Coker vs. Diamond Back
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Coker vs. Diamond Back
I bought my 60 completely restored three years ago. It had two year old Cokers that looked like they had zero miles on them. I've put 2,000 miles on the car and got really tired of the harsh ride, so I replaced them with Diamond Back 2s, which are Toyos.
Completely different ride. Smooth, quiet, and handles better (noticeably better, even though I don't push it around).
The Cokers looked good, but unless you have a trailer queen (not judging, just sayin), spring for the DBs.
BTW, DB was a pleasure to do business with, tires arrived early, nicely wrapped in clear plastic.
Completely different ride. Smooth, quiet, and handles better (noticeably better, even though I don't push it around).
The Cokers looked good, but unless you have a trailer queen (not judging, just sayin), spring for the DBs.
BTW, DB was a pleasure to do business with, tires arrived early, nicely wrapped in clear plastic.
Last edited by 64luke; 09-22-2017 at 04:35 PM.
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JackTripper (09-23-2017)
#2
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2020 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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X2 for Diamondback; I have the Michelin MX 205's with a 2.5" White wall. Their looks match their ride. 4 years running and no sign of yellowing.
Last edited by 61 Roadster; 09-22-2017 at 04:39 PM.
#3
Le Mans Master
Diamondback gets overwhelming responses as superior, all year every year. I hate that since Coker is a local company and they do a lot to promote the hobby around here, but for driven cars it's true.
Probably a way to rationalize it is to give Coker credit for making tires for very and very obscure early cars- which often aren't driven and when they are don't reach high speeds or have performance demands as a big criteria.
Probably a way to rationalize it is to give Coker credit for making tires for very and very obscure early cars- which often aren't driven and when they are don't reach high speeds or have performance demands as a big criteria.
#4
Racer
Thread Starter
Diamondback gets overwhelming responses as superior, all year every year. I hate that since Coker is a local company and they do a lot to promote the hobby around here, but for driven cars it's true.
Probably a way to rationalize it is to give Coker credit for making tires for very and very obscure early cars- which often aren't driven and when they are don't reach high speeds or have performance demands as a big criteria.
Probably a way to rationalize it is to give Coker credit for making tires for very and very obscure early cars- which often aren't driven and when they are don't reach high speeds or have performance demands as a big criteria.
#5
Turn 12!
Diamondback II's
#6
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C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I bought my 60 completely restored three years ago. It had two year old Cokers that looked like they had zero miles on them. I've put 2,000 miles on the car and got really tired of the harsh ride, so I replaced them with Diamond Back 2s, which are Toyos.
Completely different ride. Smooth, quiet, and handles better (noticeably better, even though I don't push it around).
The Cokers looked good, but unless you have a trailer queen (not judging, just sayin), spring for the DBs.
BTW, DB was a pleasure to do business with, tires arrived early, nicely wrapped in clear plastic.
Completely different ride. Smooth, quiet, and handles better (noticeably better, even though I don't push it around).
The Cokers looked good, but unless you have a trailer queen (not judging, just sayin), spring for the DBs.
BTW, DB was a pleasure to do business with, tires arrived early, nicely wrapped in clear plastic.
#7
Race Director
Yes, BUT you are comparing apples to oranges. Bias belted non radial 50 year old tire technology to modern day radial tire technology. I have custom made wide white wall Cooper radials on my 57 and they are a world apart from what I replaced as in the old bias belted BF Goodrich repo tires.
#10
Racer
To say Cokers are not safe without posting some supporting evidence is not doing a company justification for their endless commitment to helping keep numerous classics on the road. Are you saying that all those people out there who purchased Coker replacements are driving on unsafe tires? That sound like libel to me. I read the company actually purchased many of the old tire molds so that purists could get the tires they needed to restore their classic. Not sure if Diamond Back has done any of that.
All I can state is based on my own experience. I have put thousands of miles on several sets of Coker tires and have never had any issues. I am probably due for another replacement set, but only due to age, not tread runout, etc. Last year when I traveled across country in all sorts of driving conditions, including hours thru the scorching desert, those tires got me there and back without stranding me on the side of the road. The tires I currently have maintain plenty of tread depth, but many would recommend replacement due to the age of the rubber material.
I am sold on Cokers and would recommend them to anyone without hesitation.
Ted
#11
Racer
Thread Starter
I replaced my Cokers because the ride was harsh. In the three years I drove them, they were perfectly reliable.
The Cokers were certainly pretty, so are the DBs. But the Diamondbacks ride 1000% better, smoother and less noisy.
