RE: {Chrysler 300} Tire Recommendation

A couple comments on my experience with American Classics as an alternative to DB (I’ve had both). Bottom line first: DB is better, if they have the size you want. They do not in 14”. I had 4 sets of American Classics since 2012. They recommend running 35 psi and yes, they run softer and more comfortable than 38+ psi on DBs. I’ve had excellent results with the 235/75R14 set for the last 11 years – but those tires are now too old to drive on safely.

The other 3 sets have been 235/75R15s. All fine and dandy -except the most recent set purchased last summer. One of the 4 whitewalls turned somewhat brown/stained over the winter. With aggressive cleaning with an SOS pad, I was able to restore most of the pure white, but still disappointed. That said, some of this problem could be due to the fact that Coker did a lousy wrapping job on that last order, and the shippers pay absolutely no attention to the warnings about not placing a whitewall against a blackwall (or permanent staining may result). Consequently, it may not be a manufacturing flaw. But it could be the balckwall bleeding through the whitewall from behind??

In addition, I’m sure that many have noticed that these specialty tires rose dramatically in price since late 2021 and during the course of 2022 – and much faster than the “CPI” rate of inflation. It is what it is, but be aware that the American Classics 235/75R14s are up to $421 per tire now. Comparable bias plys, in H78-14 or the original and correct 9.00-14 are notable less costly last I looked, if you can stomach using bias ply tires. Certainly not suitable for Noel’s long distance usage, but for a car not driven long distances/high mileage they might be fine.

Carl B.

From: Nick Taylor
Sent: Monday, May 8, 2023 11:08 AM
To: Noel Hastalis
Cc: Chrysler300
Subject: Re: {Chrysler 300} Tire Recommendation

Noel,

I can't imagine having to run that high of a tire pressure on your 300F, especially with a tire that small.

I certainly don't drive my 300F that much and certainly you are among the few who take long road trips with yours. My car had Coker Classics on it when I got it and I don't know how many miles they had on them but I know they were installed around 2002 and while they were still in very good shape, I changed them for American Classics before the Pasadena meet. They appear to be very similar to the Coker Classics in design. I didn't have any installation or balance issues with them. And they drive as nice as the Coker Classics. I only put 32 psi in them as I did with the Cokers.

The original tire pressure specs for the 9.00x14 Blue Streak Goodyears was 22 psi for normal driving and 30 for extended high speed. Lots of sidewall flex going on at 22 psi on a big bias tire like that.

I don't foresee any new big 14 inch tires coming out since no modern vehicle has a need for them and the need to fit a few vintage cars isn't enough. And trailer tires are not suitable for cars.

Nick.

On Mon, May 8, 2023 at 8:30 AM Noel Hastalis <cpaviper@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hello John,

My 2c worth -

Diamondback vulcanizes whitewall, etc. rubber to already manufactured tires of various brands - Hankook, Michelin, etc. In 2009 I purchased a set of Diamondbacks for my 300-F - 2 1/4" whitewalls vulcanized onto Vredstein 6-ply 205R14 tires. Though a little undersized for the F, they seemed to me to be the best available at the time. I avoided Cokers because of the many 300 Club members' and local cruise night buddies' complaints that they were blowing out, as well as being very difficult to properly balance.

I drove those Vredsteins 55,000+ miles from 2009 into 2019, with excellent tread still remaining, including from here in Chicago to 300 Club Meets as far away as in CT, RI, NM and VA. One is in my trunk as the spare. They never failed me, and drove well on dry and wet roads.

The one issue I had, solely a cosmetic issue, was the vulcanized whitewalls on all 4 tires began separating from the blackwall tires, both along the rim and along the outer outer perimeter.
I was on the phone several times with James at Diamondback, who advised that I was running the tires at too low a tire pressure. I was running them at 38-40 psi, and bumped them up to 42-44 psi, so disagree with his comments that they were underinflated. Unlike how the Auburn whitewall appear, the whitewalls on my tires were applied all they way in up to the edge of the rims.
James also offered that I could ship the tires back to him for revulcanizing the whitewalls, but I didn't want to mess with that, so ran the Vredsteins into early 2019, when I replaced them.
Diamondback had no proper replacement 14" tires for the F, per James. I had inquired of him several times from about 2016-2019. He commented that DB had been 'beta testing' some tires, but none were commercially available. In late 2018 he also added that DB had been working with a tire plant in Thailand, but that a huge workers' strike in that country had shut down tire production there.

In early 2019 I purchased a set of American Classics P235/75R14, also with the 2 1/4" whitewalls correct for the F. They ride a touch softer than did the Vredsteins, but have served me well. I've logged about 3,000 miles on them since then, they're the correct height and they've performed well.

See you in Hershey!
Noel

On 05/08/2023 7:55 AM mguarneri via Chrysler 300 Club International <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Has anyone had any experience with these folks who take a Hankook tire and apply a whitewall to it? ( Calli Tire & Wheel LLC https://callitw.com/ )

Thanks....John

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