05-07-2009, 09:10 AM
chrisWVintage Tires
I think I just got lucky!
For those that remember I bought my Barth last summer adn started going through it to restore the mechanicals (interior was in mint condition). Replaced all the suspension and brakes, did some electrical work and made a short trip or two.
So now winter is over, a couple more items have been checked off the list it is time to 'invest' in some tires....there are no inexpensive 22.5" tires!
I dropped off the Barth at the tire shop this morning and out of curosity I aksed what the date code on existing tire was - it didn't make sense to me....they were the original 1985 tires!!!

Anybody collect vintage tires? You can have 'em for free!
geez, I actually drove this thing (not far) with those tires on it!
05-07-2009, 10:28 PM
Jim and TereMust have been vintage as in 'vintage wine'!
05-08-2009, 06:29 AM
Don in NiagaraChris
Hi neighbor! You are the closest Barthmobiler to us. We will have to meet up for a camp-out one of these days.
My questions are ... How many miles on the tires after all those years?? and ... How did it handle and ride on that ancient rubber?
Best Regards.
Don
05-10-2009, 09:58 PM
chrisWActually it handeled quite well. The rig has 41k miles on it.
Interesting coincidence - I drove the Barth down to Watkins Glen (on the new tires) to instruct at a BMW track event. I was driving a students Porsche and the right front tire disintegrated at 120 mph....Karma I suppose! No crash but his sheet metal was torn up a bit by the tire flapping around
05-10-2009, 10:18 PM
Sloop John BchrisW; Our 1988 Regal had 17,500 miles on it with the original tires when we purchased it. The tire shop I bought new set of tires from said they would sell them to contractor who used them on low boy trailers used to haul heavy equip at low speed. They wear out fast and would work well. Try finding a shop that deals with contractors, this would help out a contractor in this slooow economy.
07-07-2009, 09:13 AM
lenny and judywhen we bought our barth it had on 4 original tires looked ok you could see they were used but not bad didn't go 50 ft on them.they con blow just sitting there.they were only 18 years old.
lenny