Tires for a 1965 ~ Reply

[CadillacTom]

Members, regarding the SURETRAC tires: thank you for all the info.
Wish the whitewall quality was better. Has anyone used GRIPMAX CLASSIC GT?
235/75R15, they say whitewall width not guaranteed!?

[TJ Hopland]

I wonder how many companies that try selling a white wall end up with complaints and or returns just because people are expecting too much appearance wise from a 'cheap' tire so they just decide its not worth the trouble?  It seems like every time I look for some or we talk about em here that at least half the ones suggested are no longer available.

I don't even remember what I ended up with last year or maybe the year before but they are still doing fine.  Only thing I sometimes notice is still a slight blue tinge in the white wall that I was not able to remove.  Noticed that on some other cars with different brand and age tires too that I am often around.   

[Suntuned]

I don't know what your looking to spend, but i purchased Diamondback  tires for my 1964 Fleetwood  8.25 -15 Auburn radials they have the pie crust edge on the side wall near the tread like the original tires and they made them with a one inch white wall width, like i requested, the same width as my original US Royal spare tire in the trunk. and the white walls don't turn brown.

[Big Fins]

There is about a $1500 difference between DB's and the other brands being spoke of.

[Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373]

Just have Hancooks on all 3 cars. They get a brownish on the whitewalls.
I read somewhere that the browning is actually oils in the tire coming thru the white. I use a little mineral spirits on a rag to take it off. Works well.

[cadillacmike68]

The Hankooks in 235-75-15 are decent, good traction and tread life, and the white sidewall is durable. If I want to get original sidewall style, I'll have to get DBs and all the $$$ that entails.

As far as 235-70-15 for the 1993-1996 Fleetwoods, those are nearly extinct. Again, DB is an Expensive option.

[TJ Hopland]

I thought Hankook quit doing a white wall?  Did they bring em back?

And just a note for everyone with these sorts of topics if you are suggesting a brand/model of tire check and see if its still available.  In past threads there had been people suggesting stuff that had been out of production for years which doesn't help the people looking today and with how fast things change these days its even worse.  The last time I brought it up I think one got discontinued between the time it was mentioned and a couple months later when I was going to buy.  I think it can also be helpful to put the year in the subject so people searching don't have to waste time digging through threads for things that are no longer available.   

[35-709]

According to the internet, Hankook still makes a 235-75R15 WW.  I put a set of Nexen 235-75R15 WW on the '73 Caribou, available locally.  Seem to be OK, I don't drive it long distances.  Not that I wouldn't, just haven't had a need to.

[TJ Hopland]

If the Hankooks are still or are back those should be a good option for a lot of people since darn near every tire store is a dealer for them and they seem to have lots of distribution centers so they can often get them fairly quick.  A lot of the other brands that were mentioned last year that had a white wall were harder to find a dealer for. 

[Art Director]

I have a 1963 Six-Window Sedan de Ville wearing four Michelin radials from Diamondback. These tires have the correct whitewall width and have stayed white for several years of ownership.

[Jim Miller]

Just replace 8.20 x 15 on my '57. 2 5/8 white wall. Around $1,350 for diamondback Auburn with the piecrust edge. Put 8.00 x 15 same tire with 3.75 white wall on my '49 two years ago. Been very pleased.