Whitewall question...

I called Coker to get some bias-ply whitewalls for the Merc... the guy was really helpful, because I have an issue with my front wheels being 14s due to a disc brake conversion... but I have a question now...

He recommended a size for me, keeping the stock wheels on the back and the 14s that are currently on the front... so here comes my question:

The whitewall sizes of the tires he recommended are different (like 3" on the back and 2 and a quarter on the front)... he told me that because the tire itself is smaller on the front the whitewall sizes will look basically proportional from front to back... I'm not convinced... can anyone give me a yay or nay on this?

Longroof

 

hey mate,

ive seen it before on rods, 16 to 15s and 15 to 14s and it looks awesome becuase it accentuates the smaller fronts. I dont know how it would look on a custom though but i think it would be ok.

Danny

 

I like the difference on my rod and think it would look good on your Merc. I'm sure somebody will have a pic to put on here for better discussion.
Good luck,

 

Indeed, the guy at C**xr was correct about whitewall widths, it is typical to have a larger whitewall width on a larger rear tire and a proportionally smaller whitewall on a smaller front tire. If the same width were placed on the front tire as was the back tire, ie a 3.5" on a 255/70R15 on the back and a 3.5" on a 215/65R15, a common big little combination, the whitewall on the front tire would appear gargatuan and out of place on the front tire. Which size tires are you looking to put on your car? Here is a post of the sizes that I have mentioned, his second set of tires in 3 years, 80K miles! He is crazy and one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. His name is Al, you'all might know him down if Florida.

Ron

 

I don't know Al, but I do like his roadster.

Got a set of 14" "BF Goodrich" tires this weekend myself. Diamondback, do you carry bias-ply repros of those tires? I have no idea where these came from, my dad's boss was trying to sell them. They're nearly brand new, plenty of tread and still gummy.

 

I would've put this info in the original post, but I didn't have it with me... so he's saying E78-14s on the front with a 2 3/8" WW and H78-15s on the back with 3" WW... does that make sense? Total for the four tires and shipped to me in Scottsdale, $428... sounds like a good deal to me, from what I've seen on all of the sites I looked at... ayone know a better deal?

Longroof

 

Longroof64,
As you know "a good deal" is somewhat subjective. I had someone offer to give me a free Pinto once, sounds like a good deal, a running car, but in reality, I p***ed on that offer. If you have decided to go with bias ply tires instead of radial, then, indeed, that does sound like a reasonable delivered price. My personal opinion is that the front tire might be too small. The E-14 is equivalent to a 195/75R14 and the H-78 is a 235/75R15. Do some searching on this site about radials and bias, you may already have. I might tend to go to a F-14 to be on the safe side of load range capacity of the tire. Its up to you.

No we do not have BF Goodrich reproduction tires. Those tires are only offered by C**xr Tire. Those tires are not made by BF Goodrich, they are made in Mexico by Tornelle Mfg, a bicycle scooter tire company. They are made side by side along with the C**xr Cl***ic. Some people have had good luck with those tires. Others have not. We use several BF Goodrich models actually made by BFG, including drag radials and Radial T/A's, both very popular whitewalls with streetrodders and high HP rides that require good traction and grip.

I hope this helps

 

Thanks for the response! I knew they weren't manufactured by BFG; I doubt they produce any bias ply tires anymore at all. They look nice, haven't had a chance to drive on them since the car doesn't have a drivetrain.

I'll be going with a DB tire when I get a set of 15s.. heard too many negative comments about C**xr tires.

 

check out denman tires they are cheap and good bias ply wide wites... runnin them on my old mans 48 and they come in 14s and 15s

 

Longroof, Diamond Back is making some radials with the pie crust edge that look *****in, but get you a radial. I think the sizes are limited and I'm sure they cost more, but you get what you pay for and your ride would be much better. Just something to chew on. If Stockton ever sends me my friggin' wheels, I'm going with DBs too.

 

I think that the real question is the stance of your Merc.
Does it have a rake? Is it low all the way around?
On a raked car - 2 different widths is the way to go.
On a lowered car - no way.

 

Well, it's not raked... lowered all around... so does everyone agree with this statement, that of it isn't raked the two WW widths will look wrong? Diamondback, you had me convinced, but now I'm all confused again...

And DB, someone posted that you make radials with the pie crust edge? How much would they run for these sizes?

Also, does anyone have a pic of a custom running different width WWs on different sized wheels? Mine's a '55 Merc, so especially mid-50s cars would help...

Longroof

 

We do not offer the 'pie crust' white walls in sizes that will fit your car. As for the white wall widths....don't worry about the width of the whitewall, we will always make them proportional to the height of the tire. You just need to pick your size tire, let me worry about the widths. I will make sure they are right. I would tend to agree with the others, a lowered car should have the same height tire, however you can go wider in the rear, this is quite common. Here is a pic, no rake, but wider rear tires. 55 Merc. came with 7.10 15's which is the same as a 215/75R15 in radial land. A lowered car, common stance, would be a 205/70R15 and a 215/70R15 in the rear. A minimal rake (3/8" ride height diff.) and wider rear tires. Hope this gets you closer. Also you can call me if you like. Between everyone else here, we oughtta get you figured out and on the road.

Ron 888-922-1642

 

heres the pic

 

You know it.