The Cokers were certainly pretty, so are the DBs. But the Diamondbacks ride 1000% better, smoother and less noisy.
#12
Team Owner
I sold my 65 with 13 year old Coker redlines on it. Never had any issue of any kind. Replaced wide white bias tires on my 60 a year ago with Coker radial wide whites, again no problems. Based on a lot of opinions here, I spoke with Diamondback about replacing the 1965 tires with Michelin based tires, but they no longer could get 205-75-15 from Michelin. Then last year decided to replace the 1960 tires, called Diamondback about the 205-75-15 Toyo based tires and they told me there was a 3 week minimum back order. Called Coker, received tires at Discount Tire the next day.
#13
What about tires for a 67? Are the Cokers really junk? Is the redline available in a different brand?
#14
Turn 12!
#15
Race Director
Ok, I replaced my original bias ply tires for Coker Classics years ago and that is the only replacement tires I have ever run on my '60. Over the 27 years I've owned my car I've never had a problem with these tires and the ride difference is like they say above, night and day difference from the ones that came on the car orginally.
To say Cokers are not safe without posting some supporting evidence is not doing a company justification for their endless commitment to helping keep numerous classics on the road. Are you saying that all those people out there who purchased Coker replacements are driving on unsafe tires? That sound like libel to me. I read the company actually purchased many of the old tire molds so that purists could get the tires they needed to restore their classic. Not sure if Diamond Back has done any of that.
All I can state is based on my own experience. I have put thousands of miles on several sets of Coker tires and have never had any issues. I am probably due for another replacement set, but only due to age, not tread runout, etc. Last year when I traveled across country in all sorts of driving conditions, including hours thru the scorching desert, those tires got me there and back without stranding me on the side of the road. The tires I currently have maintain plenty of tread depth, but many would recommend replacement due to the age of the rubber material.
I am sold on Cokers and would recommend them to anyone without hesitation.
Ted
To say Cokers are not safe without posting some supporting evidence is not doing a company justification for their endless commitment to helping keep numerous classics on the road. Are you saying that all those people out there who purchased Coker replacements are driving on unsafe tires? That sound like libel to me. I read the company actually purchased many of the old tire molds so that purists could get the tires they needed to restore their classic. Not sure if Diamond Back has done any of that.
All I can state is based on my own experience. I have put thousands of miles on several sets of Coker tires and have never had any issues. I am probably due for another replacement set, but only due to age, not tread runout, etc. Last year when I traveled across country in all sorts of driving conditions, including hours thru the scorching desert, those tires got me there and back without stranding me on the side of the road. The tires I currently have maintain plenty of tread depth, but many would recommend replacement due to the age of the rubber material.
I am sold on Cokers and would recommend them to anyone without hesitation.
Ted
#17
Team Owner
I've had both - whitewalls DBs on the '61 and Coker redlines on the '67 Chevelle and I don't baby my cars. Both handled well and were NOT dangerous IMO. I just didn't like the Coker's "look"...there were scalloped places in the exterior sidewalls that just looked weird to me. Hard to capture in pictures though.
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; 09-26-2017 at 08:26 AM.
#18
Race Director
Diamondback gets overwhelming responses as superior, all year every year. I hate that since Coker is a local company and they do a lot to promote the hobby around here, but for driven cars it's true.
Probably a way to rationalize it is to give Coker credit for making tires for very and very obscure early cars- which often aren't driven and when they are don't reach high speeds or have performance demands as a big criteria.
Probably a way to rationalize it is to give Coker credit for making tires for very and very obscure early cars- which often aren't driven and when they are don't reach high speeds or have performance demands as a big criteria.
Last edited by DansYellow66; 09-26-2017 at 01:18 PM.
#19
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Here's a different question... I much prefer Diamond Back and have had several sets, and would choose them again for the classic applications, like the vintage wide whites like I put on my '58 or the red lines I put on my '69.
But what about applications such as a simple white wall radial for my '63? I don't think it's necessary to go through a classic repro tire company to buy tires like this, is it? Would it be true to say buying nice, premium radials with a white wall similar to stock is a better choice? In quality and price?
Anyone consider this?
But what about applications such as a simple white wall radial for my '63? I don't think it's necessary to go through a classic repro tire company to buy tires like this, is it? Would it be true to say buying nice, premium radials with a white wall similar to stock is a better choice? In quality and price?
Anyone consider this?
#20
I am looking now at the alternatives, but I've had a set of Coker radials on my 57 for 18 years - no problems whatever, no cracks anywhere, and whitewalls white as snow. They don't get a lot of miles, but they've been perfect.