Mark II tires for sale

[ERI100]

Mark II Tires for sale

( 4 ) 8 20-15 bias ply B F GOODRICH tubeless white wall tires , with less then 300 miles on them in, perfect condition.
The white wall seem to be about 2 1/4 inches wide
Price $200 for the four.
Location Millbrook NY 12545
Shepard Ellenberg eri100 @ aol.com

[Barry Wolk]

What's the date code on the tires? I'm only mentioning that because our litigious society would frown heavily on selling used tires that are out of date.

While I think the standards are too stringent, they could be used against you in a court of law.

When you sell them, please have the buyer sign some type of release. CYA.

[ERI100]

Barry
Thanks for your input.

I am sure these tires were bought when Stan K did the restoration work on the car 10 years ago.
Since Stan only showed the car and never drove it to meets ,when I bought it in Nov 2005, it had just 68 miles on it.
I put about 220 miles getting the kinks out , before installing a set of radials which made the car drive like a dream, and no longer wander all over the road.
If someone does want to buy these tires , I will read all the numbers that you pointed out for me to look for, and let them decide before they purchase.

These type of tires should only be used to show and to trailer to meets .
After driving with radials tires, bias ply in my opinion should not be used for highway driving if one wants to get the most enjoyment out of their Mark II.
I just put a little over 600 miles coming and going to the Lancaster meet.
The only problem that I experienced was that the master brake cylinder was a little low on brake fluid when it sat at the meet for 3 1/2 days.
So I topped it up with some brake fluid and drove back up to my farm and it has not use any brake fluid since Lancaster PA..
I always check all the fluids, but never the brake fluid.
Now I check everything before I take her out for a ride..
This would be one heck of a car to try and stop with just the emergency brake.

The work that Stan K did on restoring this Mark II is perfection, the paint work, interior,motor, and all the other mechanical systems, are the way it should have come out of the factory in 1957.
The motor did not use any oil on the trip and purrs like a kitten, no valve or tappet noise .
I think the car is now broken in since the odometer reads a little over 2,500 miles.

With the use of the plastic hubcaps, I no longer have to chase the original hubcaps down the highway. That may be the only draw back for using radials , but that is no longer a problem, with these new plastic hubcaps, and they are a snap to install.
Thanks again for your input , I am having more fun with this car then any of my others cars

Shepard

[Barry Wolk]

Shepherd,

I'm firmly in your camp on the subject of radials. However, many would argue that were really not "experiencing" the Mark II properly.:rolleyes:

I corrected my problem by buying new wheels that are made for radials. Haven't lost a hubcap since. Carefully check the distance between the tire and upper ball joint. With a 235 it comes awfully close. Are there spacers behind your wheels. If there are, you'll want to get rid of them and buy wheels with a shallower backset. Mine are 3/4" shallower, giving me the clearance I needed to get rid of the spacers and keep the tires from rubbing on the frame. The 1 1/2" wider stance makes the car look better, IMO. I think the stock wheelbase makes the car look stogy. The wheels were about $300 for 5 from Cokers.

[ERI100]

Barry
You gave me this information about 3 1/2 years ago when I first purchased the Mark II and I did call Coker tire.
They did not know what I was talking about.
If you have an invoice from them instructing me exactly what I need to purchase with respect to the correct wheels and offset, which I hope is on the invoice, I would be happy to buy them.
"But", on the other hand, I still would not feel comfortable about driving with the original hubcaps.
These plastic hubcaps are great looking, and I could care less about loosing one. In fact, I purchased another set just in case . How can you go wrong at $15.00 a hubcap.
I don't even want to think of chasing another one of these hard to install, ill fitting, and overweight hubcaps down the road
Shepard

[Barry Wolk]

Call Wheel Vintiques. 559-251-6957 Tell them you have a '56 Mark II with 15 x 6 wheels. Tell them that you want a back-set that's 3/4" less than stock, which in effect, moves your wheel outward 3/4" inch.

I got mine through Coker and they no longer have the info in their files. I believe you can purchase from Vintiques, but you might get a better price from Coker.

[Nick DeSpirito]

Barry,

Do you have to tell them what gauge metal you need them stamped out of? If so, what gauge are your wheels?

