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I'm trying to get Diamond Back Classics to make an improved version of a goldline radial tire. I do not like the stripe color, width, or placement on any of the current radial tires sold as goldline replicas.
The two original bias-ply goldline tires (one Firestone and one Goodyear) that I've measured had recessed stripes that began 1-3/8" from the wheel and were 9/32" wide. The gold color was relatively dark like tarnished copper. The current Coker and Diamond Back goldline radials have raised stripes that start about 1" from the wheel are 3/8" wide. In my opinion, the modern colors are much more yellow and orange than the original gold.
Diamond Back will move and narrow the gold stripe for me without hesitation or any additional cost. They will also start with a good Firestone 205-75 radial tire so it will be relatively narrow, round, and balanced. (This alone will be a good improvement over the budget 215-70 foreign tires.) The stripe will have to be raised in order to be vulcanized on top of the radial sidewall. The real stumbling block is the gold color. Diamond Back thinks their current gold color is "correct". They really don't believe me when I tell them it isn't. They have a good point - I am looking at only the outer surface of almost 40 year old rubber that has weathered. These original tires belong to others so I can't cut into them to get to an un-weathered gold layer. What is necessary to convince Diamond Back is a rubber sample cut from an original '65-6 goldline tire.
Can anyone help me out here? Do you have an orignal goldline that is so worn or weathered that you wouldn't mind cutting a piece out of the sidewall to become a color sample?
The two original bias-ply goldline tires (one Firestone and one Goodyear) that I've measured had recessed stripes that began 1-3/8" from the wheel and were 9/32" wide. The gold color was relatively dark like tarnished copper. The current Coker and Diamond Back goldline radials have raised stripes that start about 1" from the wheel are 3/8" wide. In my opinion, the modern colors are much more yellow and orange than the original gold.
Diamond Back will move and narrow the gold stripe for me without hesitation or any additional cost. They will also start with a good Firestone 205-75 radial tire so it will be relatively narrow, round, and balanced. (This alone will be a good improvement over the budget 215-70 foreign tires.) The stripe will have to be raised in order to be vulcanized on top of the radial sidewall. The real stumbling block is the gold color. Diamond Back thinks their current gold color is "correct". They really don't believe me when I tell them it isn't. They have a good point - I am looking at only the outer surface of almost 40 year old rubber that has weathered. These original tires belong to others so I can't cut into them to get to an un-weathered gold layer. What is necessary to convince Diamond Back is a rubber sample cut from an original '65-6 goldline tire.
Can anyone help me out here? Do you have an orignal goldline that is so worn or weathered that you wouldn't mind cutting a piece out of the sidewall to become a color sample?
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