Whether you’re working on a concours quality restoration or you’ve just worn through the rubber on your daily driver, one of the easiest upgrades you can do to any classic car is getting a new set of shoes. Selecting the right tires for your ride isn’t rocket science, but get it wrong and you can totally wreck your car’s aesthetics and ride quality. At the Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show, you’ll find plenty of tire options… but, to get some true expertise, we recommend stopping by Lucas Classic Tires on Road 20, Spaces 57 and 59.

Based in Long Beach, Calif., Lucas got their start in 1957, making explosion whistles for early Fords. These days, with the complete Coker and Universal Vintage Tire lines on offer, as well as ten other brands that are exclusive to Lucas, they’ve got more tires available for classic cars than any other dealer. We recently caught up with Stan Lucas, owner of Lucas Classic Tires, for a quick chat:

Pomona Swap Meet:  When and how did you get started in this industry?
Stan Lucas:  I started as a car collector in my school days, 50 years ago. My first was a 1920 Chevy, then three early Dodges. I drove a 1920 Dodge to school in the 7th grade, up in the farm country of Northern California.

PSM:  Do you currently own a classic car?
SL:  I have ten classics – Doble steamers, Duesenberg, Simplex, McFarlan, Lincoln, Stutz, Mercer, Stanley Steamer, and Franklin. I have never sold any!

PSM:  The Powerball is up to $400 million. If you won the lottery, what’s the first classic car you would buy?
SL:  J Duesenberg.

PSM:  How long have you been coming to Pomona?
SL:  I’ve been shopping and selling at Pomona since the late ’70s. I still walk most of the aisles every meet, and I always find something interesting.

PSM:  What were your best and worst moments in Pomona?
SL:  The worst was when the porta-johns overflowed and ran through my space. The best was when we sold every tire we had… the whole truck!

Tires! Tires! Tires!

Tires! Tires! Tires!

PSM:  We obviously see a lot used tires for sale in Pomona. What do you think about buying used? Anything customers should look out for?
SL:  We sell many used tires and consider them to be a very viable alternative to buying an expensive new set of tires. Used tires are also a great way to pick up an inexpensive spare, a no longer made tire to match, or to roll your restoration project around on until it nears completion.

PSM:  You have a huge selection of tires. Any brands in particular that customers really gravitate towards?
SL:  Model T and Model A owners love our Lucas and Ward Riverside tires. Owners of ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s cars like the General and Royalton – formerly Remington – tires that are still made in the original molds, as well as Goodyear and Firestone. Sports car owners find that Pirelli Cinturato tires can’t be beat for looks and performance.

PSM:  Any new or different product offerings that we should know about?
SL:  We’re continually sourcing new products and adding new sizes in the Lucas and Pirelli lines.

PSM:  Do you offer any special swap meet deals or discounts in Pomona?
SL:  We frequently bring a few blems or discontinued items that we don’t sell over the phone. People can inspect them, and buy them pretty cheap.

PSM:  Last thing… What differentiates Lucas Classic Tires from your competitors? What makes you special?
SL:  We are car collectors, servicing car collectors. We’re not a regular, modern tire store with a few classic tires on the side. Tires for collector cars is all that we do. We pride ourselves on having a knowledgeable sales staff who can fit your tires perfectly the first time.

If you own a classic car, any classic car, you know how important your tires are. Don’t let getting the right size and look overwhelm you… come see the experts from Lucas Classic Tires at the next Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show. They’ll be in their usual spot: Road 20, Spaces 57 and 59. Can’t make it to Pomona? Give them a call at 1-800-952-4333, or visit their shop at 2850 Temple Avenue, in Long Beach, Calif.