Nicholas Studer
PCS Elected Director 2022-2025
Folks,
As you likely know - many of our coaches were equipped originally with the 890-15 bias ply tire under the sizing system used 1965-1977. Tire technology changed over time, and this size became the N78-15 under the 78-series. Some of these tires were even labeled for "Ambulance Service." With the radial tires becoming more common, the P235/75R15 is often listed as the "equivalent." However, it's actually 2" shorter at 29" vs 31", and the wider width accentuates the effect of "lowering" the car. In addition, very few are rated at the "XL" weight requirement of 2500 lbs per tire that the tires the car was intended for had. Even fewer of these have white-wall, making Hankook Optimo H724's all but our only option these days. L78-15 tires are available and appropriate for many/most limousines, but these smaller tires (basically same size as P235/75R15) have a lower weight limit that is suboptimal for high-top ambulances in particular. This has been discussed several times in the past, at the CLC at http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=107748.0 and here http://www.professionalcarsociety.org/forums/showthread.php?t=6340 being one thread.
Coker still makes an 890-15 tire in 3" and 5" whitewall widths using the original Firestone mold, which works for the early 1960s but not for later on. They also have the XL weight limit of 2500 lbs per tire. https://www.cokertire.com/890-15-firestone-5-whitewall-tire.html I'd personally love to get the "correct" tall set of tires for when my 1970 C/B-Oldsmobile is done, but think the wide whitewalls will look silly. They don't make a blackwall variant either, and I hesitate to consider expensive tires just to mount "reversed."
I reached out to Coker, and they are willing to consider making a narrow white wall that would work for our coaches, if they see enough interest. This wouldn't be hard for them to produce at all, since they would just need to adjust the white rubber application. If you personally support the idea, please consider reaching out to them and ask for them to be made. They're apparently tallying up requests. Contact info below:
Andrew Randall
Web Sales
1317 Chestnut Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Direct: 800-251-6336
Fax: 423-756-5607
andrewr@coker.com
As you likely know - many of our coaches were equipped originally with the 890-15 bias ply tire under the sizing system used 1965-1977. Tire technology changed over time, and this size became the N78-15 under the 78-series. Some of these tires were even labeled for "Ambulance Service." With the radial tires becoming more common, the P235/75R15 is often listed as the "equivalent." However, it's actually 2" shorter at 29" vs 31", and the wider width accentuates the effect of "lowering" the car. In addition, very few are rated at the "XL" weight requirement of 2500 lbs per tire that the tires the car was intended for had. Even fewer of these have white-wall, making Hankook Optimo H724's all but our only option these days. L78-15 tires are available and appropriate for many/most limousines, but these smaller tires (basically same size as P235/75R15) have a lower weight limit that is suboptimal for high-top ambulances in particular. This has been discussed several times in the past, at the CLC at http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=107748.0 and here http://www.professionalcarsociety.org/forums/showthread.php?t=6340 being one thread.
Coker still makes an 890-15 tire in 3" and 5" whitewall widths using the original Firestone mold, which works for the early 1960s but not for later on. They also have the XL weight limit of 2500 lbs per tire. https://www.cokertire.com/890-15-firestone-5-whitewall-tire.html I'd personally love to get the "correct" tall set of tires for when my 1970 C/B-Oldsmobile is done, but think the wide whitewalls will look silly. They don't make a blackwall variant either, and I hesitate to consider expensive tires just to mount "reversed."
I reached out to Coker, and they are willing to consider making a narrow white wall that would work for our coaches, if they see enough interest. This wouldn't be hard for them to produce at all, since they would just need to adjust the white rubber application. If you personally support the idea, please consider reaching out to them and ask for them to be made. They're apparently tallying up requests. Contact info below:
Andrew Randall
Web Sales
1317 Chestnut Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Direct: 800-251-6336
Fax: 423-756-5607
andrewr@coker.com