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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430
 
Location: McCleary WA | Looking for input on radial tire recommendations. My car has very good 7.50 X 14 BF Goodrich Silvertowns, approx. 26.5" diameter with 2" whitewalls, but they are of undetermined age, probably quite old. Based on earlier comments here I have pretty much ruled out Cokers due to problems with them. I noted comments from Neil and others recommending P225/75 or even P235/75 but the closest I can find is Diamondback P215/25 which are 26.7" diameter, 2 1/2" ww, Toyo or Hankook based with a decidedly modern tread pattern. American Classic has 7.50R14 and 215/75, at a higher price, but as I understand it they are made by Coker. Kelsey, Goodyear, BFG, and Tire Rack were no help. Any other ideas?
Anybody interested in my BFGs for display or limited use? The car sat for 37 years, but no idea how long these tires were on it. They look real good and drove fine for 3 miles recently..... |
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Veteran
Posts: 119
| https://www.universaltire.com/ |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1102
Location: Hayward, Calif | Darryl, I found a local tire dealer, ( non big name brand ). He is a small independent owner and sells a lot of different tire manufacture's. He found me a Cooper 215/75R15 tire. There were a lot of other sizes available. It had a nice tread design ( IMO ) and in whitewall. He also carried the Hankook line of tires. I'm a year + away from needing tires, but now I know where to go. Pep Boys sells a Maaxis brand tire, whitewall. Also a nice looking tire, but it is an entry level tire. I understand the big name brand tire co's are phasing out the 14" tires. You might check out the yellow pages phone book and check out some of these guys. Hope this has been helpful. Jerry |
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Expert
Posts: 1506
Location: Colo Spgs | Hola Darryl
Why not use a set of the most purchased and always correct set of tyres for any car made from 1946 to 2015. A set of Black Walls.
They are correct from The Imperial Division to The Plymouth Division or from a Cooper to a Opel Diplomat.
Rodger & Gabby
COS |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430
Location: McCleary WA | Thanks, but I'm looking for a source of old-looking radials. I'm not getting into the whitewall/blackwall debate. Everyone has their opinion/preference on that. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 6513
Location: Newark, Texas (Fort Worth) | http://www.lucasclassictires.com/Lester_c29.htm |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 6513
Location: Newark, Texas (Fort Worth) | http://www.ebay.com/itm/FOUR-225-75R15-Wide-One-Inch-White-Wall-Ant...
2T-/311247936365?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Tires&hash=item4877d29b6d&vxp=mtr
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430
Location: McCleary WA |
The 14" w/w that Universal sells are Coker or American Classic. See my original comment about reservations against using them. And the ebay listing is for 15" but I need 14".
Can any of you provide success stories of using American Classics or Cokers?
Edited by Darryl T 2015-02-15 3:40 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 194
Location: Dorset, England | I bought four G-78 14 Coker Classics last year for my '58 Dodge. They were the cheapest non radial I could find. I have abused them mercilessly. I have had no problems yet and will replace them with the same when needed.
You can't expect much in the way of grip with bias belted tyres, but they look right and I'm content that I'm getting a period driving experience from them.
Edited by flattie45 2015-02-16 8:21 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430
Location: McCleary WA | Good to hear that you are satisfied with them. I want radials as I plan to drive this car a lot, and am about ready to spring for the pricey American Classic 8.00R14s. I'd just like to hear from someone who has used them first. |
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Veteran
Posts: 299
Location: Rochester, NY | My apologies for resurrecting this older thread but I'm with you Darryl...I would really like to hear from someone that has bought and is using American Classics 750R-14 or 800R-14 (bias looking) radial WW tires. Maybe this is you by now? Did you wind up buying a new set? From what I understand, American Classic tires are made by Specialty Tire Company out of Pennsylvania. They are NOT made by Coker...only distributed by Coker...and their prices reflect it too!
I've been researching tires for a couple of weeks now as I'm looking for a new set for my 58 Belvedere. I bought the car recently and it has old Sears Guardsman 215/75r14, 1" WW tires on it now. They're obviously too small; 26.7" OD plus two of them have broken belts. I'm done driving the car until I decide on what tires to purchase. I have not been able to get any firsthand feedback on the bias-looking American Classic radial. It sure is a lot of coin to put down without it!
