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White letter tire dilemma

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regularman

regularman

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My two rear tires are like new. My two front ones are slick. Most of the wear happend because of a misalignment on the from and from a nut and tie rod backing off. Anyways, I need some new tires. They were all indy500 firehawks by firestone. They don't make them any more. 13s are getting harder to find period in odder sizes. I need some 175/70/13s. I might could find some close and then color the letters on them, or black out the letters on the rear. Who makes a good decent 13 in my size? Nothing high end like michelin,maybe 40-60 bucks a tire? I like my firehawks and wich I could get more :frown:
 
Tire Rack Sumitomos?
 
Yep feel your pain, Miss Agathas Goodyears are no longer made either, $30 bucks each.
 
these guys (https://www.performanceplustire.com/) have just about every tire made in the our size (175/70/13).

I picked up some Sumitomo HTR 200s and LOVE them. ...(one took 1/2 ounce and the rest NO WEIGHTS to balance)

Even though your rears look like new, find the the code, check the date, and if they're more than 7 years old (which I suspect since they still have white letters) it is recommended that you replace them anyway as the rubber itself is loosing its elasticity and they are most likely no longer safe.
 
If they are not too old, turn them around on the rims, with the lettering on the inside? One can not always tell if a tire is too old by looking at it. A lot of problems start from the inside out. Ask me how I know!
Scott in CA
 
Kim, better check that tie rod end hole for wallowing out. The life you save could be your own.
 
I think I have a pair on my Bugeye V-8 Project, Car is covered with blankets boxes etc....in my garage. If I remember correctly they are in very good condition.
 
smaceng said:
If they are not too old, turn them around on the rims, with the lettering on the inside? One can not always tell if a tire is too old by looking at it. A lot of problems start from the inside out. Ask me how I know!
Scott in CA
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Nah, these tires have been kept indoors so the sun and cold can't get to them. Back tires look like new. I can turn them around on the wheels and make them blackwall, or cover over the white letter with some black tire paint, or color in the letters on another set of blackwalls to make them white. I usually replace tires when they are slick. My 94 ranger which I bought new and has always been in my 1/2 underground basement/garage now has 75K miles on it and on the original tires. They still got decent tread. One of them might pop on me but I have had brand new tires and hit something in the road and they pop too. I doubt they all go at the same time if they go. I think they just want to sell tires. When I was younger and poor we used to run tires till we saw the cords and then change them. I am convinced its things like trailer tires that sit out in the sun and the cold for months without being moved that really start to dry rot and are likely to blow out. The last few tires I have had go flat besides motorcycle tires were trailer tires.
 
kellysguy said:
Kim, better check that tie rod end hole for wallowing out. The life you save could be your own.
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Thanks, I will check it again and most everything is new. What ate the front tires up was me setting the toe in with a new measuring gauge and not noticing the 3/8 taper on it. I was toed out in the front by 3/8 and that was not good. It wore the insides of the tires out in about 300 miles. I got the toe right now but need some new tires.
 
If you read the USDOT #s on the tires, maybe I can help you find out how old they are?
Scott in CA
As a person who sees the results of blow-outs, it is not pretty, and sometimes very tragic. Tires which are too old, and it is now recognized as 6-8 years, can look just fine on the outside, but the inside is bad.
 
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