1966 Goldline tire color

[Joe Pearson]

I purchased Coker Goldline radials for my 66. The gold stripe color seems much more orange to me as opposed to the goldish color that I have seen before. I was wondering if anyone can tell me from their own experience with these goldlines if they are considered correct or is there other brands that are "truer" or is it just me?? Thanks, Joe, Boston.

[Joe Pearson]

Re: 1966 Goldline tire color

Answer to my own post about the color of Coker Goldlines. A salesperson at Coker responded to me this morning that they now put more orange in the rubber initially to allow for washing and weathering which softens the color toward the gold over time. He suggested wet sanding with #300 and car wash to initially drop the color down if I want. I'll give it a try.

[G B.]

I doubt it

Joe, I think that explanation is just not true. Coker has been selling "orangeline" radials for years. They stay orange.

Diamond Back Classics has the only goldline radial that is even close to the right color. It isn't exact, but it's a very good match to an original goldline that I cut into. Diamond Back vulcanizes the gold rubber on top of the tire so the stripe is raised, however. The originals had recessed stripes. You can ask DB to make the raised stripe 1/4" wide. This looks much more like the recessed 9/32" original width than the 3/8" stripe others use. Also ask them to put the stripe at least 1.5" from the wheel edge. The modern 1" distance is too close.

Did Coker also tell you about the balance and blistering problems they've had with their radials? I didn't think so. Also ask where their radials are made.

[Joe Pearson]

Re: I doubted it too!

Thanks Jerry, that confirms the suspicions I've had. I'll contact Diamond Back as you suggest.

[Joe Pearson]

Diamond Back Classics

Thanks Jerry, I now have 4 goldlines coming from Diamond Back. Their specs are a 7mm (.275") wide stripe placed at 1-3/8" from wheel edge. The "orangelines" are going back to Coker.

[Lawrence C.]

Re: I doubt it

I bought a set of Diamondback gold-lines about 3 years ago now, and while the tires themselves were fine and the gold-line color looked fine (width and color), over the three years the gold line got darker and darker (as if black was bleeding through from behind). I just got rid of them about a month ago, and the gold lines were almost completely black. Perhaps I am the only one who has had this experience.

[Patrick H.]

Re: I doubt it

Did you try some Westleys' Bleche-White on them? I use it on my DiamondBack redlines and it works quite well.

Patrick