I have a 1955 Chevrolet 3100 pickup. Can I use radial tubeless tires on the standard rims without using tubes. I think a made a big mistake. I wanted to keep the truck as original as possible, so I ordered 600X16 whitewall bias ply tires from Coker. The tires appear to out of round. The truck feels as though I am driving over a washboard road. Is it me, or has anyone else had problems with Coker????
I bought the same size tires, with the wide white walls as well. Only, I decided to go with a radial tire.I actually had to use tubes. My old rims just didn't want to hold a the bead from the tire. The tubes have worked out just fine. One of the challenges with a bias ply tire, is when the sit for a while, they develop a flat spot. It is should eventually, go away as you drive and your tire warms up. If it doesn't, I would contact Coker Tire. The communication that I have had with them has been outstanding. Hope this helps.
I tried airing up a tire without a tube in it, left it on the shop floor overnight, sure enough, it was flat the next day. I've been running tubes in all my radials for years now, no issues.
The key to getting original rims to hold air is to: -start with non-pitted rims (especially the tire bead area). -sand blast them inside and out. -epoxy primer. -use epoxy on the rivet heads inside the rims.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
If your tires have been stored for an extended period in the vertical position, you may never be able to get the flat spot out. Always store bias ply tires laying flat on their sidewalls, not upright on the tread.
Re Coker Tire: I have gotten more than one set of defective tires from them, but they were excellent about replacing them.
If you do revert to radials, make sure to use a radial tube, specifically made for use in a radial tire.
. Always store bias ply tires laying flat on their sidewalls, not upright on the tread.
.
I disagree with this statement .
My experience was ,I bought some tyres that I knew had been stored for several years , stacked flat as above , they were on my truck less than 2 months and I noticed cracking between the treads , at the tyre shop , the first thing the shop owner said was "stacked flat!" FAIL ! I had to buy new ones . When I worked for the local airline , the dozens of tyres were all stored in racks , in the vertical position . The storage room was cool and dark .
442, I can’t speak to Coker tires. But I do have many years of experence with bias tires, to help with flat spots try this. First , drive the truck more than a couple miles on a warm day on good road. Prehaps a trip of 10 miles or so. The issue may well disappear as the tires round out. If so, when you park it for the night try putting it up on jack stands (block it up or whatever method you have, not every night of course, just as a test since thay’ll stay round with no weight on them). This really helps when a bias tire vehicle sets for more than a few days in the winter.
The tires appear to out of round. The truck feels as though I am driving over a washboard road. Is it me, or has anyone else had problems with Coker????
I had the identical issue with Coker bias ply tires. Below is what I ran into. The image only shows the rear tires. I had the same problems with the front. Don't expect much out of Coker. They told me that's the way bias ply tires are by nature.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet. The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion. Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
Find a tire store that can true and balance your tires. I had my bias ply tires trued and balanced. They rode very smoothly. I was quite pleased.
Wayne 1938 1-Ton Farm Truck Stovebolt Gallery Forums 1989 Silverado 1996 Mustang GT convertible When I die, I hope she doesn't sell everything for what I told her I paid for it!
. Always store bias ply tires laying flat on their sidewalls, not upright on the tread. .
Originally Posted by Dusty
I disagree with this statement .
My experience was ,I bought some tyres that I knew had been stored for several years , stacked flat as above , they were on my truck less than 2 months and I noticed cracking between the treads , at the tyre shop , the first thing the shop owner said was "stacked flat!" FAIL ! I had to buy new ones .
I had the opposite experience: flat-spotted bias ply tires, had to have them shaved to make them round again. Tire store told me "Never store them upright or they'll flat spot."
So you had cracking from storing flat, I had flat spotting from storing upright. Bottom line evidently is that bias ply tires can't be stored very long in ANY DIRECTION or they will take a set.
My experience with bias tire flat spotting is the flat spot goes away after driving a few blocks. I've never had to have one shaved because of flat spotting due to storage.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet. The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion. Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
My experience with bias tire flat spotting is the flat spot goes away after driving a few blocks. I've never had to have one shaved because of flat spotting due to storage.
I've had a few sets of bias ply tires that were permanently flat spotted from sitting for ages with low air pressure and full weight of the car. Essentially ruined. If you're not driving your car for months it's beneficial to get the tires off the ground, or move it forward and backward every few weeks.
Some tire stores and warehouses have wooden, or metal racks that hold the tires vertical but support them with boards or planks that are canted at a 30-45 degree angle and contact the tire at approx. 4 and 8 o'clock.
...yep, got a good deal on a set of new tires and rims early in the restoration of my panel. Never thought much with just the chassis sitting on the tires (radials) and it sat a good while with the body/engine on them. The very day I was "finished" with it I drove it to the home coming in Md. and bounced there and back. tires flat sided so I just went ahead and put a new set on. No more bouncy, bouncy. .....some magazines, years ago, said the first thing to do is put a set of tires/wheels on a resto to keep you motivated. Yeah right. That is the LAST thing I do...unless a great deal comes along! Just my .02..........and yes, I have had tires seem flat and round out a little later when hot and a few miles at hot speeds.
About 10 years ago I bought four 650-16 bias-ply Firestone/Coker tires. The compound must be different than it was way back because my tires do not flat spot even sitting in the garage for 5 months. They run smooth and I am very pleased with them. They do have that bias-ply wander at times.
1949 Chevy 1/2-Ton "Sedgewick" In the Gallery 1989 Caprice
I have had really good luck with my Coker STA transport highway tread tires. 650 by 16. They are 6 ply and run really smooth . Not like other bias I have not been happy with in the past, but this is a truck tire.
1953 Chevrolet 3100 261 cu inch, sm420, 3.55 rear, torque tube still,omaha orange, still 6 volt, RPO green glass, side carrier spare, all done In the DITY Gallery Video of the 261 running
1964 GMC 1000 305 Big Block V6, sm420, the next cab off restoration
