The Codger Cabin

[Benzadmiral]

I miss seeing white-wall tires!

I looked into getting some when I needed new rubber a few years ago. The only tires I could find in my car's size (18") were the Vogues with the gold or red ring, which would have looked great with my ruby red Buick.

$300+ a tire. Uh, no.

Coker makes whitewall radials, but they wouldn't fit.

 

[Columbo]

I looked into getting some when I needed new rubber a few years ago. The only tires I could find in my car's size (18") were the Vogues with the gold or red ring, which would have looked great with my ruby red Buick.

$300+ a tire. Uh, no.

Coker makes whitewall radials, but they wouldn't fit.

There are a handful of custom tire makers out there that make whitewalls and white letter tires, in both bias ply and radial construction. Goodyear still makes Polyglas wide treads for the period cars. But I think for the most part, they are best reserved for show cars, and those driven very gently on Sunday old car parades. And as you pointed out, they are really expensive.

For that kind of money, you can get very best tires from the premium makers today ... Michelin, Continental and Bridgestone, etc. A new Pilot Sport (or an LTX for a truck) is an amazing piece of engineering. And those tires are so much better performing, more durable, and safer, on a modern vehicle, than anything from the above speciality shops.

It's the most important part of the car. It's the only part that stops it and holds it on the road.

 

[Benzadmiral]

There are a handful of custom tire makers out there that make whitewalls and white letter tires, in both bias ply and radial construction. Goodyear still makes Polyglas wide treads for the period cars. But I think for the most part, they are best reserved for show cars, and those driven very gently on Sunday old car parades. And as you pointed out, they are really expensive.

For that kind of money, you can get very best tires from the premium makers today ... Michelin, Continental and Bridgestone, etc. A new Pilot Sport (or an LTX for a truck) is an amazing piece of engineering. And those tires are so much better performing, more durable, and safer, on a modern vehicle, than anything from the above speciality shops.

It's the most important part of the car. It's the only part that stops it and holds it on the road.

Yes, I went with Continentals back in late 2020. The whitewall look was not so important to me that I would stop caring about price or safety.

 

[luvmysuper]

 

[Benzadmiral]

View attachment 1793339

Actually I remember seeing "tire paint," black though, at J.C. Penney in the '70s. Even then, new to cars as I was, I didn't believe it would work.

 

[ctr]

I like the whitewall look. Classy on a big sedan. Don't miss the tire scrubbing.

 

[Columbo]

From The Cabin Coffee Table — An occasional look back at what the old Codgers saw and smoked (with a little detour and frolic, here and there):

 

[Columbo]

From The Cabin Coffee Table — An occasional look back at what the old Codgers saw and smoked (with a little detour and frolic, here and there):

 

[Benzadmiral]

From The Cabin Coffee Table — An occasional look back at what the old Codgers saw and smoked (with a little detour and frolic, here and there):




View attachment 1794075

Back when flying was an adventure and not an exercise in frustration . . .

 

[ctr]

Back when flying was an adventure and not an exercise in frustration . . .

Did the OJ airport run a few times in my day. Think my air miles are somewhere north of 150k. Stopped flying in the 1990's with one exception in the 2000's. Could not believe the smaller seat size and the lack of manners and general rudeness of fellow travelers.

 

[luvmysuper]

If I never set foot on a plane again (and that's the plan), I'll be a happy camper.

 

[ctr]

If I never set foot on a plane again (and that's the plan), I'll be a happy camper.

Indeed. Trains and ships. No planes.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Indeed. Trains and ships. No planes.

Right after I retire, I plan to visit a couple of areas I'm interested in relocating to (Evansville, IN, for one). That's a two-day, ten-hour drive for me. I could fly to one of the bigger cities and rent a car, and be there in a half a day.

Uh, no.

 

[luvmysuper]

Right after I retire, I plan to visit a couple of areas I'm interested in relocating to (Evansville, IN, for one). That's a two-day, ten-hour drive for me. I could fly to one of the bigger cities and rent a car, and be there in a half a day.

Uh, no.

Evansville is a very nice area. Been there many times.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Evansville is a very nice area. Been there many times.

So I hope and think. Looking at modest houses for sale and the streets around them, I'm impressed.

 

[Njguy1977]

Yes, I went with Continentals back in late 2020. The whitewall look was not so important to me that I would stop caring about price or safety.

My tire of choice for all my vintage cars was the BFG Radial, used to get them at 50 to 60 a piece and they looked and performed great. Once BFG cancelled the line I’ve moved on to Cooper Cobras. They have the raised white lettering still and are relatively affordable. I still have a set of summit polyglass tires on some Weld rims that I was using to go drag racing with. Polyglass was terrible in the rain but smoke them up and soften them and there like having a street slick. I haven’t used them in years only because E-town no longer does 1/4 mile racing. It’s a shame, I live 15 min from there and it was a hell of a lot of fun to drive your race car on the street, run 3 passes and drive it back home. The best part was having someone who thought they were fast look at you and shake their head in a “no way in hell I’ll race” at a stop light while your car idling sounds like a machine gun firing. Unfortunately my kids will never have that kind of fun or experience it. I was on the tail end of that era back in the mid to late 90’s.

Larry

 

[ctr]

So I hope and think. Looking at modest houses for sale and the streets around them, I'm impressed.

Good to know. We ruled out Florida for retirement. The insurance costs have increased beyond the reasonable.

Looking into Tennessee and western South Carolina. Indiana is beautiful but I'm not sure about the winters.

 

[brandaves]

Bought an RV recently. Tires will be due replacement and replacement white walls are out of the question price wise. That tire paint should fit the bill nicely. Glad I saw that, thanks for posting!

 

[Benzadmiral]

Good to know. We ruled out Florida for retirement. The insurance costs have increased beyond the reasonable.

Looking into Tennessee and western South Carolina. Indiana is beautiful but I'm not sure about the winters.

I intend to be sleeping indoors, not in a tent or on park benches!

 

[Columbo]

If I never set foot on a plane again (and that's the plan), I'll be a happy camper.

When I started flying, they served dinner on china with metal utensils. The seats were bigger than my recliner. And all the pilots were seasoned military aviators.

Mrs. C and I have to fly coast to coast the end of this month. Not looking forward to it.

Hopefully, it doesn't hit another plane on taxi, all the doors stay on in flight, the passengers are marginally sanitary and peaceful, and the pilots know how to operate an aircraft.

Just another marker in the general decline of everything.