1968 Deville whitewall

[Billharrison]

I'm in the process of buying a 1968 Deville convertible. I know the tires on the car now are incorrect. However, I'm having trouble identifying the correct whitewall pattern,i.e. 2 stripes, 3 stripes etc. Diamondback Tires claims it is the same tire as my 1967 Eldorado but don't believe that's accurate. Any guidance will be helpful.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

The 1968 brochure shows what appears to be a 0.75" to 1" inner whitewall and a very narrow outer white outer stripe. (Two ring)

 https://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Cadillac/1968_Cadillac/1968%20Cadillac%20Brochure-3/index1.html

[tcom2027]

I did an image search on Google. Most '68s pictured are from shows and owner provided submissions. With the exception of the gangster wide whites most, if not all, have .750" to 1" wide white walls. I couldn't find any with two or three stripe whites. You are correct, Diamondback does feature a two stripe pattern similar to what is shown in the catalogue Eric provided. That pattern would be period correct.

After looking at the brochure Eric posted and a look at renderings in my '67 data book under 4x magnification it does appear that the '67s and '68s had a two stripe lay out, the Eldorados excepted.  I believe  they came with UniRoyal two stripe white walls mounted. Remember (Uni, Roy and Al?)

All that said it begs the question from Bill: Are you going to show the car for points or just show it for the sake of showing it off and maybe getting some peoples' choice bling along the way. (my choice)

Obviously If the former, get what the show judge boffins have decreed correct. Without a copy of the authenticity  manual, I don't know if radials are acceptable.
 
Wide white Diamondbacks, which we have on our '41 63 series seem fine. We had a problem getting them balanced, but with the addition of more and more lead they are very good to 75mph.   I believe Coker also features the three stripe radial whitewall.

tony

[billyoung]

Radial tires were not available when the 1968's were new only bis ply tires 900 X 15 inch stst2 stripe white wall tires as Eric has stated.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

G'day Bill,

Radials were available world wide a lot earlier than 1968.   I had them on my '57 Chev in 1966 here in Tasmania.

Bruce.

[Roger Zimmermann]

Bruce, I assume that bill was meaning that the radial tires were not available from Cadillac for 1968. If I'm right, they were ofered from the brand early 70's.

[J. Skelly]

Radial tires weren't available on Cadillac until the 1972 model year.  I think there is still a minor points deduction for judging if they weren't available on the vehicle when new.

[tcom2027]

Since Michelin owned Citroen at the time, Michelin X radials came on the 1948 Citroen 2CV. The first factory equipped radials in the US were installed on the 1970 Continental MKIIIs.

Interestingly, Arthur Savage the gun maker and tire manufacturer patented the idea in 1916 but never produced the tire.

Beginning in 1938 the 2CV, deaux cheveux or two horses, had a whopping 9HP and a top speed of 39 MPH. By the time the marque was discontinued in 1990 its power had ballooned to 29HP and a top speed of 70 MPH. Zero to 62.5MPH took between 27 and 32 seconds in 1990.

THey are very collectable today, averaging ten to fifteen thousand dollars and more depending on year and model.

tony   

[Billharrison]

Thanks all. I appreciate the feedback. I'm planning on showing the car at CLC level events so want to run the most correct tires available. I'm okay with radials as long as the whitewall size and pattern are accurate.