Repro Goodyear Polyglas tires?

Discussion in 'The Hides' started by The Big Guy, Jul 7, 2021.

  1. The Big Guy

    The Big Guy Nailhead Nation

    Has anyone had experience with the repro Goodyear Polyglas GT tires made by Kelsey tire?
     
  2. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    Plenty have what's your concern?
     
  3. The Big Guy

    The Big Guy Nailhead Nation

    I've had bad experiences with the repro tires like that. But, have never had any made by Kelsey, just other companies. Most of my issues have been balance related - they were square.
     
  4. 72STAGE1

    72STAGE1 STAGE 1 & 2

    I have been running them for about 8-9 years with only compliments…… 43758520-EEDE-4C71-B4C5-965CC8DEF380.jpeg 69B1729A-5936-414A-B835-F97F2076B217.jpeg 3B06F7CC-BEEA-45C3-A4C4-0EFA3E1FB6AE.jpeg
     
    BUQUICK likes this.
  5. PaulGS

    PaulGS Well-Known Member

    They drive like absolute crap.

    Look nice though.
     
    OHC JOE and Smartin like this.
  6. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    You can't compare them to modern radial tires. Ride and handling of a radial are much better than the dinosaur Bias Ply tires. They do look awesome though. The correct alignment specs will get you the best out of them.
     
    Mark Demko likes this.
  7. Dano

    Dano Platinum Level Contributor

    Balancing a square is no problem. Getting it to roll smoothly is. Two different issues. I can make them ride smoothly although being bias ply as Larry said, it's still not going to ride like a radial tire.
     
  8. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    You definitely sacrifice ride quality for looks.
     
    bill lagna likes this.
  9. Roberta

    Roberta Buick Berta

    Kelsey has the original Goodyear molds, and they use newer tire compound no complaints from me!
     
    Brett Slater likes this.
  10. 72STAGE1

    72STAGE1 STAGE 1 & 2

    yes 100% true, they wander excessively and make you “actively drive “, sometimes on single lane roads and in the rain I feel very unsafe. But they get nice traction from the dig and you just can’t beat the look, I sure wish they upgrade them to a radial at some point like they did with the Firestone Wide Oval.
     
  11. 2dtrak

    2dtrak Gold Level Contributor

    Goodyear did come out with a radial poly glass and they blew it. Looks like a light truck tire w correct rwl
     
    Brett Slater likes this.
  12. Brett Slater

    Brett Slater Super Moderator Staff Member

    I like the Wide Oval radials. They actually ride nice.

    20210620_114332.jpg
     
    rkammer and 2dtrak like this.
  13. Randy Lutz

    Randy Lutz Well-Known Member

    As Paul said in an earlier posting, they ride like crap. The car (72GS) Paul got from me had Polyglas tires and it was a real handful to drive.

    Buick profile.jpg

    However, I installed a set on my GSX and have to say I was surprised.
    IMG_1461.JPG
    They ride as well as my radial T/A's and there is no wandering whatsoever. Not sure if something changed over the last few years, but these new tires are a pleasure to drive on. All that being said, I have to admit that they are a bitch to balance. I actually have one tire that needs 7 ounces of weight to balance. It is relegated to the trunk to use as a decorative spare. Living in Canada it is just too problematic to try and return any item that proves defective.

    But, you can't beat them for looks.

    GSX while visiting Myers GM Dealership in June 2021 2.jpg
     
    Brett Slater, bill lagna and 72STAGE1 like this.
  14. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    If your going to drive it to enjoy, get radials, bias ply's are annoying, they follow every crown, rut, and shape in the road surface.
     
    Brett Slater likes this.
  15. The Big Guy

    The Big Guy Nailhead Nation

    Got the repro PolyGlas tires on, and I'm pleasantly surprised. Overall, I think they do very well.
     
    72STAGE1 likes this.
  16. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    The issue is balancing. They take alot of weight. I had one that took 7 ounces no matter what we tried. And I had another thst took over 5 ounces. We matched mounted it, balanced it through the lug nut holes. Both had a pretty good hop in them. Like .090". The owner of kelsey put up a major fight about them. Wanted pictures of them mounted on the balancer. Pictures of the readings. In the end, he relented and exchanged ONE of thrm for me. Told me to go pound sand on the other one and said 5 ounces is "normal " ....bullshit. Left a bad taste in my mouth. And I had probably bought 2 dozen tires from that guy prior to this too.

    Buy I digress.....you need someone like Dano who knows how to use a road force balancer and has the ability to shave tires
     

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