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Grease Monkey
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Grease Monkey
Joined: Dec 2009
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Can anyone tell me what was the original brand of tires used on the 1953 passenger cars, please? My guess is they were the U.S. Royal brand but would like to know for sure. Thanks much.
Owner of a 67,000 mile original 1953 Bel Air.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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ChatMaster - 25,000
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ChatMaster - 25,000
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About 50% had US Royal AirRide tires.
About 25% had Firestone and 25% Goodrich.
The Firestone made today has a tread design the same as what what used in 1953.
Gene Schneider
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Gene, are those Firestone tires made to day made by Corky Coker? And did he buy the dies from Firestone and the rights to reproduce them under the Firestione name?
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
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ChatMaster - 1,000
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Gene, are those Firestone tires made to day made by Corky Coker? And did he buy the dies from Firestone and the rights to reproduce them under the Firestione name?
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL Denny, I just bought four coker firestone tire and they are made here in the U.S.A. by coker with the molds he acquired from firestone. He also acquired the the rights to reproduce them. They ship out of Fresno,California. I just put 4 of them on the 39 this week and they look excellent. 
p.k.
1956 BEL AIR 2 DOOR HARDTOP
I've spent most of my money on Booze,Women and mechanical things. The rest I just Wasted........
Remember , I'm not Always Right. But I'm Never Wrong !
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Grease Monkey
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Grease Monkey
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I have heard that whitewalls were not available in either 1946 or 1952 - were they available in 1953?
Owner of a 67,000 mile original 1953 Bel Air.
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ChatMaster - 25,000
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White walls were not available in 1946, early 1947, late 1951 and early 1952. 1953 and up they were available - no problem.
The width of the W.W. changed slightly in 1953. They were slightly more narrow. In 1952 and prior the rib that is between the white and black was white. The curb buffer rib turned to black in 1953....about 1/4" depending on brand of tire.
Last edited by Chev Nut; 05/04/10 05:56 PM.
Gene Schneider
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It's my understanding that the "curb buffer" that Gene mentions changing from white to black, thus making the www a little less wide, is ALSO sometimes called a "scuff ring." The ONLY reason I mention that is different tire guys sometimes use different words that mean the same thing. And I thought it might be helpful if you were aware of both "terms."   Bill.
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Shade Tree Mechanic
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Shade Tree Mechanic
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My 51 was built in May of 51 & came with blackwalls. If it had been built earlier and came with whitewalls your saying the rib between the blackwall & whitewall would have been white also, correct? How wide of a whitewall would this have made it with the rib and all? I know that Diamond back will make your rib white for you. I'm thinking of buying from them simply because they state that they don't build your tires until you order them. I do not know if there tires have the tire size such as 670-15 or they use the 215/75r15 number. Donn
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First Diamondback dosen't build or make tires. They take standard brand tires and bond a white rubber coating to the tire.
The last 1951 to come through with white walls would have been in Feb. of 1951. I remember because my cousin ordered one (from my father who was in sales) and got it in time for his wedding in March.
Not all brands of white walls were the exact sme width back the. Going by whats available (in bias) today the wide 1951 would be the 3 5/8" in Goodrich today and the 3 1/4" in Firestone. Either loooks OK on the car as far as being original.
No radial tire is going to look "original" as they have a differnt heigth to width ratio.....and they look too small in diameter for their width. If you get a 2.15 it looks too wide and a 2.05 looks to low (and is)
If they made an 80 series they would look more in proportion. But the 75 series is as close as you can get.
Gene Schneider
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