Power King Tires

[maritimerCJ]

Has anyone run the power king tires? I really like the vintage off road style they have and i think they would be a cool tire for our old trucks, these ones would look good on a stock truck

http://www.powerkingtires.com/Tires/...ht%20Truck/300

http://www.powerkingtires.com/Tires/...ht%20Truck/292

These ones im really interested in, i know they are for large trucks and have a 20 inch rims but they they are 39 inch tires that are narrow (i like the narrow offroad tires myself) and i think they would look awesome on the fc. That and the price for a new set inst bad either.

http://www.powerkingtires.com/Tires/...um%20Truck/299


So what do you guys think?

[Tonka J200]

I have Power King Super Tractions on my '63 J200.
I bought them new in 2000 and have put about 14,000 miles on them since.

I bought them for their look more than anything else.
Being bias ply and hard rubber compound, they flat spot overnight. The tread pattern is LOUD on the road! The sidewalls are crazy stiff, so they don't handle well. And did I mention they're LOUD?

Being tall and narrow, they're also great diggers - when you're driving in soft mud or snow, these things will try to find the bottom of it. And if there is no bottom - you'll get stuck.

I LOVE they way they look on a vintage truck, but in all honesty, they're miserable to drive on.

[badaboom]

but in all honesty, they're miserable to drive on.

Great line

[goldhammer]

Not many here or anywhere that remember before radials became popular, that was what we had and lived with on a daily basis, and on a below freezing morning it could take 5 or 6 miles to get them warmed up and semi-round again, and even longer if it was below 0.

We have become spoiled in our old age.

[dbabicky]

Yep, back when I was a kid every logger had tires like that on their trucks, along with the farmers.

[Tonka J200]

Now that I think about it, my friend also has them on his stock FC170. They're 7.50 x16's, and they look awesome!

[jdaniel83]

I had a set of the Super Traction II's on my '66 Gladiator. They looked great and were great for off road traction, but like Tonka J200 said they weren't the best tires for paved roads. Very rough and loud.

[getbentfab]

My boss bought power king tires(all lower case to express my lack of respect for their product) for the F-450 at work. He wouldn't listen to me when I complained that I felt they were unsafe at highway speeds. Then he had to drive the truck to make a delivery. Only 45 minutes each way on the freeway but that's all it took. The next morning he sent me to have them replaced! They were their top of the line commercial tires but I'd never run them.

[FSJunkie]

Guys- He's driving an FC-170. The cab is basically one big metal reverberation chamber hanging off the front of the vehicle and the engine will be right next to him in the middle of the front seat. These Jeeps set the benchmark for what it takes to be considered a noisy vehicle. Jeep didn't even offer an optional radio in them, and for good reason: nobody could in their wildest dreams hear it!

Unless he wraps the interior with several inches of bubble wrap, he won't be able to hear himself think anyway. Might as well add some noisy but appropriate looking tires.

Ever ridden in one? The headache is biblical after a few miles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzCP3QCvIyM

[REDONE]

I ran 39" bias plies on a Wag for a while. Yeah, there's a difference, but not the way it's being portrayed here, not under 60mph. Noisiest tires I've ever owned were 33" BFG M/T radials, even bias ply 39" TSLs didn't make as much noise. Also, I've never had a bias ply pop the bead or blow a sidewall off road. I'm sure it's possible, but not as likely.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying bias tires are as good as radials. I AM saying that they still have a place, a well deserved one. If you're driving from show to show or trail to trail on pavement, I'll take a bias ply that's superior in appearance or more importantly, durability. On a DD I'll take a radial any day of the week.

[cherokee83]

Originally Posted by Tonka J200

I have Power King Super Tractions on my '63 J200.
I bought them new in 2000 and have put about 14,000 miles on them since.

I bought them for their look more than anything else.
Being bias ply and hard rubber compound, they flat spot overnight. The tread pattern is LOUD on the road! The sidewalls are crazy stiff, so they don't handle well. And did I mention they're LOUD?

Being tall and narrow, they're also great diggers - when you're driving in soft mud or snow, these things will try to find the bottom of it. And if there is no bottom - you'll get stuck.

I LOVE they way they look on a vintage truck, but in all honesty, they're miserable to drive on.

[Herk]

The only thing worse would be military NDTs.

[budryzer]

I'm not biased on bias ply tires I'm running pro trac 36"s on my rig right now. They are a little more work than some TSL's but the price was right and they will last a decade. I drive it every day. So if you see me coming...... give me some room

[maritimerCJ]

This thread turned out to be surprisingly funny . From what im gathering the problem with these tires is that they are very loud and dont handle as when at high speeds? If that the case like FSJunkie said that shouldnt matter to much because 1. I am sitting on a AMC327, and 2. the truck prolly never will be over 45mph and wont be on pavement much anyways because of the full hydro steering.

So what do you guys think of the 39 inch set, the side would be about perfect but im having trouble picturing what they would be like or look like being only 9 1/2 inches wide, also do you think rims would be that big of a deal to find?

Also does anyone know of any other places that sell these tires or similar ones in different sizes?

[joe]

Originally Posted by maritimerCJ

Also does anyone know of any other places that sell these tires or similar ones in different sizes?

In the 70's we ran Goodyear hi-miler xtra grips on all our company rigs(geology). Great tires for dirt/mud/snow. Don't think they're avail in the States anymore unless a Goodyear dealer can special order them. They still make them overseas though. A google search will get you to a dealer. I checked into it a few years ago and in Malaysia they were about $60 each plus shipping for 7.00x15's. never followed through cause I sold truck so no idea what shipping would be.

[motion vega]

http://www.powerkingtires.com/Tires/...um%20truck/391 now were talkin...

[austinaubinoe]

im running STA (specialty tires of america) 6:50-16's on my willys pickup. not sure if they make them in a 39. What about some surplus NDT's?

This style tire does look great on an old pickup though!

[motion vega]

those look like they would make great derby tires, what ply are they?