Tires for Kirkham. Billboards vs. ???

[xlr8or]

Those look like the "A" tires. The "B" tires are what most run on the cars. They do hunt a little bit on the straightaways but damn they are fun to drive on.

[bret a ewing]

Originally Posted by alpace@pacificp

All,

Some terrific info on the tires. Particularly surprised at the loyalty to Billboards ( I had heard they were a bit squirrely, did not point well, etc.). Additionally, until you provided the info on the Avons, I had not really heard of them....

So, it will either be the Avons or the Billboards. I will let you know when I finalize!

al

Al,

Do some research on both.

The billboards are bias and the avons are radials. Both have there own uniquie +/-'s.
Adhesion curve is a biggie.

[Murphy]

Now wouldn't that KMP473 car look nice with those famous but hard to get Kirkham Badges? In fact a second set for KMP474 also would be nice. Mike Murphy

[Don McCain]

Go with the billboards. As said, they track all over the place but they make a driver out of you. Blast to drive. Have them on my CSX

Don

[bret a ewing]

Hey Don,

Whatsa CSX0012?

[Cobra Pack]

If you go with Blue Streaks (ones without the "eagle" lettering), you definitely should go bigger than 550-15's fronts on a 427 car. I have 600-15 fronts and 700-15 rears on my car and I have a leaf-spring car with '63 Comp Car flares.

[jmimac351]

Originally Posted by Murphy

Now wouldn't that KMP473 car look nice with those famous but hard to get Kirkham Badges? In fact a second set for KMP474 also would be nice. Mike Murphy

Hey Murphy, guess what I'm up to?

Jim McGovern

[jmimac351]

Thanks for the advice guys.

[bret a ewing]

Good luck.

[Power Surge]

I had spoken to Tom Bernard from Tom's Motorsports in length at the 05 Kirkham Summit about the Billboards. He told me that the "darting" that most people feel with them is from either poor suspension design (if not using original spec suspension) or improper rear toe adjustment. He told me that the KMP spec suspension fixed the toe issues that original rear control arms had, but even on original spec suspension you can adjust it right, it's just tricky.

I put the Goodyears on my car, and when they wear out, I'll probably put on another set. I like them. My car does NOT dart for no reason. Yes, they grip, they are race compound tires. If there are imperfections in the road, the tires will grab them. But it's nothing you don't get used to after driving the car a few days, and I personally LIKE feeling every nook and cranny in the road. When I drive customer's cars with modern tires on them (like BFGs or GT-IIs), those cars actually feel LOOSE on the road to me.

The Avons got my attention, but after seeing them in person, they were nothing special (visually). They do have the vintage look, but I still think the Goodyears look better.

And for what it's worth, NOBODY runs REAL vintage Cobra size tires. If you look at all the vintage car pics, almost every Cobra has very tall, very narrow tires. They don't look right on the cars at all, but that's what they used back then.

I'll stick to my Goodyears .

[Jamo]

Assolutely agree with everything Sal just said.

I just can't understand folks putting radials on one of these things. Might as well go all the way and drive a Prius.

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Might as well go all the way and drive a Prius.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

That was great Jamo!

BTW, I love to pull up next to Pruis owners and blast them with exhaust. Aside from the noise and fumes, that uses about as much gas as their car does in a week.

[Murphy]

I just looked, my tires are "bluestreak" 6.00-15 and 8.00-15 for what it is worth. M Murphy

[bmwdb10]

The Goodyears are great! Completes the look and once warmed up are superior to the BFG's I took off in ride and handling.

[jmimac351]

Originally Posted by Murphy

I just looked, my tires are "bluestreak" 6.00-15 and 8.00-15 for what it is worth. M Murphy

Thanks Mike, I guess that means they are indeed the "A" type that we were talking about before.

I should receive some Vintage 15" knock offs by the end of the month. There is a dealer for the Goodyear racing tires in Daytona I was going to check out:

Competition Tire South, Inc.
771-28 Fentress Blvd.
P.O. Box 11586
Daytona Beach, Florida 32120-1586
PHONE: 386/274-5332
FAX: 386/274-5442

BTW, check out the link below. I'm planning to drive up for the show. It's free and HUGE.

http://www.npdlink.com/modules.php?name=Silver_Springs

[Don McCain]

Originally Posted by bret a ewing

Hey Don,

Whatsa CSX0012?

Thanks for asking.
When SAI ordered the initial 25 chassis from Superformance, they assigned
the CSX0012 number to the order separating it from a Superformance spec
car hence CSX Shelby Specs. 0012 12th on the order list.
When the cars arrive they are checked by SAI and issued a CSX4000 number.
My car is now CSX4870 and thanks for bringing this to my attention so i can change my posting.
Billboard tires are squirrely but fun!

Don

[jmimac351]

Murphy, I went by Competition Tires in Daytona Beach today and they carry all of the Goodyear racing stuff. They have stacks of Blue Streaks and Billboards. That's where I am getting mine and they are going to mount them for me. Nice people.

Jim

[bret a ewing]

Whew Don,

I thought for a moment there I thought we had another "series"

[bret a ewing]

And yes bias is different, but take them on the track, that is where they shine.

[Bobcat]

Guys .... one thing that wasn`t mentioned is that with bias ply tires , you can "adjust" the circumference of the tire . When I was running a dirt car ( left turns only... hope I can remember to turn my ERA right when it`s finished ! ) , we always measured the tires to see what they were on circumference and then depending what we needed for stagger etc , we would air the tires up to about 40 to 50 psi and put them in the sun for several hours to have them grow . However , you have to monitor them regularly to make sure you don`t go overboard . We could sometimes grow a tire several inches .
At the least , try to check the tires circumference and make them as equal to each other as you can , which could possibly solve some handling issues .
Anyway , just a thought . By the way , my ERA will have the Goodyears on it .