Thanks, Bob
Edited by furvedere 2015-07-09 3:30 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1740
Location: Alaska | All I can tell you is from personal experience from long ago. I put my first set of radials on my 58 Fury in 1972 and the improvement in handling was amazing. I don,t remember the exact size, they were actually a used set from a friends Chevelle, so approximately 7.50x14. I will drive everyone of my cars (that is what they were built for) and I want them to handle properly, I don't care if the purists think my cars don't "look right" with radials. my 2 cents worth. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430
Location: McCleary WA | furvedere - 2015-07-09 12:14 PM
My apologies for resurrecting this older thread but I'm with you Darryl...I would really like to hear from someone that has bought and is using American Classics 750R-14 or 800R-14 (bias looking) radial WW tires. Maybe this is you by now? Did you wind up buying a new set? From what I understand, American Classic tires are made by Specialty Tire Company out of Pennsylvania. They are NOT made by Coker...only distributed by Coker...and their prices reflect it too!
I've been researching tires for a couple of weeks now as I'm looking for a new set for my 58 Belvedere. I bought the car recently and it has old Sears Guardsman 215/75r14, 1" WW tires on it now. They're obviously too small; 26.7" OD plus two of them have broken belts. I'm done driving the car until I decide on what tires to purchase. I have not been able to get any firsthand feedback on the bias-looking American Classic radial. It sure is a lot of coin to put down without it!
Thanks, Bob
After receiving little feedback I did go with the American Classics, picked up from Coker at a local swap meet with no shipping charge. My car is in an upholstery shop with another week or two to go, so I don't have a drive report yet. But they sure look nice! |
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Veteran
Posts: 299
Location: Rochester, NY | Darryl T - 2015-07-10 2:22 PM
furvedere - 2015-07-09 12:14 PM
My apologies for resurrecting this older thread but I'm with you Darryl...I would really like to hear from someone that has bought and is using American Classics 750R-14 or 800R-14 (bias looking) radial WW tires. Maybe this is you by now? Did you wind up buying a new set? From what I understand, American Classic tires are made by Specialty Tire Company out of Pennsylvania. They are NOT made by Coker...only distributed by Coker...and their prices reflect it too!
I've been researching tires for a couple of weeks now as I'm looking for a new set for my 58 Belvedere. I bought the car recently and it has old Sears Guardsman 215/75r14, 1" WW tires on it now. They're obviously too small; 26.7" OD plus two of them have broken belts. I'm done driving the car until I decide on what tires to purchase. I have not been able to get any firsthand feedback on the bias-looking American Classic radial. It sure is a lot of coin to put down without it!
Thanks, Bob
After receiving little feedback I did go with the American Classics, picked up from Coker at a local swap meet with no shipping charge. My car is in an upholstery shop with another week or two to go, so I don't have a drive report yet. But they sure look nice!
Excellent Darryl...sure would like to see a photo of your car with them if you have the time. And...please wake this thread up again after you get some drive time with them!
Bob |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Darryl, et al, your tires will have coding on them to confirm when they were cast/created.
Dunno the codes, off hand, but they are on each tire, and it would be instructive to confirm
their 'birth day(s).'
Any tire shop could tell you these dates, from the codings on the tires.
Edited by d500neil 2015-07-11 1:23 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430
Location: McCleary WA | After receiving little feedback I did go with the American Classics, picked up from Coker at a local swap meet with no shipping charge. My car is in an upholstery shop with another week or two to go, so I don't have a drive report yet. But they sure look nice!
Excellent Darryl...sure would like to see a photo of your car with them if you have the time. And...please wake this thread up again after you get some drive time with them!
Bob
I only have 345 miles on the American Classic radials so far, but they sure do seem to drive nice. The car drives like a dream and looks good, too. Check the photo under "Member's Rides" ('57 Dodge convert first drive).
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57 Dodge tires
