<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xkcm3rh60p0?feature=player_embedded" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe> A fellow Hamber made this tech video. Props to Bugman.
I have a set of Firstone FR 380's on my 58 caddy. They have the skinny white walls. I would like to grind them a little fatter. Can I do this with these tires. I know there's some tires that can't be ground down. Ur tires look perfect for my ride.
From what I understand any tire with a whitewall or raised white letters can be ground into a www, BUT some brands are better to work with. I've seen some with wavy edges or seams that don't match up evenly. I'm not sure about the tires you have. If you are going for the same look I got, don't grind past the bottom of the existing ww. Find the outer edge and blend that to the inner edge of existing ww leaving a bit of a lip or a step on the inner edge.
The width you've ground looks spot on. The skinny ones you've got on there now are just too skinny. JMO
It's not ill thought out or dumb, I just don't like whitewalls and think the best way to improve the looks of any car fitted with them is to install blackwalls.
wide whites belong on bias ply tires = correct regular whites on radials = leave them alone Buy the correct tires from Coker for your period correct car. Stop messing with the engineered radial tire. Do you want a blow out? Is it really worth a blow out to weaken the sidewall of you tire?
We mess with the original engineering of cars in just about every way imaginable. I do understand your concern, but I have never heard of a ground ww causing a blow out. I'm sure some old schoolers or more experienced ww grinders can chime in and assure us it really is pretty safe. Removing 1/16" of rubber from the sidewall does not compromise the structural integrity of the tire at all.
I wouldn't fuck with a tire. Buy the ones you want, sell those. Aren't we glad everyone doesn't think alike? If whitwalls sucked why did they last for so many years in so many sizes on so many vehicles? Someone besides me musta liked them! All of us can't afford to buy special WWW tires or other fancy parts. Traditionally we use what we got! I see nothing wrong with experimenting. 5" WWW might look nice on your new Prius ! And as long as you like em that's all that matters. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
Finally ! Not trolling, just think we should respect each others tastes. If anyone other than me likes whitewalls, that's fine. Have at it. We should be able to express what we like or don't like.
1 3/8 www looks really nice. Im not sure how it would damage your tire if your just takingoff the black over white layer. As long as it is not gouged . Not everyone has the money to just go out and buy a $800 set of tires. If this is your daily, that might be a consideration, but for an every now and then driver I would grind them. All about saving some money. There will always be the what ifs.......
Wow. This poll has been very close from the start with skinny's in the lead by a nose. Interesting. You chippin' in? Amen.
FWIW.. I like WWs about 1 1/2 to 2 inces.. no need to go full size. Pinners are cool on some cars too. just do what you like, and if someone says it sucks, don't let it bug you too much. Everyone hates my cars lol!
Yes he did do a nice job. I watched this video before I tried grinding my own. And your right about wearing the mask.
Your 61 Belair looks awesome with those tires on it! Way better than the blackwalls. Did you make 'em or buy 'em like that?
I think the size tire you ground would look perfect with your stance! Then again opinions are like ass holes we've all got one! I decided against WWW when I decided not to go with a custom look on my Plymouth but If I had used them on my budget I would have done them the same way! Good luck!
HAHA. Its really interesting to see what you guys think. I like the way skinny's look, But I'm still leaning towards trying out grinding a set. We'll see.
How do you think the tire companies make whitewall tires? I'll give you a hint, they grind them. As the picture shows, the big Mercs came with pretty much the same width you ground and it looks good on them. Narrow whitewalls were on the sportier cars.
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