O.T. Restore old tires????

[davidrz]

Have my collection of old Ford tractors, but also wanted and old pickup. Well I bought a 1958 Chevy Apache pickup.

The gentleman I bought it from had put new tires on it about 15 years ago (maybe longer than that), but he hardly ran it on the road. The tires are the "L78 15 Polyester Tubeless" type. The tires are 3 inch whitewall, and have no tread ware, no cracks, they look in perfect condition. The spare has never been used.

Problem: Tires seem to be "out of round" and the truck does not run smooth. Had them balanced, but that helped only a little.

Question: Is there a way to have them returned to original condition?????

Is "Polyester" the problem?

Thank you in advance for you advice. David
 

[sHan tn]

well the old bias tires used to take a "set" from sitting, sometimes if you drive it a ways down the road they will work themself out, BUT every time it sits for more than a few days its going to have flat spots on the tires.....and you will have a hell of a ride in the winter when they are cold because it feels like driving on square tires
 

[souNdguy]

ditto what's been said. they are out of round from setting.

driving slowly around your neghborhood for an hour may help.

otherwise I'd pull them off and put vehicle on stands and leave tires on their sides for a couple days and see what happens.
 

[Dean]

It's not the polyester.

Have you driven the truck at highway speed for twenty miles or more? It can take 15 miles or more for the set to work itself out.

Balancing the tires before the set has worked itself out is counterproductive.

Dean
 

[Dave in De]

My old corvette is the same way after setting in garage all winter the tires get flat spots and rides rough for a few miles till it smooths out. they are older polyester tires as well. best to jack them up and store with no weight on tires
 

[Gaspump]

Heck I have that problem with new Goodyear Wranglers on my SUV's. Usually only about one of four. Seems like a bulge as I have had them trued at a tire shop in Deland FL. Lasts a few thousand miles them bump again.
 

[russb wa]

About four decades ago, I worked at a tire shop where I purchased a couple of new brand name tires. They were out of round and so we trued them till it seemed like half of the tire was on the floor. Gave up on that tire and got another ...
 

[S Russell (TX)]

Yes they will "flat spot" as others have said, and it takes some running for them to "round out".
Tht being said, if they are 15 years old or so, I would not consider them road SAFE at any hiway speed. Whether they were stored on the truck or not, with weight on them or not doesn't matter. They are old and unsafe. I am sure you have felt how hot a tire is after a run on the highway. The heat is from "flexing of the sidewalls as it turns. An old tire cannot stand up to the heat.