Got radials, wow!!

[Normspeed]

After driving my friend's P24 with radials I had to get some, so I've been doing some web research and settled on what I wanted. Today I trekked to 5 tire dealers to compare deals on four Michelin Symmetry P215/70R15 tires. Price range varied by about $100 except Wal mart, a Michelin dealer whose auto dept couldn't give price quotes on Michelins until Monday when the manager was in. Hard to get good help these days.

At the 5th place I took the plunge and swapped my G78-15 Sears Guardsman bias plies (must be 20 years old or more) for the radials. I gotta say I am more than impressed, I am astounded at the difference in ride, cornering and tracking. The old tires looked great but the car, even freshly aligned and with new shocks, was all over the place in rain grooves, bump steer, etc. But with the radials it's a different car. I even took it on the freeway long enough to run it up to 75 for a few miles to be sure they got the balance right, and it was stable as can be.

Thanks to the forum folks who posted the info sbout tirerack.com. It's a great source of info about modern tires as well as a good pricing benchline if you factor in their shipping.

[windsor8]

I know what you're saying. Put a set of radials on my 41 Windsor a couple of years ago and wow! They turned a good driveing car into a great driveing car.

[BobT-47P15]

Had some radials on the convert a few years ago....they were used but sure made it drive better. Replaced them with bias ply wide whites, mainly to get the white part.....but now it seems the wide white radials may be better at maintaining their color. They used to turn kind of dingy brown before too many miles, or at least the ones I saw did. May try some more radials in the future.

[mackster]

You mean your car is getting even better? Now I m Jealous! MKSTR!

[1just4don]

We use those old tires by the gobs around here on various farm machinery. Stick any old thing that holds air, on them. Might have saved you the discard fee,for sure, and then some. We cant get enough old 15's so have to resort to new sometimes, and we cringe when we spend so frivilously. Have many tires every summer that just 'explodes' in the strong sunlight. Probably have 2-300 tires on things around here and constant battle to have ones with 'air' in them. Some MORE important than others...sorry,,,just couldnt resist!!! Tires,,, my least fav subject, yuck!! Wont missem when they are GONE!!

[Young Ed]

Ran into something interesting at the tire shop last time I went. I had 4 good used tires from a dakota I parted out and then my 4 american racing wheels with cruddy tires. Wanted them switched and told them I'd take the old ones back and recylcle them myself for free( we have a community place you can take them to for free). When I came to pick them up the guy said don't worry about it and gave me my wheels with the other tires back.

[1just4don]

your freebie tire recylce place has an agreement with the tire shop(read high volume provider) and they are probably picking them up for free from them,,,OR giving them a tokan dollar or two so they can add to the Christmas party fund!!

[Young Ed]

I'm not sure about that. They are in different suburbs and there are many tire shops in the area. I went to discount tire and in that same 5 mile area there is also tires plus, firestone, and a couple other smaller independant places I don't remember the name of.

[Normspeed]

I told my tire guy I would take the old bias plies because they still had some tread on them, and he said I could do that but the disposal fee is on the new tires not the old ones. So, I let him keep the old ones, maybe someone will need a "Maypop" used tire.

[Plymouthy Adams]

one of them there exercise taxes..where they exercise their right to take your money...