One of the most important parts of a classic car or truck is the tires. Selecting the proper tires not only adds to the vehicle’s appearance and authenticity, but it also determines the level of driving performance as well.
There are a lot of things to consider when purchasing tires for your classic collector. Will you chose to use a bias ply tire to keep the vehicle as original as possible or will you opt for a more high performance radial tire? Bias ply tires certainly are the way to go if you want the specs to be original, but these tires do not offer nearly the same amount of traction and stability you can get from a radial. The choice is up to you.
Thankfully there is a company that is regarded as the ultimate experts in the classic car tire industry that can help you make the right decision. For almost 50 years Coker Tires has been manufacturing tires and wheels specifically made for collector cars and trucks. They are the largest in the world at what they do and are the go-to tire company for classic car collectors.
Here is a list of the 10 best tires available for your classic car or truck that Coker has to offer.
American Classic Bias Look Radial
Here is the best of both worlds. You get the bias ply look with radial construction. It truly is the first of its kind being offered in a whitewall or blackwall form. With 9 different sizes available you are sure to find the right one for most vehicles from the 40s through the 60s.
Coker Classic 16 inch Radial
In 1994 Coker Tire gave the world a wide whitewall radial tire and it was another first for classic car tires. It is available in a bunch of different whitewall and blackwall sizes. There is also a version that has 16 inch fitments for vehicles that were produced prior to WWII.
BFGoodrich Redline Radial
It was commonplace to see redline tires on the muscle cars of the 60s and 70s. Today you will see them on most restored muscle cars as well. The original redline tires were created using bias ply construction. Today the better choice is the BFGoodrich Silvertown radial. It is available in numerous sizes and has a 3/8 inch redline.
Firestone Deluxe Champion
Without question the Firestone Deluxe Champion is the most popular bias ply tire ever made. The multiple size variations and configurations mean that this tire can be fitted onto just about any vehicle from the early 1900s all the way through early 1970 models.
Firestone Wide Oval
If you want to keep your muscle car as authentic as possible you might want to choose Firestone Wide Oval bias ply tires. From 1967 to 1974 this is the tire that was used on most muscle cars. They are offered in their original sizes along with their 3 original sidewall options. Raised white letters, white pinstripe and of course the redline are the three sidewall options that were offered when they were originally manufactured.
BFGoodrich Silvertown Bias Ply
Many of the classic cars we love today rolled off the assembly line with the BFGoodrich Silvertown bias ply tires. After all BFGoodrich was an OEM tire supplier back in the days. These tires, like many others offered by Coker Tire, are available in just about any size you might need and are also made in America from an original refurbished mold.
U.S. Royal Bias Ply
U.S Royal was another OEM tire company that supplied tires to manufacturers back in the golden era of automobiles. Mustang enthusiasts often seek these tires out to keep everything authentic on their little pony. They were also used on the line of GM Futurliners.
Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial
If you are in the market for a modern radial tire that offers the blackwall bias tire look, then look no further than the Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial. This tire is light years ahead of the tire it is intended to replicate and fits most pre-WWII automobiles and trucks, from the late 1920’s through the late 1940’s.
Michelin XZX
If you are restoring an older sports car then you should certainly invest in some quality tires that can deliver the performance you expect. The Michelin XZX is a great performance tire for your sports classic and are available in many common sizes like the 165R15. You will certainly notice the quality that is synonymous with the Michelin brand.
BFGoodrich Radial T/A
For 14 and 15 inch wheels there is simply no better tire for your muscle car than the BFGoodrich Radial T/A. They have the infamous raised white letter sidewall and are available in both OEM sizes as well as custom fits. This Radial T/A product line is the reigning champion for muscle cars tires throughout the world.