Billboard letters

[jacobsed]

I would not do billboard lettering with 17" wheels

Originally Posted by Jethrow

So you are recommending 2" for 17" tyres? On your car it seems like they are 15" wheels ...

[Ron61]

Not the solid Bill Boards but here are the tires that came on my 1969 NASCAR Cobra. They are now 49 years old but are still on the car.



Ron

[FUNFER2]

Ron, they look great ! (No pic, but in my mind their great)

[Ron61]

Kevin,

You mean that you can't see the picture? I see it OK, but maybe others can't either. If so I will try to fix it.

Ron

Originally Posted by FUNFER2

Ron, they look great ! (No pic, but in my mind their great)

[Large Arbor]

I did mine this weekend. Pic below.

Phil

[Jethrow]

Originally Posted by Large Arbor

I did mine this weekend. Pic below.

Phil

Is this the standard height version on 17" rims? Looks great !

[FUNFER2]

With side pipe exhaust blowing on the tires & letters, how do the stickers hold up to that and cleaning ?

I use like Dove dish soap or tire cleaning sprays, will they cause harm ?

[Large Arbor]

I just put mine on so I am not sure how they will hold up. I think I would like them dusted up a little. Mine are standard size on 15" Mickey Thompson SRs.

Phil

[Rjw289]

The bright white will fade which is good. They are adhered on for good and will not come off if applied with the adhesive provided when washing. Mine have been on just over one year now and actually I think look better as the brightness has faded which looks more "original" in my opinion.

[Gregg(What's his name)?]

They look good. I just ordered a set.

[CompClassics]

Something a little more traditional....

[Pman1961]

I will be installing my Tredwear Lettering this weekend. Question...did you clean the tire with degreaser only where the letters will be applied or the entire face of the tire? If you cleaned partial tire, I assume you applied tire dressing when complete. If so, did the finish look even between the areas that had been cleaned and not cleaned. I haven't been using tire dressing as I understand some dressings can be harmful to tires. I prefer the look of a clean tire over shiny dressings.

[Large Arbor]

My tires were new so they were pretty clean. I just wiped them down relatively clean with a tire cleaner and went from there. In your case, I would just use hot soapy water, I don't think they have to be spotless.

Phil

[MCoop]

Pman1961,
Even though my tires were brand new, I cleaned the entire sidewall of the tire 3 times with Spray Nine and a stiff scrubbing brush. After using Spray Nine, rinsing with water and then drying, I used rubbing alcohol on the tire and mounting side of each Tredwear letter. If I recall correctly, Tredwear does not recommend using tire dressings on the letters so I have not used dressings on my tires since I installed the letters.

Mike

[Pman1961]

Thanks guys!! I'll report back when completed.

[RedHawk]

Highly reccomend no matter what period correct says.
Oh the tires are Avons which are fantastic. Took em to the track and they were nice and sticky for a DOT tire. Only thing next is to get a red vinly wrap over front rear fenders because they kick up everything.

[KevinW]

Originally Posted by RedHawk

Highly reccomend no matter what period correct says.
Oh the tires are Avons which are fantastic. Took em to the track and they were nice and sticky for a DOT tire. Only thing next is to get a red vinly wrap over front rear fenders because they kick up everything.

Can't see the pics on about half of the attachment posts on this thread. Do I need to get a Flickr account or ....?

[Antny]

Anyone paint their letters on? I don't want stickers, so I got a paint stencil kit for mine. What paint have you used with success?

[Midcont]

Originally Posted by Antny

Anyone paint their letters on? I don't want stickers, so I got a paint stencil kit for mine. What paint have you used with success?

I wanted to paint letters on and did a lot of research on the paint. I experimented with white plasti dip (I use black on trim frequently with great success) and it didn't work for me. For one, I put it on one of my truck tires to see what happened with some miles. I didn't prep the truck tire except a slight cleaning but it was a medium tan color after a week and brown after two or three weeks. For two, I don't know that you can peel up a template and not take the plasti dip with it. I couldn't.
I wound up with Ranger but ran into another issue. The template kit wants you to clean the tire thoroughly with mineral spirits to remove all the oil possible. The paint wants you to leave it as is. I barely experimented with getting one template sticker to adhere and gave up on it.
I went with the treadwear letters and it was the right move. I was worried they'd look stuck on and I wanted that vintage painted on look.
I'm really happy with how they turned out. They don't look stuck on until you get right up to them, even from the side profile. The glue they give you works. They aren't going anywhere and they take on a slightly worn look with road wear that works.
My tip for treadwear is to cut all the nipples on the face of the tire, to clean 3X with mineral sprits and to work from the center out on each letter. Use a picture of a billboard to work off of because its freehand. Note, as others here have done, I also cut some of the letters vertically to more closely match the look of the painted on letters. Use scotch tape to hold them in place while you glue and apply.

If anybody wants to go stencils, I have the whole kit in 2" ready to go and I'll sell you for half price, just PM me.

[moore_rb]

Originally Posted by Midcont

I don't know that you can peel up a template and not take the plasti dip with it. I couldn't.

You have to run around the edge of the letters with a razor blade after the plasti-dip dries, and before lifting the stencil off.

as to the issue of white lettering turning brown: even molded-in white letters, and whitewall stripes, etc, can turn brown with age... Even Tredwear letters can have this happen-

I have always used Comet on a stiff brush to clean my tires, and since it has bleach in it, it has helped to keep the letters white on some tires, but on others, the letters would turn brown, and nothing would prevent it. (the Cooper Cobras I currently have, for example- The letters are already brown, and the tires are barely 90 days old)

I've speculated that maybe the brown staining is from some chemical leaching into the letters from the black native tire rubber? maybe some black rubber compounds are more likely to stain the white letters than others? JAT...