 

Actually Ron, the BF Goodrich bias ply tires are made in Pennsylvania by Specialty Tires of America. Also, Denman is not a scooter and bicycle tire manufacturer. They build some of Hoosiers Radials (not sure if they still do), Pro-Comp, and **** Cepek radials as well.

As far as the question of the thread goes, I believe it was me you talked to on the phone so you know where I stand on it. Having the same width whitewall on both tires is fine if the tires are the same height. If one has a taller sidewall than the other then the whitewalls being the same size will look wrong.

 

When I got my '55 Mercury, it had 215 radials on it. These were mounted on the original 5 1/2" x 15" rims and all of the running gear was OEM. Before the car was lowered 3" (with blocks), the tires barely fit in the rear. They had to be squeezed between the rear brake drum and fender to get them on. After lowering, the rear tires had to be mostly deflated and the spring shackle flipped down to install the tires. It was still a very tight squeeze.
I decided on 6.70 15's (Allstates - that's how old they are! ) when I bought new wide whites for the car. Mostly because their narrower width would allow them to fit under the rear fenders easier.
Just some food for thought.

 

Hey Patrick-

Yup, it was you that I talked to... what do you think about Diamondback's suggestion of going with an F-14 on the front? I know you were the one who originally told me about the E-14, but does the F-14 make sense??

When are you around so that I can order these?

Longroof (Ryan)

 

These are from Diamondback (one of the best suppliers I have bought from). Rears are 16", fronts are 15".
I think we should buy from fellow HAMB'rs

 

I agree that we should buy from fellow HAMBers... I like to support the HAMB and those that are members on it as much as I possibly can... the problem is, after much thought, deliberation, and research (on the board and off), I have decided to go with bias-plies because they just look "right" to my eye... if Diamondback HAD bias-plies (or even that pie-crust edged radial), I wouldn't hesitate to go with him/them... but that doesn't seem to be the case...

And as much as I would like to support HAMBers, I'm not going to change the aesthetics of my car just so that I can... again, if anyone knows of HAMBers who can help me out and sell me some bias tires, lemme know...

Longroof

 

Ron,

I suggest that you leave your comments about my company or my products out of your sales tactics. I think most people see right through the lame attempts to discredit myself or my company by relating that our tires are built here or there or that there are problems with this or that. We are very proud of our products and our company, yet we do not disparage or berate you or your company. I am puzzled why you continue to feel the need to do this by continuing to mention my name or my company's name.

Regarding your diatribe several weeks ago, Patrick and I determined that when you stir something in a pile it usually smells. We have no desire to interact with you in these forums. We prefer to do something constructive. We are pretty busy here having the biggest year in our history and have little time to play your game. How about acting like a gentleman and simply speak or interact about your product only. Life is a little short.

Sincerely,

Corky Coker

 

Oh man, not only do we have to deal with member's "drama" (of which I'm no stranger!!!), but now we get drama from the WW tire guys...nothing like shaking hands and coming out swinging!!!

RYAAAAAANNNNN!

R-

 

Corky,
Thanks for confirming that is has been you all along that Patrick is your puppet, just posting what you told him to post.

You mentioned that our sales tactics puzzles you. It is real simple, customers ask us to compare our product to yours and to tell them why they should buy our product instead of yours. (Maybe you should ask them to quit asking this.)

In reviewing your catalog to enable us to make the comparison, we discovered that you use very misleading prose in your catalog about the true manufacturer of your radials. We also have to deal with questions about the quality of cl***ic radials from car enthusiast all around the world – they paint with a broad brush and think all cl***ic radials have issues with balancing and causing vibrations – we have to inform them that all “cl***ic radials” are not made by the same process or the same company. We differentiate our product from the others.

Having started the interacting with us on a forum by asking questions about our product, now you want make excuses for not answering questions about your product. The honest and accurate answers will only stink for you and Patrick. We answered your questions about our product truthfully and in good faith on the Fordbarn post, and in return asked you to answer some questions about your product.

By stating that you do not want to interact with us on forums you are acting like the kid that takes his marbles and goes home when he is not winning. Be a man, stay and finish the game you started! Be a gentleman, gives us the accurate answers to our questions!

How many of you H.A.M.B.’rs want to hear the answers, even if they stink?

 

I dunno, let them punch each other out, bout time there was head to head compe***ion instead of the magazines and their T-ball pitches of their advertiser's products.

 

Dunno... can they keep it civilized?

I have both. My DB redlines on my chevelle have a vibration that I can't get out but I am going to try a different shop for the balancing (static balance). I know that's harder, but I don't want weights on my nice black powder coated steelies. Other than that (and I don't believe that is DB's fault), I love them. They look great.

My '36 5 window has Coker Cl***ic 8.20 x15 and 5.60 x15 and I think they drive great. My Dad was convinced that bias ****ed then and they **** now, but I think even he was suprised at how well his 3 window drove with them. Radials may handle better but they don't have the look. BUT now Coker has a bias looking radial. I'm not convinced yet, so I will stick with bias. I'm open to be convinced otherwise. I get the safety aspect. Radials generally don't have the same ******** little pages hot rod LOOK.

Ryan, I would be screwed on a blackwall set, cause they would STILL have to be bias.

 

Thanks Ryan. Stop looking at the pics long enough to read the text.