Joined: Sat Mar 25 2006, 07:31PM
Location: Nebo, NC
Posts: 86
I had been putting off the purchase of new tires for my '61 Newport because I had been hoping to buy a set of wide-whitewall radials for it. WRONG! A set of five would cost me about $875 before mounting and balancing! Regular 225 / 75-R14 tires are only around $60 apiece, mounted and balanced, so that is probably what I am stuck with.
Here is my question: has anybody had any experience with Portawalls from Lucas Automotive in California? They are the only source through which I can find these "fake whitewalls" ($39/set + shipping). I have heard rumors that they cut a groove into the tire sidewall, but others say that they only do that if the tires are kept under-inflated.
Joined: Sat Dec 10 2005, 04:28PM
Location: United States
Posts: 4954
Other than them flying off, but that has been years since I last used them, make sure the beads are real clean. They're OK otherwise. . . .
If the car sits a long time, they'll bow out, but will flatten out after a few miles. There is a paint you can get too, but that last resort. <span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Mon Apr 24 2006, 10:00AM ]</span>
Has anyone tried using S.E.M. dyes used for redying interior pieces and plastic trim.You can get these in spray bombs or get a pint or quart and throw it in you're own gun,any colour.I dont know if this will work on rubber though,I don't see why not?.The only problem i see, is getting the masking tape to stick to the rubber when you are masking the circles.I,m going to talk to a friend of mine who specialises in re- dying and touching up leather with dyes,maybe he can shed some light on this,as it would be on the "cheap".Glen
Joined: Sun Feb 05 2006, 11:51PM
Location: Pa
Posts: 3064
Hey Glen- I mixed and sprayed some cleaned and prepped rubber NOS '57 Chebby floormats with turquoise SEM to freshen them up, and they broke out in a million tiny cracks and the SEM flaked off It seems that the rubber is either too flexible or the SEM needs to melt into a vinyl to keep this from happening......the tires would be a mess after rolling 3 feet. There was a story in a Streetrod magazine a while ago about a service that uses a special machine that grinds the sidewalls to a smooth band that accepts a liquid white rubber, which was applied by a brush mounted on the tool. They were doing BF Goodrich radials and it was guaranteed to stay on. Wish I could remember the book it was in.....
Joined: Sat Mar 25 2006, 07:31PM
Location: Nebo, NC
Posts: 86
Bob,
There is a special prep which you use prior to applying a SEM color coat. It softens the material to be sprayed-over and creates a better bonding surface. The SEM part number is 38363 and it is called "Sand Free" because you do not need to "rough-up" the surface to promote a good bond. I'm not about to try it on tires, but it works great on vinyl seats, arm rests and door panels; it might be worth a try for your mats.
About the Portawalls: I have learned that even Lucas Automotive (which sells the Portawalls) doesn't recommend them for use with radial tires, only with bias-ply tires. Well, shoot, if I'm going to be stuck with that design I'll just buy some wide whitewall bias ply tires from Coker for $91 apeice and be done with it.
Joined: Sun Feb 05 2006, 11:51PM
Location: Pa
Posts: 3064
Hey Jeff - I tried the Sand Free on the rubber and it didn't work. I have used something else called Bulldog Adhesion Promoter, but the mats still cracked. When prepping things, I use MEK - nasty shtuff, but it works! It's just that SEM was developed to melt into vinyl. If something was formulated with the chemical that tire patches have to bite into the rubber, maybe that would work....