American Classic Radial Tires

[Model A Ron]

I just mounted a set of American Classic Radials on my 29 Phaeton and hope to take a test drive this week after I finish up a little more work on the car. I hope to find a much improved ride over the bias firestones. Does anyone know how many miles to expect from the radials? I would think much more than bias tires.

[Rob Doe]

I just mounted 4 new radials. They provide a much better than the worn out tires that were replaced. I put the balance beads them too. I used Bratton's tubes. So far so good.

[Dean Lemoine]

9,600 miles on these American Classics on a ‘29 Tudor. I was running 38 PSI but noticed the centers are wearing more than the outsides. Dropped down to 35 PSI and will monitor wear.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by Dean Lemoine

9,600 miles on these American Classics on a ‘29 Tudor. I was running 38 PSI but noticed the centers are wearing more than the outsides. Dropped down to 35 PSI and will monitor wear.

Good info Dean, Thanks for the feedback.

[Model A Ron]

Well I got my A running a little better with a timing adjustment and setting the points so I decided to test the new tires. Over the weekend I drove about 100 miles with them set to 40psi and I noticed they tracked much better than the old bias tires. One road around hear had me shifting left right all the time and this was no longer a problem with the radials. The ride was about the same in terms of softness and when I felt the sidewall after driving they were just a bit warm and not hot. Next I will drop to the recommended 35psi and see if they are any warmer and if the ride improves in terms of softness. Overall I am very happy with the tires but need to accept the radial bulge not seen on the bias tires.

[Model A Ron]

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I dropped down to 35psi and the ride improved a lot. Someone said the sidewall was hot at 35 but I did not find this to be the case. What I did fine is a tire that does not track in the ruts and a soft ride that is a big step up from bias tires.

[Model A Ron]

Originally Posted by Dean Lemoine

9,600 miles on these American Classics on a ‘29 Tudor. I was running 38 PSI but noticed the centers are wearing more than the outsides. Dropped down to 35 PSI and will monitor wear.

Dean
Based off the first 9600 miles how many miles do you think you will get out of the set? Do you see the need to rotate them at this time?

[Model A Ron]

This is what they look like on my car.

[Dean Lemoine]

Originally Posted by Model A Ron

Dean
Based off the first 9600 miles how many miles do you think you will get out of the set? Do you see the need to rotate them at this time?

I rotated them about 4000 miles back. I’m hoping to get 20K miles out of ‘em, but that’s just a guess. I’m wondering how this is comparing to anyone else running the American Classics. I really don’t know how long these have been on the market.

[Model A Ron]

Originally Posted by Dean Lemoine

I rotated them about 4000 miles back. I’m hoping to get 20K miles out of ‘em, but that’s just a guess. I’m wondering how this is comparing to anyone else running the American Classics. I really don’t know how long these have been on the market.

I think they came out on 2020 or so but I was hoping we would get more than 20k. If anyone has them please chime in with millage and tire condition.

[Drancher]

Has anyone used these tires on the stock 19" rims running tubeless? I am running 35 16" with modern radials for six years and have had zero problems. I have a set of 19" stock wheels and have ordered the American classic 475/500R -19 tires and would like to run them tubeless and am wondering if anyone else has done this.

[goldie]

I recently purchased the American Classic radial tires and set pressures to 35, the max for this tire. Why do people add more pressure than the manufacturer states I don't understand. I have a British performance car that requires a tube because the rims are not the safety type with the additional lip. I have been running these without tubes for years with no problem, but. The but is in the event of a flat the tire is more prone to separate from the rim. On the As tiny tires I would not take the chance of going tubeless.

[katy]

To check inflation pressure against how "the rubber meets the road" put a chalk mark, about 1/2" wide, across the face of the tire, drive in a straight line for about a half a block and look at the chalk mark. If it's all worn off, the inflation is good, if the middle is worn and the sides are still there the tire is overinflated. Easiest is start w/overinflation and work down.

[Dick M]

Can you use a stock tube with the radial tire or do you need to buy a radial tube?

[Seth Swoboda]

Originally Posted by Dick M

Can you use a stock tube with the radial tire or do you need to buy a radial tube?

I have never understood the "radial tire tube". I am runnning bias ply looking 6.00 x 16 tires on a couple of V8 Fords. I put a new tube in them and have been happily motoring for years.

Someone explain to me what a radial innertube is in comparison to an innertube. I have also never been able to find specifically "radial innertube".

[Y-Blockhead]

I have some tubes that have "Radial" molding into the stem but on the side of the tube it says "Not for use in radial tires". Go figure...

[DJ S]

Anyone have updates on wear?

[Dean Lemoine]

11,800 miles on American Classic Radials. I’ve been keeping 35 PSI. All 4 are wearing at the same rate.

[nkaminar]

Pressure depends on the weight of the car. 35 psi may be OK for a light phaeton but may be too low for a heavy Fordor. The tires should not get so hot after 20 minutes of driving at 50 mph that you cannot hold your hand on the sidewalls.

The radial tires flex different than the bias ply tires and run hotter so the tubes are made differently. If you are not running the tires too hot then the standard tubes may be OK. The only difference I can see is that the radial tubes are about twice as thick.

Running them tubeless may be OK. I have a friend that does that with his 19 inch radial tires. A lot depends on the condition of the wheels. Pitted wheels may not hold the air.

[goldie]

I drive my A pretty hard on the American Classic radials. Lots of hills and twisty roads. Measuring the tread depth of all tires compared to the new spare the fronts have worn down 1/3 after 6K miles, the rears less so time to rotate. My get 15K miles out of these.