[Shelly Harris]

Here is the info on the wheel to order:

15" wheel rim with bolt pattern 5 X 5.25
Rim width is the tire thread width within one inch. (+/- 1 inch) so 15 X 6 probably ok

[Phil Gevertz]

I've heard a lot of folks say their hubcaps fly off, but I've never experienced a problem and they fit really tight on the wheels. Been driving it 11 years without incident.

[Barry Wolk]

Do you have radials, Phil?

Nick, I don't know what gauge, but I do know that there's a 5 pound difference in weight between the old and new.

I know they went to thicker metal for radials because of the sidewall flex. I've heard that bias-ply rims have split from sidewall flex.

[Barry Wolk]

Shelly,

The 5.25" is the bolt pattern measurement. They are 6" wide wheels.

[Phil Gevertz]

Yes, have radials

[Keith W Colonna]

Barry, I caught that little "zinger" about not experiencing the MKII authentically...I didn't realize that comment of mine some weeks back stuck so well:).
I don't find my bias ply tires on any of my old cars wander to an objectional degree. Of course my newer vehicles handle much better.
Until the radials are made to give the identical stance as the original design tires and with the scalloped edges, then I will stay with my bias ply Silvertowns.
I spend more time looking at the car than driving it anyway.
I'd also add that I do very limited driving on the highway at this point.

[Barry Wolk]

Too bad. That's what they're meant for. Buy a bronze statue if you want something stationary to look at.:rolleyes:

[Keith W Colonna]

I would like to drive it more...don't get me wrong, but opportunity doesn't always align with cooperation from the MKII...she demands my attention in the driveway.
I do however have a couple of MKII models in my color (red) in my china cabinet where I look at them during dinner. After my wife left and took the Hutschenreuther dishes, I had lot of room in the cabinet for important stuff like these car models and other more appropriate display stuff than dishes:rolleyes:

[Barry Wolk]

Sounds like you got the better end of the deal.

http://www.tias.com/stores/bettyanns/pictures/1030a.jpg

[Chuck Lutz]

I was reading the Buddy Holiday book again and there's a notation about Wire Wheels.

Quote from "The Continental Mark II Restorer's Guide:
" There is a rumor from a man that owns Mark II wire wheels that Continental had offered wire wheels. There were reportedly four sets of wire wheels made by Dayton Wheel Company and they were offered for eight hundred dollars a set. They have knock off hub and are painted red in the center with the same star emblem as that on the fender. The author has seen them and they do look good and authenic. They came from Chicago."

The Dayton Wire Wheel Company is still in business (started 1916). According to Mr. Jim Good:

"Chuck,
Our product has been a dealer installed option on many cars over the years. I was unable to find any information on the wheels you are talking about as we have changed owners, location and record tracking a few times since then. I wish I could do more for you as far as the paper work goes. I can say that we do offer all our wheels styles as far as knock offs go, the wheel I think would be the one you are looking for is attached in the image, this wheel is called a 72 spoke cross laced."

Now, I'm not sure how this would look on the Mark II. I'm thinking about doing a little PhotoShop to figure that out. It might just be that the Leopard skin seat covers are the only thing that goes with these wheels but I'm tossing it out there.

[Barry Wolk]

Jim Schmidt, from NPD, just bought a set of 4 wire wheels with knockoffs from the estate of a man that had those and a Mark II engine with factory installed tri-power. We need a drool smiley.

I'll e-mail his son to see if he'll sent pictures.

The guy was asking $20,000 for the wire wheels. Jim got the engine and wheels for far less. Money talks and bullshit walks.

[Chuck Lutz]

Very Cool.

In all the lists of DSO's I've never seen either wire wheels or Tri-power noted.

[Barry Wolk]

I contacted Rick. The engine is basically a Super Marauder engine with Mark II valve covers. He's going to take pictures.

The wheels are in the process of being restored. They are going on the the newly restored Henry Ford Mark II. They also have the Benson Ford Mark II and the WCF Mark II hot rod with the '69 460 drive train.

[Chuck Lutz]

Sorry but... What's NPD?

[Barry Wolk]

National Part Depot. One of the largest reproduction parts houses.

http://www.npdlink.com/