Choices, choices, choices

[47heaven]

Ok, guys. Here's my new senario. As I had mentioned on the Arizona Fun Run thread...I had to buy new radial tires for my P15. Due to this, I lost my bias ply whitewalls. Now, I love the radials and the difference in the ride they give me, but I really still like the whitewall look. I have three choices to chose from and need a little advice on which would be the best.

1. Snap-on metal whitewalls: Someone I know has offered to give me a set of these that he is no longer using. The only problem is that his are for 16" and my rims are 15". The question was brought up about possibly doing something to shorten them through means of fabrication, but can't quite figure out how to do it without possibly destroying them. Where would the shortening have to be done on the ring to make it fit? I personally have never seen them up close before. I would like to jump on these, but there's no sense in taking them if what I have planned to do will ruin them and they still don't fit.

2. Paint on whitewalls: A link from Ebay showing a new type of whitewall paint was sent to me from a friend. I'm not familiar with this procedure so I'm not quite sold on it. According to the photos, the results look nice, but how long will they last for? To me, nothing is more embarrassing then to have painted on whitewals and it looks like it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230341095619&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:MOTORS:1123

3. Porta walls: I've heard of these before, but have never seen how they look up close by themselves or on a tire. I heard they look pretty close to an original whitewall, but after a while start to disengage from the tire, peel and curl...etc. Has anyone on here used these on their cars before?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nova-Chevy-Buick-Ford-NOS-15White-Wall-Portawall-Set_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1171Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem4145bc7cb7QQitemZ280342854839QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

So, there is my ordeal. Do I make a choice or just wait until some 15" snap on Lyon whitewalls come around? I don't want to go out and buy wide whitewall radials because (1) I just bought these and (2) I don't have $250+ to pay for each tire. So any advice would be helpful.

Thanks,

Darin

PS: Here's another method I read online about using Rustoleum plastic paint. See what you think:

http://www.renaultcaravelle.com/tips.html]

[RobertKB]

I have had the same porta-walls on my Dodge D25 for over 20 years. One of them has even survived going flat. It is all in the technique used to put them on. It's best if you can go to a tire store with an old time tire guy who is familiar with them. I am about to change tires but only because these have worn out. These porta-walls are on bias ply tires but I am not sure how well they will work with radials. Picture was taken last year.

[power_hungry]

I had porta-walls on the '39 Chevy I had in high school (35 years ago) and they held up well while I owned the car, about 8 years.

My cousin said he had problems with them 'spinning out' as speeds nearing 100 mph.

[greg g]

bcause of th sidewal design and flex of the radial design portawalls may not be satisfactory for use with them. Bisa ply tires are nice and stiff and the sidewall doesnt move around much.

check this out

http://www.mbzponton.org/valueadded/other/tirepaint.htm

[Plymouthy Adams]

As Greg points out..only a couple choices..here is another product that is available within the US that should not tie up any red tape or expensive overseas shipping..I will admit I have no personal testifmony to the end results using this product..their pint can claims 3 coat coverage on 4 tires...at 9.00 a pint..order two to be sure and have touch up in case you curb one of them bad boys...

http://www.rangerpaint.com/products/white-sidewall

Edited May 10, 2009 by Tim Adams

[Don Coatney]

Are the new tires you bought skinny whites turned inside? If so you can make them wide whites by grinding the black rubber on the sidewall. The wide white is already in the tires.

Follow this link

[aero3113]

I hear Krylon Fusion spray paint works good on tires. There are some people that have used this paint on the forum and say it holds up good.

[Robin (UK)]

Portawalls are not meant to be used on radial tires.

The Portawall rubs against the flexing sidewall and, in time, will actually cut a groove into the tire and weaken it.

Hope this info helps.

Robin.