News:

Due to a technical issue, some recently uploaded pictures have been lost. We are investigating why this happened but the issue has been resolved so that future uploads should be safe.  You can also Modify your post (MORE...) and re-upload the pictures in your post.

Main Menu

Tires for a 1937 LaSalle

Started by Sally Kay, February 17, 2020, 11:34:05 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Sally Kay

I'm looking for new tires for my 1937 LaSalle. The tires that are on  it look good, (little wear) but I think they have been on it for many years. Firestone bias plye 7.0x16     Some are telling us that it will drive and steer better with radials.
I thought I would ask the people with experience with older cars.

The Tassie Devil(le)

Any car drives better when changing to Radials, but so long as the wheel alignment is adjusted to suit Radials.

The Toe-in with Radials is far less than with Cross-ply tyres, and adjusting the Camber and Castor helps with tracking, and tightening up any slack in Steering joints, Box, bushings and King Pins also helps.

Bruce. >:D

PS.   I changed the heading for you.
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

Cadillac Jack 82


The Firestone Bias Ply tires are perfect and can be found via Coker, Universal Tire Co, etc.  They usually retail for about 275 a piece but they'll last for years.  I'd strongly disagree about using radials on these prewar cars.  A few swear by them but these cars were never designed with those tires in mind. 
Tim

CLC Member #30850

1959 Cadillac CDV "Shelley"
1964 Cadillac SDV "Rosalie"
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado "Sienna"

Past Cars

1937 LaSalle Cpe
1940 Chevrolet Cpe
1941 Ford 11Y
1954 Buick 48D
1955 Cadillac CDV
1955 Packard Clipper
1957 Cadillac Series 62
1962 VW Bug
1962 Dodge 880
1966 Mercury Montclair
1967 Buick Wildcat Convertible
1968 Chevy Chevelle SS
1968 Plymouth Barracuda
1977 Lincoln MKV

35-709

These cars weren't designed with radials in mind because radials did not exist back then, they are great on older cars.  Bruce is right, the alignment is a little different --- a little positive caster with radials is good.
1935 Cadillac Sedan resto-mod "Big Red"
1973 Cadillac Caribou - Sold - but still in the family
1950 Jaguar Mark V Saloon resto-mod - Sold
1942 Cadillac 6269 - Sold
1968 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible - Sold
1950 Packard 2dr. Club Sedan
1935 Glenn Pray - Auburn Boattail Speedster, Gen. 2