S
SplitPersonality
Guest
I should at least register my vote or my experience in this back and forth
discussion. You ask a very valid question Mark as to whether anyone with an
Amphicar has actually had their tire roll of a rim. I hate to supply
ammunition to the NO TUBE recommendation contrary to Rocky Mountain John's advice,
because I know him personally and know that he has a lot of experience and good
reasons for his advice. Additionally like many of us who use this website, I
deplore those that offer information, experiences, advice and etc. and don't
sign their names. It may be very obvious to many who the writer was who said
they ( he or she ) had been running Diamondbacks for 5 years with tubes
etc., but I can only guess. Might it be you Mike Israel ?
I purchased my Amphicar 11 years ago last month from a personal friend who
unfortunately never got the chance to take her in the water himself as his
health went way down hill and he passed away at age 57 about 3 or 4 years ago.
However, he went about having the Amphicar which is now our "Split
Personality" restored in 1991. I do know from both him and Hugh Gordon that he
purchased a lot of parts from Hugh Gordon. As to whether he purchased the tires from
Hugh, I do not know, though if it mattered, Hugh's records would show.
At any rate, The front tires have at least 6000 miles on them ( since I tow
the car backwards on a Tow Dolly only part of those miles are "driving
miles." The rear tires for the same reason, then are driving miles and have
probably 2-3000 miles. At any rate, the tires have been absolutely perfect in my
experience and are Tubeless steel belted Radials without any tubes. ( They say
"tubeless" right on the sidewall.) They have barely ever lost much air and
definitely do not leak. In short, they have required NO attention whatsoever
other than checking the pressure VERY occasionally and airing them if
indicated.
The Tires are: JETZON INNOVATION II made in the USA. 175/80 R 13 with 3
belts in the tread - 1 polyester cord and 2 steel cords. In medium size
print, they say M & S and in smaller print say
"Max. load 535 lbs" and max inflation 35 lbs.
So for what it is worth, that is my experience. I too am quite curious to
know if ANYONE has actually experienced a tubeless radial without a tube
rolling off a rim of their Amphicar. If not, then considering the likelihood, I
would say one ought not to worry in view of both my and a number of other
owner's experience. I went through the very same discussion with the Woodie folks
before I opted for Tubeless Diamondbacks. My experience with the Woodie has
mirrored the experience of every one of the other Woodie ( and non Woodie )
people with whom I discussed the matter. IF you are really a wild driver or
drive a lot at high speed or corner hard or often, then maybe it should be
considered. But, for the majority of us owners, I would personally say go
tubeless. One less thing to leak, one less thing to go into the balancing
equation, etc. As I mentioned in a previous e-mail, call Diamondback and ask to talk
personally with the owner, Bill Chapman. He will share his experience with
you on the subject as well as his reasons. He is very personable and certainly
knowledgeable. With the Woodie, he recommended I use the passenger car size
which is a bit narrower, so the bead would sit better on the rim. The weight
rating of the tires he recommended still far exceeds the weight they would
need to carry so he was not ignoring safety in that regard. Those tires have
needed virtually no air in a year and being the Diamondback Classics, they
really DO STAY WHITE.
Vic Nelson with the 1967 "Split Personality" near Daytona Beach
**************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog,
plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com.
(http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014)
discussion. You ask a very valid question Mark as to whether anyone with an
Amphicar has actually had their tire roll of a rim. I hate to supply
ammunition to the NO TUBE recommendation contrary to Rocky Mountain John's advice,
because I know him personally and know that he has a lot of experience and good
reasons for his advice. Additionally like many of us who use this website, I
deplore those that offer information, experiences, advice and etc. and don't
sign their names. It may be very obvious to many who the writer was who said
they ( he or she ) had been running Diamondbacks for 5 years with tubes
etc., but I can only guess. Might it be you Mike Israel ?
I purchased my Amphicar 11 years ago last month from a personal friend who
unfortunately never got the chance to take her in the water himself as his
health went way down hill and he passed away at age 57 about 3 or 4 years ago.
However, he went about having the Amphicar which is now our "Split
Personality" restored in 1991. I do know from both him and Hugh Gordon that he
purchased a lot of parts from Hugh Gordon. As to whether he purchased the tires from
Hugh, I do not know, though if it mattered, Hugh's records would show.
At any rate, The front tires have at least 6000 miles on them ( since I tow
the car backwards on a Tow Dolly only part of those miles are "driving
miles." The rear tires for the same reason, then are driving miles and have
probably 2-3000 miles. At any rate, the tires have been absolutely perfect in my
experience and are Tubeless steel belted Radials without any tubes. ( They say
"tubeless" right on the sidewall.) They have barely ever lost much air and
definitely do not leak. In short, they have required NO attention whatsoever
other than checking the pressure VERY occasionally and airing them if
indicated.
The Tires are: JETZON INNOVATION II made in the USA. 175/80 R 13 with 3
belts in the tread - 1 polyester cord and 2 steel cords. In medium size
print, they say M & S and in smaller print say
"Max. load 535 lbs" and max inflation 35 lbs.
So for what it is worth, that is my experience. I too am quite curious to
know if ANYONE has actually experienced a tubeless radial without a tube
rolling off a rim of their Amphicar. If not, then considering the likelihood, I
would say one ought not to worry in view of both my and a number of other
owner's experience. I went through the very same discussion with the Woodie folks
before I opted for Tubeless Diamondbacks. My experience with the Woodie has
mirrored the experience of every one of the other Woodie ( and non Woodie )
people with whom I discussed the matter. IF you are really a wild driver or
drive a lot at high speed or corner hard or often, then maybe it should be
considered. But, for the majority of us owners, I would personally say go
tubeless. One less thing to leak, one less thing to go into the balancing
equation, etc. As I mentioned in a previous e-mail, call Diamondback and ask to talk
personally with the owner, Bill Chapman. He will share his experience with
you on the subject as well as his reasons. He is very personable and certainly
knowledgeable. With the Woodie, he recommended I use the passenger car size
which is a bit narrower, so the bead would sit better on the rim. The weight
rating of the tires he recommended still far exceeds the weight they would
need to carry so he was not ignoring safety in that regard. Those tires have
needed virtually no air in a year and being the Diamondback Classics, they
really DO STAY WHITE.
Vic Nelson with the 1967 "Split Personality" near Daytona Beach
**************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog,
plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com.
(http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014)
