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Posted By Discussion Topic: Diamondback Radial Tires -- page: 1 2 3     39Fordfan 04-28-2017 @ 12:56 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 191 Joined: Oct 2009 I have been running Bias Ply Firestone Tires on my '39 Deluxe and I am looking at purchasing a set of Diamondback Radial Tires. These tires are marketed as Auburn Radials with a "Piecrust" Shoulder designed to look like Bias Ply tires as opposed to the rounded radials that tend to give what I would call a "Rod" look. (See Picture Below.) Just wondering if anybody has tried them out yet and what your thoughts and opinions are on them? I haven't seen a counterpart from Coker, but wondered if people have opinions about them as well. Also wondered if there is anything I should know about converting to radials? Thanks! carcrazy 04-28-2017 @ 3:01 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1582 Joined: Oct 2009 You first have to ask yourself why you want to install radial tires. If you want improved ride and handling while maintaining an "old time look", then go with the expensive "show car tires". If you want the performance, handling, and ride closer to those of modern cars, then go with "modern car radials". They may not look "correct" but they are much more reliable and affordable. I have chosen the modern tires and have been very happy with the results - the car can be driven cross-country with no tire problems or worries! alanwoodieman 04-28-2017 @ 8:22 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 864 Joined: Oct 2009 I have been running an Ecopia radial on my 40 wagon for close to 5 years. these are actually Firestone/Bridgestone tires 195R8016 I think. these are for an electric car and are high pressure 40 lbs tires. 39Fordfan 04-29-2017 @ 11:33 AM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 191 Joined: Oct 2009 Thanks for your replies Car Crazy and Alanwoodieman! I read a thread about those electric car tires. I think you are correct Alan, 6.00 X 16 Standard US equates to 195/80R16 metric, which is the size mine takes too. Sounds like they have been performing well for you. Thanks for sharing a picture of them! Car crazy - I certainly can appreciate the vast difference in performance between Bias Plys and Radials, I was hoping to get both the look of Bias Plys, but the ride and handling of Radials. I talked to a guy at Diamondback and he said even though these have the "Piecrust" shoulder and look of Bias Plys, they are radials. And they behave and perform like radials even though they look like Bias Plys. Are you saying even though these "Piecrust" tires are radials, the more rounded type radials will perform better? Thanks! carcrazy 04-29-2017 @ 9:46 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1582 Joined: Oct 2009 Ask the folks at Diamondback if these "piecrust" radials are intended to be driven on and used like a modern radial tire or if they are intended mostly for show cars which are trailered into shows and are never driven for long distances on highways at speed. len47merc 04-30-2017 @ 5:08 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1165 Joined: Oct 2013 That is a great, Great question to ask Diamondback carcrazy. 39Fordfan - please keep us posted on what you are told if you do ask that question as well as what your final decision is and the results. Also 39Fordfan, you do have options if you decide to go the 'original look' radial route. Not advocating either way, just informing there are options - suggest asking Coker the same question if you call them as well. Here is their 'counterpart': https://www.cokertire.com/american-classic-bias-profile-radials.html EDIT - btw, although I'm glad to have my bias ply Firestones for the look and local use, wish I'd asked the same question of Coker before purchasing them 3+ years ago. Would have better calibrated expectations and saved a lot of headaches. Steve This message was edited by len47merc on 4-30-17 @ 5:20 AM JayChicago 04-30-2017 @ 6:54 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 471 Joined: Jan 2016 I sure hope the Diamondback Auburn radial is fit to drive on, because I just bought a set! I didn't think to ask that question before I ordered. The new tires were just delivered two days ago, not mounted yet, so I can't offer any feed-back on how they handle. And of course it will be some time before I know how they hold up over the long-haul. When I was talking about buying new tires, many club members advised me to go radial for the better driving feel, although others said stay with bias ply. My 1940 came to me with correct-looking bias ply tires, and I love the look of that piecrust shoulder. So my decision was to pay the premium to get radials with the piecrust profile. I hope no regrets to follow. In shopping I found only Diamondback's Auburn, and Cooker's American Classic, have that piecrust look. Their prices are about the same. I also found that Cooker's is not available in 16 inch! And Diamondback's is only available in 600-16. Apparently they each decided not to compete with the other in a niche-market that will have limited sales, so each is stocking only what the other is not stocking. 39Fordfan 05-01-2017 @ 1:25 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 191 Joined: Oct 2009 I got off the phone with James at Diamond Back and asked him your question, Carcrazy. James's answer was as follows. "These tires are Speed Rated. 5 years of Research and Development went into these tires before Diamond Back brought them to market. Though not warranted as such, they are rated to 40,000 miles. They will not compare 100% to modern round shouldered radials as far as going around corners fast. They were not designed for racing. However, they are vastly better than Bias Ply tires which are often now made in 3rd world countries not to the exacting standards of their well known Name Brand ancestors which these cars came with originally - anyone can license a Brand name for private label." There you have it. I didn't call Coker as they don't offer my size 6.00 X 16 in a "Piecrust" designed Radial as JayChicago mentioned. They do seem to offer it in a round shoulder design though. If it would ever stop raining here, I'll take my car down to the the classic tire dealer and pick his brain about it a bit too. I've got a driver not trailer queen and you guys have been extremely helpful. Thank-you! 39 Ken 05-02-2017 @ 5:32 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 380 Joined: Oct 2009 alanwoodieman. Any additional details in your Ecopia radials. Bridgestone says that these tires need 5 to 5 1/2 inch wheel width. I assume you are still using the 4 inch wide wheels. If so, what speeds do you run, how do they handle, etc. Thanks. 1934 Ford 05-16-2017 @ 11:33 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 567 Joined: Oct 2009 I've been using Diamondback wide white radial tires for 19 years on our 35 Buick. Just added a set to our 66 VW this week. Radial tire take the VW from an economy to a sports car. I still use Coker's on our 34 Ford for the Glidden & Sentimental Tours, but maybe next time I'll try the "Bias Look Radials. At one time I thought the bias ply's lasted longer, but I've changed my mind because I've yet to wear the tread off a radial tire on any antique car. Can't say that for the bias tires. 1934 Ford's since 1972

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