Get your Hankook Optimo H724 WW tires while you can!

ayilar

Old Man with a Hat
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These tires were discontinued last year, to be replaced by a different tire (Kinergy ST). AFAIK this new tire is made in Tennessee but, unfortunately, does not come with white walls.

The H724 WW had remained widely available till recently. When I decided to replace Medina's tires with a new set and started looking for prices this weekend, though, I found out that they were now "backordered" at the Tire Rack. I was given a 2-3 month wait for getting the tires. I was suspicious and passed on ordering. Fast forward to yesterday, they were not available anymore from TR. Several other places also list them as "discontinued."

I managed to order five (a set + a spare) from Discount Tires yesterday, and Wyatt should receive them tomorrow. If you want to get those tires, I therefore suggest that you not wait. DT still have "plenty" in stock (according to the DT Rockford sales rep through whom I ordered) in both 225/75 R15 (the ones I have on my '70 Polara 'vert) and 235/75 R15 (the ones I ordered for Medina, my '71 Monaco coupe).

As an aside, depending on how one accesses the DT website, the quote for 235/75 R15 was either $55 (via my phone) or $66 (via my laptop). No clue why. When I called the rep on the phone, I was quoted $55 both Saturday (when I was starting my shopping) and this Monday (when I placed the order).

Good luck!

Updated, June 5: the tires are back as "close-out" specials at the TR. The price is the same as last Saturday when there was no special, and quite a few dollars more (accounting for shipping) than I paid at DT.
 
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Darn. Glad I got mine only a few years (and very few miles) ago. Watch me throw a belt, now!
 
I was debating on getting a set for another car that isn't drivable right now. I guess I'll have to make up my mind sooner now. Are there any other decent 14 or 15" WW tires available that aren't Coker or DiamondBack?
 
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I have the Hankook Optimo H724 on my 1971 Chrysler 300, have driven them maybe 7,000 miles and I think it is a real good tire.
 
I just purchased mine in Feb. The few miles I drive they should outlast me.
 
tire size..

I went with Toyo....I like their simpler sidewall design better. Hankook has too much lettering and texture on their sidewalls which looks like ****.
 
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Looks like the Hankook Kinergy will replace the Optimo line. Still some 14" and 15" sizes we might use. Toyo has ONE all-season tire that still has a few whitewall sizes.

For MORE money, there's Diamondback and Coker, or other repro tires.

CBODY67
 
Does Cooper still offer the Trendsetter WW version? Has anyone tried those?
I have the Cooper trendsetters on both my New Yorkers. When I bought the first set in 2016 they were easy to find, when I bought the second set two months ago for my 77 NYB I really had to do some digging. One of the local tire shops had to have them shipped in from their warehouse. I love the way they look and they ride and drive just as well. Very happy with them.
 
I got the coopers years ago and have no complaints but they are over 6 years old now... so are we thinking it’s about to be hard to get a cheap WW?
 
was going to replace the front tires on my '65 with cobras to match the rears, then noticed this on the two year old cobras:
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dry crack all around inside and outside of both tires. made in mexico?
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decade old cobra on my cadillac. same size. no problem. made in U.S.A. went with optimos for the front of the '65 instead.
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Looks like the Hankook Kinergy will replace the Optimo line. Still some 14" and 15" sizes we might use. Toyo has ONE all-season tire that still has a few whitewall sizes.

For MORE money, there's Diamondback and Coker, or other repro tires.

CBODY67

I couldn't find any thin whitewalls through Coker. They peddle American Classics which have a 1.6" WW for 235-75-15 size...costly too at about $150 + per unit. . I ran those for 4.5 years but they always cracked prematurely, so I changed brands....
Diamondback can make a custom tire with the thin WW for about $250 + a piece... On the Diamondback II line, they start with a Toyo Extensa and
apply the sidewall per your request. When I found out that DB uses Toyos, and that that they already come with a WW, it was a no brainer.

UTQG Comparison...(treadwear, traction, temperature)
Cooper Trendsetter SE 440 AB
Hankoook Optimo 500 AB
American Classic 540 BB
Toyo Extensa A/S 620 AB
 
Never did understand the desire for "gangster walls" on any older car! It was a trend for a while, but Coker and others still seem to perceive it's still alive (OR are keeping it alive). When I called my local tire shop friends, they quoted me about $125.00 each for the Toyo whitewalls in P225/75R-15, installed. Be that as it may.

Looked in the Kelsey Tire website for repro Goodyears. Some of those tires are about TWICE what the Cokers are, but accurate repros of smaller Goodyear tires of the '60s.

Did some more checking . . .
Cooper Trendsetter SE still shows WSW for 15" sizes.
Multi-Mile Custom 428 A/S still shows WSW for 15" sizes. Multi-Mile is now a part of a private-brand tire group, based in FL.

Possibly still some hope?
CBODY67
 
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Good then I don’t have to pull the trigger right now.
 
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Just bought a set of Hankook Optimos from a German vendor. Paid dearly, but they were the only option for a narrow stripe ww.
I had been hunting for a set of Avon Turbospeed white walls (more quiet tire, rated at 68dB) for more than two years, but they are out of stock, and not even the English vendors did not know when they would be available again, if ever.
Seems we are scraping the bottom of the barrel.
 
Compared to earlier times, "scrapping", but in more modern times, closer to "bouncing off the bottom".
 
Anyone have experience having their car "judged" with these tires? My wagon is shown in HPOF at AACA shows. I know they nit-pick about things like this. I had been thinking Radial T/A which seems to be the default old car tire.

My 25 year old tires do worry me sometimes. :) Granted, they hold air better than my modern car and have no UV exposure during the 350 days a year the wagon spends in the garage. Life goal...never experience a blow-out! :)
 
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