Tire assistance please.

[Donzie]

I'm currently running bias-ply tires on the '49 and I want to switch to radials...ok, who said "whimp"?
What I have now is (front) 6.50 on a 5x15 rim, (rear) G78 on a 7x15 rim. The front tire is a little more than 25" tall and the rear are about 27 1/2".
Here's my dilemma. I have a small amount of cash to spend (oh, there's a surprize!), maybe $300. I'm looking at narrow whitewall radial tires, like Uniroyals. 205-70-15 and 215-70-15. Both sizes are about 26" tall. This would lower the rear slighty which is ok with me. But I'm not sure how the car will look with narrow whites. I've been told it won't look good, it needs wide whites (easy to say when it's not your money).
I've priced porta-walls. I can get a set of 4 15" for $100. The tires I'm looking at are a little more than $200. Ok, so there's my budget.
Is this a good plan? Better ideas, anyone?
Here's how the car looks now.

[Grumpy]

Sell you bias-plys and apply money to your stash and I'll get you 4 new Diamondbacks for $540.
I'll even drive 3hrs. again to meet you in Toledo for delivery.
Huh? thinkin' about it aren't ya! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Donzie]

Actually, selling the bias-plys is where I'm coming up with most of the money. But I'm willing to accept charity. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Side note: My wife drove the car tonite for the first time. We were going in to town and I said "you drive". She did, there and back. I think she's beginning to like it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[Grumpy]

gotcha!
I understand! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
actually, I'm pretty broke too. I've spent like $1800 in the three weeks since we met!
and I just got the motor back together after the Harmonic balancer decided it didn't want to be with me any longer and split!
but after 5 days of reconstruction, all's good again!
My buddy is a stocking dealer for Diamondback, so whenever you want a set, just yell.
He stocks most popular sizes.

[Fat Hack]

Mine has skinny whites on the front, and Jay's blackwalls out back. I like both looks...but will probably go with skinny whites all the way around when this heap is far enough along to need new tires!

Check it out...

[SanDiegoJoe]

I'm rolling a set of "4 for $100" tires on my car and they hold up great. Skinny whites, they drive nice and best of all if they get F'ed up it's real cheep to replace them.

I'll be rolling them until I get bigger wheels (I have 13s now!) and some 14" Bias Plys... maybe black walls, don't know.

- The engine/transmission come first...

[Ayers Garage]

I also have the Pep Boys 4 for $100 tires. I had a local guy cut the whites wider for $50. Total price was like 160 including tax and fees.

20k plus miles and still going strong on them.

[Ayers Garage]

forgot to attach picture...

[Donzie]

That's my other option if I can find someone to cut 'em.
I'd like about a 2" white wall.

[SanDiegoJoe]

that looks pretty damn cool... My white wall is kind of raised... will it still work?

[rev616]

what do you look for in the phone book when you are trying to find someone that can cut whites?

[Offy]

Careful there, that kinda talk can get you in a heap o' trouble.

[kustombuilder]

HEY DONZIE, lets talk. i know a guy with a white wall cutter. i spent about $200 on a set of skinny whites for the 47 and i plan to have them cut wider... it does'nt matter if the white wall is raised, it gets cut down so it's all even when your done.... call me tonight or somethin, i'm off to meet Mongo so we can go to Greenville and check on that back roof section for this rusty hunk of Chevy out here http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif...

[SanDiegoJoe]

[ QUOTE ]
what do you look for in the phone book when you are trying to find someone that can cut whites?

[/ QUOTE ]

I know that some Bario tire shops do it... especially if the guys that work there roll lowriders...

[TagMan]

I just got a set of four 205/75R-15 tires with 1-1/4" wide white walls at the local Firestone dealer. He had 'em in stock - they were just $300 with tax & mounting ($67 ea., but the NYS taxes pushed 'em up higher). Here's a pic (sorry for the crappy quality - cheap digital!) of my Buick with 'em on...........

http://home.rochester.rr.com/mrplates/Bu7.jpg

[bustingear]

Come up with another $100 you cheap bastard and you can have em. Coker Tire Chatanooga.

[Donzie]

Tagman, which series tire are these? They are Firestones, right?

[Chili Phil]

Donzie, spring for the radials. All those rattles and squeeks will get real quiet. I'm running Daytons and they're expensive, but worth it.

PS REAL wide whites will stay whiter longer than the cut ones. That's the voice of experience talking. I've had bias ply, skinny whites, cut ones and the Daytons. The bias-plys are pretty exciting at freeway speeds. But if you want to relax while the wifey drives, get the radials.

Of course your mileage may vary.

[Donzie]

Ok, so nobody's mentioned porta-walls. Is this a bad option?

[4t64rd]

The sidewalls flex more on radials and they will throw the port-o-walls off. I read that here and it makes sense.

[Donzie]

Ah, thanks.

[jdubbya]

Sent you a PM Donnie

[DIRTYT]

yea portawalls suck stay far far away!!!

[Ayers Garage]

[ QUOTE ]
PS REAL wide whites will stay whiter longer than the cut ones. That's the voice of experience talking. I've had bias ply, skinny whites, cut ones and the Daytons.

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe you, but these were cut in 1999. That picture was taken a couple of months ago. They are holding up good enough for me. I suspect the tread will be worn too thin before they get to looking objectionable to me.

[TagMan]

Donzie: The only name on them is "Dimension IV". As I remember, they were a Jap tire (maybe Bridgestone??), but they were sold & waranteed by Firestone. I think the 1-1/4" (actually advetised as 1.300") white walls give it an early 60's look, which I was going for.
I see Coker is also selling the same tire for $77 each which is $10/tire more than Firestone plus shipping.