'68 wheel question

sj20343 · 01-21-03, 03:00 PM

I have a small block with 'coker' red line tires (7500 total miles). The front two have started to separate inside causing a wobbly ride. Has anyone had better experience with tires from Coker?
This is a weekend driver, and I wouldn't suspect that they would defect this quickly.

I'm not sure if I should buy some good radials, and forgo originality?

Secondly, I currently have the optioned hub caps instead of the rally rims (also for the sake of originality). I am also contemplating on purchasing the rally's.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

ChuckG · 01-21-03, 05:07 PM

I have a friend who had some troubles with Coker radials on his 57. They failed on a road tour. He called Coker, and they "made him happy". Don't know exactly what they did, but I believe they gave him a new set of tires. Give them a call.

Regarding the wheels, sounds like you have PO2 caps. All you need to buy are the trim rings and derby caps. The wheels are the same. Hope this helps. Chuck

68Roadster · 01-21-03, 09:06 PM

Greetings to another Texan.....

I too contemplated Coker at one point.....after hearing your horror story, glad I didn't.......sorry to hear....hope they make it right!

If you decide to go to Rallys let me know. I too have a 68 327/300. I put 15 x 8's with 255's all the way around. The front's tend to rub alot on tight corners. I'm gonna try 245's or 235's and see if they are better. Let ya know......

If you decide on the original style center caps, I have one extra that I would let go cheap. Just gathering dust in the garage.
I would also be interested in purchasing your old hub caps.

Good luck on the tires....

Cee

sj20343 · 01-22-03, 02:25 PM

Thinks for the advice guy's.

I've talked to a few more people who have Cokers, and only one other person had problems. However, Coker did please him in the end. It appears that they really care about customer service.

I guess you have to expect more problems driving on bias-ply instead of radials!

68Roadster......keep me in touch with your tire experiment. I become more interested in Rallys by the day. Finding a set, however, is proving to be somewhat difficult. If I decide to sell the caps, I will definitely keep you in mind.

thans again.

68Roadster · 01-22-03, 10:20 PM

SJ,
I don't know where you are looking for wheels but I bit the bullet in 2000 and bought them from Corvette Central. They had the best price then for a complete Rally wheel set. 625. bucks and that included 4 - 15 x 8's, lug nut set, 2 cans of Rally wheel paint, 4 correct GM center caps and 4 correct trim rings....

I'll let ya know what works out for the front tires.......if I remove the 255's, I'll let them go cheap. They have less than 1000 miles on 'em and I don't need 'em taking up space.

You gonna go with original rim width of 15 x 7 or try and move up to 8's?? I wanted more meat all around than factory original.

Take care

Cee

paintdaddy · 01-23-03, 01:13 AM

Hey,I just wanted someone to clarify if you are talking about the redline radials or the wideoval bias plies.Ive got the bias plies and Ive wondered if it will damage them because of not moving the car for months or even a year.I havent even got to drive the car since I put these on and currently it has been sitting in the same spot for a year.Anyone know how much damage this is causing ,besides the flat spots?

sj20343 · 01-23-03, 01:18 PM

68,

I really want to stick with originality, so I will more than likely be going with the 15 x 7's. Although I do like the beefier look of the 8's. I haven't looked at Corvette Central. I was kind of waiting for ZIP to have a set or reconditioned originals. They have a set right now, but they are 15 x 8's. Do you have any pictures available on the net?

paintdaddy,

I have the redlines, but they are bias-ply not radials. I really not sure if you'll run into any problems having your car parked for a while. My car is purely a weekend driver, with an occassional spin to work. It has been parked for the majority of the winter, as I only take it out on a perfect day. However, I don't think that leaving it parked caused my problem. I've talked to a manager at a local tire company, and he told me that even the best manufacturers have a sporadic problem like the one I encountered.

paintdaddy · 01-23-03, 06:50 PM

As far as those rallys go,corvette america claims they have brand new 68 15x7 wheels .If you look for them they carry some that they call repros and then they have some that they call exact replacement.I dont know who is the manufacturer of these wheels because all I could come up with is wheel vintiques makes a wheel that is close but it has a 1/2 inch difference in back space.Good luck