Billboard Gallery

[Larry N Johnson]

Post 'em if ya got 'em!

Also please add comments like grip, driveability, fit, clearance, etc.

OKAY. Since I started it:

1. Fit: replaced Goodyear Eagle GTII 295/50x15 and 235/60x15
- Tread 10" wide on Billboard;
- Tread 11" wide on GTII
--> Result on my FFR: more clearance at critical fender and 2x3 at frame.
- Sidewall bulge on BB greater but on theis FFR, not a clearance issue.
- BB slightly taller, maybe 3/4" to 1" but still no rubbing w/out adjusting ride height.

2. Grip: it's there no question. My test is a hard shift to 2nd. The GTII's will slip and allow "burning rubber"; not so on the BB's...just a hard lurch forward.

3. Diveability: went for 100 mile plus run today. Back roads. Not as easy as radials..that is certain. Have to steer more, there is vibration under some conditions. All in all acceptable, but radials easier to deal with. The BB's give one a "race car" feeling. Much less "darting around" than anticipated.

Here are a couple images:

Side View: note fender and tire about same height. Could probably lower 1/2" or so...no rubbing at this level.



Clearance View:




Any other experiences?

[FUNFER2]

Looks great !
I have to install mine from my Group Buy. I'll wait to mount them until after my chassis dyno run. The dyno's can be hard on tires. I also have some tire rub with my eagle II's so, I'm hoping that the Billboards will help solve the rubbing. Looks like you painted yours, I will be using "Ranger" paint, what did you use & how did it go ?

[Larry N Johnson]

Kevin,

Thanks for the comments.
Ranger paint was used.

Larry

[FUNFER2]

Tell me how you applied the paint.
Brush/sponge brush. Any brush marks.
Coats.
Time.
Have you drove it much since.
Tips.
ect.......

You did a great job.

[noblec5]

Love'em. Looks great, sticky, sticky, sticky. will track on broken pavement, but nothin I cant handle.

[Silverback51]

One advantage of being older. I remember what bias ply tires were like. These are no different, except for how sticky they are. I can live with those quirks of bias ply tires for the traction they provide.





Plus they just look right on these cars.

[hot427cobra]

Here is a photo of my tire after using fabric pencil. Very easy to maintain. Holds up well to normal wear & tear.

[Ronbo]

Larry, just an observation. Your tires look over-inflated in those pictures.

[Allan A]

I like the slicks.

[Larry N Johnson]

Originally Posted by Ronbo

Larry, just an observation. Your tires look over-inflated in those pictures.

Yes, set at 30. The nubbies wore off just in the center. So they are over-inflated for sure.

Maybe should be 24 front 25 rear?
What works for a 2250 lb roadster?

[Larry N Johnson]

Originally Posted by hot427cobra

Here is a photo of my tire after using fabric pencil. Very easy to maintain. Holds up well to normal wear & tear.

Wow!!!

[KevinW]

I'm dribbling while I type.....

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by Larry N Johnson

Yes, set at 30. The nubbies wore off just in the center. So they are over-inflated for sure.

Maybe should be 24 front 25 rear?
What works for a 2250 lb roadster?

I'm running 18.5 Rear and 22.0 Front.

[HI Cobra]

I am running 25 in the front and 24 in the rear on my Kirkham. I have
the 42 gallon tank and try to keep it at least half full since I don't have
a gas gauge plus the extra weight helps with traction, not that I push it
that hard. Tire wear looks even. 30 does sound a bit high for such a
light weight.

[fkemmerer]

Billboards on an ERA:



I am planning to repaint these with Ranger Tire paint. Does anyone know if this paint can be thinned and sprayed through an airbush? If so, what is the recipe for doing this? Thanks,

- Fred

[ou812545]

On SPF 2168
[IMG][/IMG]

[1985 CCX]

I love these tires
Pro's:
Grip, look, feel, ride comfort and cool.

Con's:
Throw rocks and flat spot.

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by Larry N Johnson

Yes, set at 30. The nubbies wore off just in the center. So they are over-inflated for sure.

Maybe should be 24 front 25 rear?
What works for a 2250 lb roadster?

Seems like I remember 24 on the fronts and a pound or two less in the rear.

Best way is to do temp measurements across the tread, after about a mile of straight driving (no curves) take temp readings.

Hot in the middle, over pressure. Cold middle, low pressure. One of those infared temp guns is ideal for this. (one side of the tread being hot indicates an alignment problem)

[hot427cobra]

For those of you wondering what to use on their tires, here has been my experience.

I tried using a spray paint that I think was called Plasti-Dip or something along those lines. It was supposed to be a white paint that had an elastic rubbery quality so it would remain flexible and not crack. I spent a good hour taping out each letter on the first tire, sprayed a few coats and it looked great. Problem was as I went to pull off the masking tape, the paint started to pull right off with it. Very frustrating after all the time spent on one tire. At least the stuff was easy to rub off so I was back to square one.

Then I decided to try the white tire pens you can get from an automotive store. Too expensive and wasn't happy with how it seemed to leave streak marks from the pen tip. So finally I used the fabric pens from a hobby craft store and they worked great. I had the tire off the car laying horizontaly on a table to stand at. The fabric pen is sort of watery which is good. You can get the paint to flow out real easy and smooth before it sets up and dries in place. The letters have a slight ridge which helps keep the paint from running outside of the letter. If anything does get outside the letters, it wipes off with a wet rag. Cleans up like a latex paint until it dries. The first coat has a fair amount of bleed through. The second coat you could probably say OK, that is fine. But the third coat jumps out as bright white and looks great. Once it has dried you can wash the tires and the stuff doesn't come off. Just like it should if you had used it on a T-shirt and put it through the washing machine and dryer. Each Spring I planned to put one new coat on to freshen them up a bit. Last year I never got around to it and they still look good. The picture above is after two seasons. I hope this helps.

Mark

[sideoiler10]

Not sure whether or not the Ranger paint can be thinned for spraying. The can I used was pretty thin from the start. I had to give them 3 coats to get a nice white coverage.

I have yet to drive with the tires. I had them balanced and installed on the car just about the time I began having heart problems, so I sort of lost interest in the tires. To make a long story short, it will be about a month until I can drive due to having a triple by-pass last week. Everything is cool now, just waiting for the days to wind by.

I have enjoyed keeping up with you guys about the BB group purchase. As I had previously posted I got in just after the group buy was finished. Jerry was kind enough to extend the same deal.

I currently have 26 lbs in the front and 25 in the rear. Thought that might be a good place to start.

Have any of you had much problem with the tires throwing pebbles up under the fenders (really hard) or chipping the front face of the rear fenders?

Keep the tire comments coming. Thanks, Bob