Well, on Monday I finally got around to addressing the failed tire on Pete, the Transtar. If you'll recall, I kept on driving after the RR tire shed it's tread. Once I took the wheel off, I could see where the outer belts came away fairly cleanly from the steel belts. In fact, the exposed surface of the steel belts was nicely polished from driving home on them.[B)]
I found a date code on the sidewall and it was July of 2001. This seems right as I remember buying them a few weeks after 9/11. They have gobs of tread left on them - the three that still look good anyway.
Well, I'm going back with blackwalls this time - more a consideration of price than appearances. I AM going to change wheels tho. I've had this set of 15X6 steel wheels (from a '75 Lincoln Town Car) lying around here for a dozen years or so. Tried to GIVE them away to Stude truck folks several times since they will fit the goofy-faced brake drums that our 1/2ton trucks wear. Guess I'm thankful no one ever took me up on the offer!
I had the tire shop strip the rotting radials off the wheels and I brought them home to clean and paint. I took them back today, but got there too late for them to order up the tires I'd decided upon, so it'll be Monday before they're mounted on these "new" wheels.
I noticed these wheels have Kelsey and Canada stamped inside them. I painted them bright silver and I'm gonna run 59-63 Stude car full disc wheelcovers on them. Photos Monday.
BTW, the tread did more damage to the RR fender than I realized initially. I HAVE a decent replacement, but I'm thinking about getting a pair of the glass repops. Anyone used these yet???
Miscreant Studebaker nut in California's central valley.
1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door
I found a date code on the sidewall and it was July of 2001. This seems right as I remember buying them a few weeks after 9/11. They have gobs of tread left on them - the three that still look good anyway.
Well, I'm going back with blackwalls this time - more a consideration of price than appearances. I AM going to change wheels tho. I've had this set of 15X6 steel wheels (from a '75 Lincoln Town Car) lying around here for a dozen years or so. Tried to GIVE them away to Stude truck folks several times since they will fit the goofy-faced brake drums that our 1/2ton trucks wear. Guess I'm thankful no one ever took me up on the offer!
I had the tire shop strip the rotting radials off the wheels and I brought them home to clean and paint. I took them back today, but got there too late for them to order up the tires I'd decided upon, so it'll be Monday before they're mounted on these "new" wheels.
I noticed these wheels have Kelsey and Canada stamped inside them. I painted them bright silver and I'm gonna run 59-63 Stude car full disc wheelcovers on them. Photos Monday.
BTW, the tread did more damage to the RR fender than I realized initially. I HAVE a decent replacement, but I'm thinking about getting a pair of the glass repops. Anyone used these yet???
Miscreant Studebaker nut in California's central valley.
1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door
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