Real Rodders Wheels
Classic design, solid engineering, and superb quality have made Eric Vaughn's aluminum Real Wheels the first choice of many professional hot rod truck builders since they were introduced back in 1983. In 2004, after many years of very limited production runs and sporadic availability, Pat O'Brien bought the Real Wheels name and molds-and started a new company called Real Rodders Wheels. The company is owned and operated by hot rodders and racers. Their new products retain the same very high quality and materials that Real Wheels became known for, but with quicker delivery and a larger selection of sizes and styles of the "original classic wheels."
Vintage patina wheels are hand-finished works of art that only a specialty wheel boutique, such as Real Rodders Wheels, can offer. They are finished to emulate the look of a 40-year-old wheel that was found and restored by someone who spent untold hours in the garage hand-working and restoring them to a pristine condition.
Real Rodders Wheels are now available in all of the popular original sizes and bolt patterns. They are fully polished by one of the top companies in the country, then carefully packaged to protect them during shipping.
888/298-4212 (U.S.); 805/402-2212 (outside U.S.) www.realrodderswheels.com
Cragar
In 1964, automotive legend Roy Richter introduced the Cragar S/S wheel. The classic five-spoke design was an instant success. Although intended for street use, the Cragar S/S was quickly employed on various racing cars. Within months after the S/S's introduction, Cragar opened new plants in Bell Gardens, CA, then a larger facility in South Gate, CA, and finally to an even more elaborate factory in Compton, CA. Richter was soon selling thousands of Cragars to the likes of J.C. Penny, BFGoodrich, and Goodyear. By 1971, Richter's little speed shop on Gage Avenue had increased to a point where it was employing nearly 500 people at its three plants and generating $31 million in annual sales. His Cragar wheels-and the copies they would engender-would be sold in the tens of millions.
Coinciding with its 35th anniversary, Cragar licensed Carlisle Tire and Wheel Co. to produce and distribute Cragar steel wheels, including the nostalgia line and wire wheel line. Today Cragar offers many different styles and sizes ranging from 15 to 22 inches.
909/947-1831 www.cragarwheel.com
Mickey Thompson Tires
The Sportsman S/R Radial is the biggest DOT street-legal radial available for hot rod trucks and street rods-and Mickey Thompson has just added nine hot new sizes. The S/R features a unique "flamed" tread design and directional tread pattern designed for the hottest appearance and responsive handling in both wet and dry conditions. The radial construction offers a smooth comfortable ride and the rim-flange protector protects your expensive wheels from curb damage. Available for 15-, 18-, and 20-inch wheels, with tire diameters ranging from 26 to 33 inches and widths up to 20 inches.
330/928-9092 www.mickeythompsontires.com
Goodyear Tires
With just 13 employees, Goodyear production began on November 21, 1898. Since the first bicycle tire in 1898, Goodyear pedaled its way toward becoming the world's largest tire company, a title it earned in 1916 when it adopted the slogan "More people ride on Goodyear tires than on any other kind," becoming the world's largest rubber company in 1926. Today, Goodyear measures sales of nearly $20 billion. It all began in a converted strawboard factory on the banks of the Little Cuyahoga River in East Akron, Ohio.
The Goodyear Eagle is the ultra-high-performance tire with crisp, responsive handling on dry roads. Carbon-fiber-reinforced sidewalls help reinforce both sides of the tire to help maintain enhanced contact with the road during turns for exhilarating control. And TredLock Technology offers superb all-season traction for confident driving on rain-soaked and snow-covered roads. The Eagle F1 All Season is for drivers who want the thrill of high-performance driving all year long. The company offers this statement to back up their tires: "We believe that these tires are among the very best you can buy for your performance vehicle. Therefore, if you are not 100 percent satisfied with the performance of your Eagle F1 All Season tires, you can exchange them within 30 days of purchase."
800/Goodyear www.goodyeartires.com