GoldlineTires

[Keith B.]

I would like to put a set of Goldline radials on my 1966. I know Coker makes a house brand. Does anyone else make this Goldline in a radial?

[John H.]

Re: GoldlineTires

Keith -

Try Diamondback (www.dbtires.com); they'll do white/red/gold on brand-new Firestone, etc. radial casings. I'm about to order a set to replace the Coker redline radials on my '67, which leave a lot to be desired.

[Michael H.]

Re: GoldlineTires

Keith/John,

I was in the market for gold stripe radials also but I didn't care for any of the reproductions. A few months ago, someone pulled into one of our weekly car shows with a set of gold stripe radials on a 66 coupe that looked deadly accurate. The stripes were the correct dark gold, not that wimpy yellow that all the reproductions seem to be. Also, the width of the stripe was correct. It was much thinner than any of the reproductions that I've seen. Most reproductions are 3/8" or 7/16" and if I remember correctly, the correct dimension was 11/32". I asked the owner where he got the Good Year tires with gold stripes. He told me that he had the local Good Year store do the work. For $15 a tire, they cut out a thin band of black and then insert (somehow) the gold color. Then the gold is machined just like original. They look deadly accurate and I was quite impressed. I have to wonder if this is something that many larger tire dealers are now able to do.

I'll try to get more info if anyone is interested. I know I want a set for my car.

Michael

[Mike S.]

Re: GoldlineTires

The questionable practice of cutting a groove in the sidewall has been around for several years. The sidewall is the thinnest and one of the most critical areas of the tire.

There is no way I could be comfortable driving at highway (OK - maybe faster than highway) speeds with a portion of the sidewalls cut away.

Thats the reason I went with the Diamondbacks. Their red and gold lines are bonded onto the sidewalls. The sidewalls are not grooved, although they do buff the raised letters off, which does not significantly reduce sidewall thickness.

[Michael H.]

Re: GoldlineTires

Mike,

You have a good point. Hopefully, I'll be able to visit the Good Year facility tomorrow or Wednesday and actually view the operation, or at least find out more about it. As soon as I learn something about the process, I'll post it. Thanks,

Michael