Reproduction Tires

[napa68]

I am in the market to purchase some reproduction tires for a 65 Corvette I have. Has anyone had a bad experience with "new" reproduction tires. I do drive my cars but I am a purist about appearance.
Thanks,
Tim

[Chevy454]

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Has anyone had a bad experience with "new" reproduction tires.

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Yeah, they seem to wear out after only 500 burnouts...

[napa68]

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Has anyone had a bad experience with "new" reproduction tires.

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Yeah, they seem to wear out after only 500 burnouts...

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That should hold me over for a season!

[JohnZ]

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I am in the market to purchase some reproduction tires for a 65 Corvette I have. Has anyone had a bad experience with "new" reproduction tires. I do drive my cars but I am a purist about appearance.
Thanks,
Tim

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You will NOT be happy with reproduction bias-ply tires if you enjoy driving your car; if you must have "correct" bias-ply tires, your best bet are the Goodyear-licensed Power Cushion 7.75-15's from Kelsey Tire.

Radials are FAR better driving tires; 205/75-15 is the standard replacement size and won't interfere with the fenders. 215/70-15's are a little wider, but you risk interference at full steering lock and suspension compression like at driveway entries. Midyears are VERY intolerant of "wide tires".

[P.J.]

Good one Rob

Ya i bought a set for my 70 chevelle and have had them on for about 5 years(cooker) and also bought a set of red lines for my 68 Camaro ss. I love them I really like the way they ride. Oh yes radials are a modern ride but i can get that ride from my other cars.
Only problem is like Rob said after 500 burnouts you neeed to replace them.
PJ

[olredalert]

------John,,,Nice to see you over here every once in awhile! After living with a set of Corky Cokers gold-line radials for several years now I could not ever recommend them. I would rather have bias-plys. His radials are such low performance tires that once they are on a performance type car they are just evil handlers. Another radial,,,,maybe, but not the Cokers......Bill S

[JohnZ]

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------John,,,Nice to see you over here every once in awhile! After living with a set of Corky Cokers gold-line radials for several years now I could not ever recommend them. I would rather have bias-plys. His radials are such low performance tires that once they are on a performance type car they are just evil handlers. Another radial,,,,maybe, but not the Cokers......Bill S

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I agree - many of the "Coker Classic" radials (made in Mexico in modified old segmented Michelin molds) also have issues with sidewall cracks/separations, out-of-round problems, force variations WAY out of spec, excessive weight required to balance, etc.

A much better alternative is Diamond Back tires in Conway, South Carolina - they'll put any sidewall treatment you want (smoothie, white, gold, red, etc.) on modern performance radials made in modern tire plants, and they're nice folks to deal with (family business).

www.dbtires.com

[WILMASBOYL78]

We have the DB radials on our 68 Yellow Nova...very nice tires and well made. We also have the BFG Silvertown radial red lines from Universal on Karen's 69 Camaro....they are also quality units. Most of the other cars have the repro wide ovals which are ok for what they are. Then there are some "real deal" vintage polyglas H-70's that Sammy can tell you about...they rock!!!

wilma

[napa68]

A couple of others who's opinion I hold high, suggested the Goodyear tire over anything else. While Coker has the lions share of the market, it seems to me not to many are real happy after the fact. Thanks to all who replied!
Tim

[Chevy454]

Not sure about the earlier 'Vette bias tires, but I know we've driven a *LOT* of miles on Polyglass tires in our various Chevelles/Novas/Camaros, and they've been fine for me...granted, we're not talking late model ZO6 type handling, but the older suspensions weren't designed for radials anyway, so any gains from tire upgrades will be limited without performance suspension upgrades...and I couldn't get our Eagle GTs to 60' with our Polyglass tires anyway!

BTW, good to see ya around here John Z...