Tires......need some advise

[ez68vet]

OK, NEED SOME ADVISE. I SHOW THE '68 AT AACA SHOWS. I AM DRIVING TO RICHMOND IN JUNE, ABOUT 200 MILES. SHOULD I
REPLACE 12 YEAR OLD RADIALS WITH NEW BIAS RED STRIPE TO GET THE POINTS I NEED OR GET A SET OF INEXPENSIVE RADIALS.
I EVEN WORK FOR A TIRE COMPANY, AND JUST CAN'T MAKE UP MY MIND!!! I DRIVE ON THE RADIALS TO LOCAL SHOWS( 75 MILE MAX) EVERY YEAR, BUT 200 MILES AT 55-60 mph, JUST BOTHERS ME A LITTLE. I NEED THE POINTS, BUT TO GIVE UP THE RIDE & HANDLING, WOW........NEED SOME INPUT.
:banghead: THANKS....

[fatherlarry]

Originally posted by ez68vet
OK, NEED SOME ADVISE. I SHOW THE '68 AT AACA SHOWS. I AM DRIVING TO RICHMOND IN JUNE, ABOUT 200 MILES. SHOULD I
REPLACE 12 YEAR OLD RADIALS WITH NEW BIAS RED STRIPE TO GET THE POINTS I NEED OR GET A SET OF INEXPENSIVE RADIALS.
I EVEN WORK FOR A TIRE COMPANY, AND JUST CAN'T MAKE UP MY MIND!!! I DRIVE ON THE RADIALS TO LOCAL SHOWS( 75 MILE MAX) EVERY YEAR, BUT 200 MILES AT 55-60 mph, JUST BOTHERS ME A LITTLE. I NEED THE POINTS, BUT TO GIVE UP THE RIDE & HANDLING, WOW........NEED SOME INPUT.
:banghead: THANKS....

First of all, is your '68 pure stock? When judges come around, it is a factor, and if you are looking for points I would say it is essential to have the car as close to stock as possible.

As you do work for a tire company, you should be a good judge of tires and be able to get a break on the price. You should be able to tell on your 12 yr old tires, whether or not they are dry, cracking and how much wear is really on them. I personally, would not want to drive on 12 yr old tires, even if they only had 500 miles on them. If I was in your position, I would buy a set of stock rims like the ones you have now, mount them with the tires that you want for the shows, and then just put them on when its showtime. And just for driving around town for enjoyment, buy a set of radials that will give you the ride and handling that you want. I know cost factor could limit you, however, if its possible, that's the best way to go.

I know you know this as you work for a tire company, but for anyone else reading this, when you buy radial tires and you do take them off, make sure you mark them, rightside/front and leftside/front, rightside/rear and leftside/rear, so when installing them again you don't cross them over by mistake. It's not recommended. Also, check with the tire manufacturer if the tires you buy are suitable for the car you drive. Hope this helps.

[ez68vet]

YOU HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD, BUT $$$ IS A CONSIDERATION. tHE CAR IS STAYING "STOCK" EXCEPT FOR THE SIDE EXHAUST. cAN'T REALLY AFFORD THE EXTRA WHEELS, AND TWO SETS OF TIRES RIGHT NOW. i WILL MOST LIKELY GET THE RED STRIPES, AND LOOK FOR AND AQUIRE WHEELS AS i GO TO SWAP MEETS, ETC, THEN GET THE NEW TIRES. BTW, THE OLD TIRES ARE REALLY IN GOOD CONDITION, APPEARANCE AND TREAD. tHATS WHAT MAKES IT A LITTLE HARD TO GET A HANDLE ON IT. tHANKS FOR THE INPUT. gREAT SITE TOO.