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56J ONLY THE PERIODIC NEWSLETTER OF THE 1956 STUDEBAKER GOLDEN HAWK OWNERS REGISTER Web Site www.1956GoldenHawk.com or http://clubs.hemmings.com/56sghor NUMBER 047 ESTABLISHED JANUARY 1, 1989 FEBRUARY 2004 TIRES AGAIN A few more discussions We discussed tires at great length in the Kane, “we’ve been able to document in a very last issue. I’ve gotten a few responses as short period of time at least 20 cases well as some additional information. I will involving serious injuries and fatalities in finish this topic in the next issue. the United States, and we’ve only scratched the surface of this issue here.” ANOTHER INCIDENT But the U.S. tire industry says a shelf life A friend in our local Orlando Area Chapter is not the answer. Donald Shea of the Rubber was on his way to the State Meet last Manufacturers Association said: “It is a October when his 1957 Silver Hawk started complex series of events that can make a shaking violently. He was doing about 65 MPH tire deteriorate. One, is the amount of on the Interstate, and immediately pulled mileage; two is the abuse it takes on the off the road. He returned home, a distance road; third and perhaps most important is of about 20 miles, driving under 40 MPH. the maintenance that is given or not given to the tire. If the public gets the He found that three of the four tires had impression that they could continue to use complete tread separation. The fourth tire a tire until that ‘use by’ date that could is newer than the other three. It is about send clearly the wrong message.” three years old. He was fortunate that the tires held together, and that no damage was When the NHTSA proposed an upgrade to new done to the car. The tires were about 5 tire standards it also proposed an aging years old. The car sat for one or two months standard. That was deferred for two years at a time during the five years. because no one could agree on a reliable test that could artificially age a tire. The NHTSA is in the process of determining which FROM OLD CARS WEEKLY test is best and hopes to have research done by next summer. I wrote about the tire situation to Q & A editor, Tom Brownell. It appeared in the For now, it might be best to check a tire’s October 2, 2003 issue. The December 4, 2003 age. To find a tire’s age, check its long issue contained some responses to my letter. DOT code, found on the side of the tire. At the very end are three numbers which One was from Bob Endicott, N.Y., who wrote, indicate the week and year the tire was “a trailering publication states when a tire made, for example a DOT number ending with is used regularly, lubricants in the rubber 414 means the tire was made the 41st week of work their way to the surface and protect the year 1994. Complicated! But some believe the tire from oxidation and ultraviolet that, like groceries, tire dates ought to be light. If the tire is not used regularly, it a lot easier to find. (NBC News producer will dry out and sidewall cracking results.” Jay Blackman assisted with this story.) MSNBC NEWS LINK FROM DWAIN GRINDINGER BOB PALMA Via Email 10-03-2003 TIRE MAKERS in Britain have just issued a warning to consumers. Replace tires that are In early August 2002, my wife and I towed my more than ten years old, even if the tread’s car trailer from Indianapolis to Troy not worn. For a tire that hasn’t been used, Michigan to pick up the 1964 Daytona sedan like a spare, replace it after six years. I bought from the late Co-Operator Advisor Earle Haley's son, George. We were pulling Reviewing U.S. lawsuits, the research group it with my 1979 Caprice Estate wagon. It had says that many accidents involved old tires. good generic radials on the rear of the According to strategic safety expert Sean correct size, with about 70% tread remaining. I had done a walk-around visual 56J ONLY - Page 47-1 at the gas stop, so I knew no tires were 3) Auto safety is enhanced with radial low. But they were at least 12 years old and tires. The cars operate with less steering had been stored on the Caprice OUTSIDE for "wander", and more tread stays on the road at least 10 of those years, used surface in cornering. infrequently just for towing. A very good article on this subject recently I pulled back on the interstate after appeared in the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg stopping for gas near Ft. Wayne Indiana and Newsletter. The article is mostly technical, thought I felt a new vibration from the going through the construction differences rear. I actually concluded that belts had of radials v. bias ply tires used on Cords, probably shifted in one of the tires. I but at the end of the article is testimony reduced speed to about 45 MPH and put on the from various Cord owners about how well 4-way flashers, hoping to get home with the their cars perform with radials over loaded car trailer. Home was a good 100 original bias ply tires. miles further at that point. I really like to drive my Studebakers. My No such luck. Within 8 miles of first 56J made a run to Billings and back last feeling the new vibration, the left rear week (300 mile round-trip, and my 54 tire blew out and shredded. I was towing a Commander Hardtop made the same run over the 1,400-pound trailer with a 3,400-pound car weekend. Today I'm driving my 73 Avanti, and on it! The spare was virtually new, but talk all three of these cars have 205/75R15 about age: It was the original spare - radials on them, and I would never consider 1979(!) and this was in 2002! It did manage going back to bias ply tires. I am using Bob to make it the rest of the way home, at Helm's 15X6 wheels on both my '54 Commander which time I replaced both rear tires. and my 56J and because they widen the stance of the car by about 3", I find both of these TOM W. CLARKE 10/8/03 vehicles to have greater stability than with original wheels. I ran original wheels on my I don't mean to wade into a battle, here, '54, however, for over 15,000 miles, Frank, but there is some suggestion in your including a run from Montana to Madison for recent newsletter that radial tires are not the 2000 SDC Meet and never felt the use of the way to go for our classic cars, and I radials on those 4-1/2" bead width wheels would like to register a disagreement. was unsafe. One of the biggest differences that come There are trade-offs, but I have to state my with radial tires is a "belt" that runs feeling that properly inflated radials are around the circumference of the tire under the only way to go. If they had been in use the tread. Most bias ply tires were not when Studebaker made cars, Studebaker would belted, but belts are integral to radials. have used them and there would be no debate. These belts, being made of a steel weave, have been known to slip, and even separate AND FINALLY from the tire carcass. When a separation happens, it can cause damage to the car I read an article recently which indicated body. It is my experience, however, that that original wheels designed for non radial this is a very rare problem. I have had tires could also cause a problem. Radial belts slip before, but you notice it in your tires put much more pressure on the wheel, seat or steering wheel usually long before especially at the bead area. The pressure the tire actually comes apart. can cause the bead to slip off the wheel. It was suggested that anyone switching to I’m certainly no expert, but it is also my radial tires should also change to wheels experience that radials are vastly superior that were originally designed for them. to bias ply tires in several ways. 1) Tire life is dramatically enhanced with radials. They will run 40,000 to 60,000 VEHICLE WEIGHT miles before the tread wears out, whereas A little bit of a surprise bias ply tires had a tread life nearer 10,000 miles. For the past several issues, we’ve discussed the weight of the Studebaker V-8 vs the 2) The durability of radials actually Packard V-8. Although we still don’t know creates the problem of carcass the weight of the Packard, Roy Hastings gave deterioration, because with bias ply tires us a comprehensive analysis on the you didn't have to worry too much about the Studebaker. I was also curious about the rubber deteriorating from age. The tread weight of the car and other components. didn't usually last long enough for the problem to surface. First, I took a power steering pump, gear, and bracket to my local UPS office and had 56J ONLY - Page 47-2 each one weighed. The Pump weighed 13.10 hotel. Twenty-four people attended, and we lbs, without the pulley. The bracket weighed spent about two hours making new friends, 5.36 lbs.