Are you driving, buying, or restoring a classic car? Equip your vehicle with the wrong tires and you could end up regretting it later. A classic car requires just the right tires. Consider all of the following factors when choosing the right tires for classic cars.
Choosing the Right Tires for Classic Cars
Authenticity
If you put run-of-the-mill modern tires on a classic car, it will detract from its authentic style and value. Part of the joy of owning a classic car is maintaining its original appearance. Slapping any old tires on a classic vehicle almost feels disrespectful to its longstanding heritage.
Comfort
Basic tires won’t necessarily provide the same comfortable ride as high-quality tires designed for your vehicle. Better quality brings a smoother, less bumpy ride and allows you to enjoy the vehicle the way it was meant to drive.
Compatibility
Each car model is built to have a certain wheel bolt pattern and alignment. It has a maximum wheel size and a specific type of tire it should be fitted with, so only certain tires will work best. Many classic cars have unusual and rare wheel types, and some modern tires just aren’t the right fit.
Longevity
Your classic car has already lasted a lifetime and you want it to have many more decades to come. For this reason, its tires should offer the best possible longevity and years of driving pleasure.
Performance
A classic car, particularly a high-performance muscle car, needs tires that can handle its power and speed. You don’t want to encourage slippage, which can make driving more dangerous and limit your ability to drive your car at its peak performance.
How to Select Tires for Classic Cars
Classic Cars
Generally speaking, a classic car needs radial or bias-ply tires. You may be able to order these from a tire store, or your vehicle may have an obscure type of wheel size or bolt arrangement that calls for ordering tires from a specialty classic tire manufacturer.
Classic Trucks
Just like modern trucks, classic trucks are usually larger than passenger cars and need larger tires. An antique truck may need a specialty wheel, like an early Model T’s wooden spoke artillery wheel. Something like this must be custom-ordered and is very unlikely to be readily available from most other outlets.
Antique Cars
In terms of choosing the right tires for antique cars, the choice often depends on the era. The earliest cars had simple metal tires covered with air-filled rubber. Through the decades, the basic design of a tire hasn’t changed radically, but you’ll still need to match the right tire to your specific antique vehicle. You may need a radial, bias ply, bias look radial, or specially designed tire depending on the vehicle.
Muscle Cars
Choosing wheels for muscle cars adds another layer of complexity because a high-powered vehicle needs tires that can handle the forces of the road. Many of the most popular muscle cars of the ’60s and ’70s use tires like the F70-14, F70-15, and G70-14. Consider tire details like redlines or pinstriped whitewalls depending on the exact make and model of your muscle car.
The Positives of Modern Tires for Classic Cars
Despite the cautions above, modern tires bring many benefits to classic cars. Newly-made tires with the right look and specs will bring the following benefits of modern tire manufacturing.
Smooth Rides
Modern tires are made to provide the smoothest possible ride. Today’s tire manufacturing techniques create a consistent product designed for comfortable driving.
Road Safety
Every newly-made tire must conform to today’s strict road safety standards. Tires are tested for performance, safety, and longevity, and they’re expected to meet environmental stewardship rules set by the federal government.
Tire Variety
In earlier decades, consumers had tire choices because there were simply fewer manufacturers providing tires for classic vehicles. Today, companies specialize in providing a wide range of tires for classic, vintage, antique, and muscle cars, plus classic trucks and everything else! Take a little time to search, and you can almost always find exactly what you need.
Protect Your Classic Car With Classic Auto Insurance
When you own a classic car, it deserves the best possible protection. At Classic Auto Insurance, we offer agreed-value coverage for antique, vintage, sport, luxury, and other classic vehicles. Agreed-value antique car insurance involves working with you individually to determine the worth of your vehicle to create a plan best suited to your needs.
We’ll work with you to determine your car’s value, and if you end up in a worst-case scenario where your antique car is totaled, you’ll receive the full agreed-upon amount minus your deductible. Classic Auto Insurance also provides exceptional benefits like nationwide roadside assistance and flatbed towing.
To arrange your classic car insurance, simply request a quote online today or call 888-901-1338. We’re happy to answer any questions and look forward to helping you protect your prized vehicle.
