.
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