When we first started using the Dodge Maxi Van 3500 for towing our trailer and hauling our pow wow stuff they came with light truck rated Michelin tires. We always seemed plagued with blow outs. When a tire was worn to maybe half way or, need to replace it for next summer, they would fail. We were traveling to Florida on business those years and averaged one blow out a year. Had one in central Florida on a two lane side road and little pull off. Exciting! About a mile up the road was a tire shop so I pulled in there. Asked the owner if he had any Michelin truck tires and he told me "I don't carry them anymore and won't even order them". He then asked about blow outs and I told me our yearly story. According to him their LT tires had a problem with the steel belts separating causes them to fail. Looking back almost every failure we had was the outer belt that started it. I have never run Michelin tires since and blow out problems are down to what I would call normal.(can't remember the last one) 

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Tires today aren't like the old ones. I don't know if it's the rubber or the manufacturing methods but they can deteriorate from the inside while the outside looks fine. I had a 8 year old Michelin on my 1960 F100  blow the side wall out on the freeway.  Manufactures say not to run them more then 6 years, and now I believe them and don't.

When stationed in Germany I needed a couple tires for my Fairlane Cobra. Of course nobody in Germany had H 50's and as it turned out no modified profile tires. I finally found a pair on base. They were 795/15 and were still in the wrappers. They must have been from the late 40's or early 50's and were aged hardened. Put them on the front and they wore "forever". I'd be surprised if they didn't go over 100,000 miles. No weather cracking or other problems.

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

The tires are 5-10 years old, off a car that switched to radials before it was finished. Personally i will and have driven tires 20-30 years old and never had too much problem, i have a couple friends who put a lot of miles on 50+ year old tires but that's a little much for me. It just depends on how well they are stored. As for radials, i appreciate how they dont grab lines in the road, but i feel comfortable in the performance of either.

Anyway i had them put on today, and am totally happy, they definitely changed the feel but i think the ride is a hair better. I have a few more things to iron out then i kinda want to go out and run them hard and see how that boat corners.

How old are the G78's ?  If over 6 years you should not use them, especially on a daily, regardless of good tread.  For a daily driver, it would seem that radials are the answer.

59's should have been tubeless from the factory, so tubes not necessary


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

I need to change tires on my daily tomorrow, i have a sweet set of g78x14's and got to thinking, do i need tubes? I'm pretty sure they should be stock wheels, and from the outside i cant feel a safety bead but i've never really paid attention.