I am planning to replace the tires on my new 87 Country Squire (the tires on it are original!) with new whitewalls. Any recommendations on better value than others out there? I see a whole range of whitewalls from $60 a piece to $300. Since the tire is the only part of the vehicle that actually touches the road, I do believe it is a wise investment to spend on better quality, but if the quality and ride is similar I would select the cheaper option. Thanks for your insight!
I recently put Matrix Multi-Mile tires on my big Electra as the white wall width seemed a bit wider then the few other brands of white walls that are available. These are available off the rack, so I didn't have to spend the big bucks to get Diamond Back or Coker tires. I've been running them for 2 years now without any issues and they are a nice comfortable and quiet tire. I think Hankook Optimo H724 still have a white wall tire option, but the white wall was a bit narrow for me and I didn't like he look of the sidewall generally (plus they were slightly more expensive).
You might want to double-check on availability of whitewalls...in YOUR CORRECT SIZE. I did a bit of checking some time ago, and found that 225/75R15 was available as a whitewall from a couple of manufacturers, but if you wanted to go to a lower-profile 70-series 235/70R15, you were pretty much out of luck unless you wanted to pay $300 per tire for some Avons.........
Very true... did a little research on the Multi Mile (tires made by Cooper) and it appears their "Custom" line features several size options for white side walls. Here's the link: http://www.multimiletires.com/details.html?name=Custom 428 A/S&model=Custom-428-A-S&id=108 When I looked up the Matrix series, it appears only one size comes with white wall, and that just happens to be the correct size for my Electra (235 75R15)
I'm showing factory size on those to be either a 215/70R15 or a 205/75R15, not sure if that is correct or not but some I know of and sell regularly are: 215/70R15- IronMan RB12- around $65 to $70 each here Cooper trendsetter -40k warranty around $70 each here (I don't recommend these from personal experience) Vercelli Classic 787- run around $65 and up (put some on friends Lincoln and he's been please, been a year ago) Toyo Extensa A/S- 65k warranty run around $75 or $80 each. I had a set and liked them. Uniroyal tiger paw AWP- 65k warranty, around $80 or so. Tred Tech Suretrac 1.2" WW- don't know much about them but looks like around $80 each. 205/75R15 didn't see as many choices Cooper trendsetter Vercelli Classic 787 Toyo Extensa A/S Nexen Priz AH5- 50k warranty for around $80 Hankook Optimo H724- 70k warranty and around $85 each (I have sold more of these than any others on the list. Sold a friend 4 sets. Twice for his Dodge Dakota and twice on his Ford Windstar. He swears by them. I have some on my C10 but I haven't put it on the road yet.) Price was just to give you a idea of what they sell for here, I know they will be different but gives you a ball park figure of what they go for. Hope this will be of some help.
I have the Toyo Extensa A/S in a 225/70R15 that 1tireman mentioned on my '91 Crown Vic and they seem decent. A little tire squeal around fast corners, but it is a 70 series tire after all. I have the whitewall side mounted facing the inside, but it is there.
Yes, 215/70/15s are the standard tire size for box Panthers in '86(?), and the tires/wheels that had been on my brother's '90 Town Car are on my Ranchero, without any problems in rubbing or squealing, unless I take a corner too fast....
I have the Toyota extensa 235/75 15's white wall out and I love them. I would look around at the manufacturer websites for the actual diameter or circumference of the tires. When getting mine I bought a different ww tire and it was an inch and a half shorter with a round shoulder. That huge colony park looked off to me with smaller tires. They replaced some old Michelins (like new) same 235/75 15 but were almost 2 inches shorter. The Toyos are much beefier in same size designation.
Still running on Firestone 721's 215/70/14's, out on car about 3 years ago - have gone aa total of about 4,000 miles. Coker tires are bring them back Firestone Steel Belted 721 | 3/4" Whitewall | LR78-15 https://www.cokertire.com/firestone-steel-belted-721-lr78-15-3-4-whitewall.html
"Seven, around two, wrapped by one." Firestone 721s were a very good tire (my Fairmont had them, courtesy of Mom and Dad), and I bought them whenever I could afford them for the first several years of owning and driving cars.