We have seen a lot of posts over the
years about what wide whitewall radial tires we should
get for our letter cars, with as many answers as posts
it seems, and lots of anecdotes about Coker tires being
poor in quality. So I have attempted, again, to scan
the internet in search of facts on the subject because I
sense a lot of confusion here (or maybe just my own
confusion). Not surprisingly, I found a lot of
anecdotal data and contradictions, but some conclusions
can be drawn.
Fact: Diamond Back does not
currently have a 235/75R14 radial. Opinion: They have
lots of other tires, and they have a great reputation,
and they are expensive.
Facts: Coker tire still sells “Coker
Classic” radial tires but they do not list 235/75/R14.
However, they do list 225/75R14 and other sizes. These
“Coker Classic” radial wide whitewall tires are NOT the
same tire as Coker “American Classic” tires. Different
tread pattern and other stats. Confusing, perhaps, but
critically important to compare “apples to apples.”
The “Coker Classic” line dates back to 1994.
“American Classic” was introduced much later. To add
more confusion, American Classic introduced a line of
“bias look” radials in 2013. I do not know if Coker
owns the American Classic brand. Some say yes and some
say no. The only 235/75R14 radial wide whitewall
currently available that I can find is the American
Classics brand, available in two whitewall widths.
Facts: We have determined via DOT
codes that American Classic tires are made in Indiana,
PA USA. Not Mexico, not Asia etc. As near as I can
determine, American Classics tires are made by Specialty
Tires Of America which is based in Indiana, PA, USA.
They are not sold retail to the public. They are sold
by several tire resellers not affiliated with Coker, as
well as Coker. They are produced from “new” molds, not
old discontinued molds. It has been stated in the past
that American Classics tires are produced by Coker. The
Coker website certainly leads one to that conclusion, or
at least at a minimum, that Coker has exclusive control
over their manufacture. It just is not clear from the
internet how the ownership/production is managed.
I just wanted to share what I found,
which I researched mostly trying to understand a little
more about these different tires.
Disclaimer: I am not an expert on
tires and the internet is not a reliable source of truth
(imagine that) but we have to start somewhere..
Carl B.
300J running DiamondBack 235/75R15
radials with custom 1&1/8” whitewalls
’57 New Yorker coupe running American
Classics 235/75R14 radials with 2&1/2” whitewalls
’63 Imperial LeBaron running American
Classics 235/75R15 radials with 1.6” whitewalls
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