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Hi Everyone, I am a new member and its a pleasure to be here...so much great information. I was hoping someone could help. I have a set of Michelin Wide-X 70F-15 white line radials on my car (bias-ply look), they are like new condition but I'm told they stopped making these tires years and years ago and it would be a good idea to change them. Does anyone know if you can still get a radial white line tire in that size? Or is my only option to go the bias-ply white line...if I want that look.
You use the term "white line" tires. While various tire manufacturers made redline, blueline, and goldline tires, no one ever produced a "whiteline" tire....one with a very narrow white wall on the tire. Many produced what were called "thin whitewall" tires, but the whitewall was about 3/4" wide. If that is what you want, BF Goodrich (T/A Radials), Cooper Cobra, and Hancook make thin whitewall radial tires for 15" diameter wheels.
Hi Jamie and welcome to the forum. What year is your car? What is your objective for this car? If you have an early C3 and if you’re looking for the original look, take a look at Diamondback Tire. A bit spendy but they’ll lay the exact width stripe you want and the exact placement on the sidewall (diameter) you want. They’ll do this on almost any brand tire you want. The difference in this stripe vs original is that the Diamondback stripe is laid on top of the sidewall, causing it to sit proudly vs original design, which was recessed a bit in the tire’s sidewall.
If your car is for 'driving' more than for 'show', you DO NOT want to get bias ply tires. They are "safe" up to their limits....but their limits are way lower than what can be done on radials. So, if you drive it like Grandma, you might be OK with bias ply tires.
If your car is for 'driving' more than for 'show', you DO NOT want to get bias ply tires. They are "safe" up to their limits....but their limits are way lower than what can be done on radials. So, if you drive it like Grandma, you might be OK with bias ply tires.
+1.
Grandma might not even like driving on bias ply tires...
Thanks for the information Don. I've got a 72 Coupe, its got 41,000 original miles on it and I want to keep the look all original. Personally, I really like the look of the white wall tires (thin stripe). I'm gonna take a look at Diamondback (per your suggestion) and yes, think I'll stay away from the bias-ply's.
Coker tires are about $300 per tire; Hancook's are about $125. (Last time I checked, anyway.) About the only difference is the price and the name on the sidewall.....
Hi again Jamie. First, 7T1 is right. For an original look, be prepared to spend $300+ each for a retro looking tire. I’ve done it numerous times, and while I don’t like it at the time, the outcome/look is worth it to me.
This tire has a 3/8” (thin) white stripe, which is exactly what came from the factory when new. Goodyear and Firestone were GM’s tire suppliers for these cars. Working from memory, one had a 3/8” inch stripe and the other had a 5/16” stripe. This tire is 225mm wide, which is just a hair wider than the “F” width back in the day. The 225 size is quite common today and should give you good handling and a good look without causing you worries for fender or frame rub. Fender rub could be dangerous to the car’s body.
I don't think I ever saw a period tire with that thin of a whitewall on it (back in the day). 3/4" or 1" wide whitewall was the usual style for whitewalls. Narrow stripe colored sidewalls were about 3/8" wide. But none were ever made in white to my knowledge. Sounds like something Coker dreamed up from 'faulty' memories....
I don't think I ever saw a period tire with that thin of a whitewall on it (back in the day). 3/4" or 1" wide whitewall was the usual style for whitewalls. Narrow stripe colored sidewalls were about 3/8" wide. But none were ever made in white to my knowledge. Sounds like something Coker dreamed up from 'faulty' memories....
Nope.
Clearly, the 3/8" and 5/16" white stripe tire was a "thing' in 1970 See below.
The first attachment is taken from NCRS 1970-1972 Judging Guide (5th edition). The second attachment was taken from original photos of original cars. They appear in M.F. Dobbins VETTE VIEWS reference book (4th edition)
Last edited by redrdstr72; Nov 22, 2020 at 11:21 AM.
Checking in some 'period' Corvette books, it appears that some 'thin' whitewall tires were available as option PT7 in the early C3's. As mentioned, I don't ever remember seeing any with the same width as the stripe on red/blue/gold line tires. And from photos in these books, they are definitely thinner than 3/4". Still not convinced they were as thin as the colored stripe tires, but now agree that 'thin' white stripe tires existed in that era.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Nov 27, 2020 at 11:09 PM.
Redrdstr72 is correct about Corvettes coming with narrow stripe (3/8") white wall tires. 68-72's were available with a narrow stripe white wall bias ply, while 73-76's were available with a narrow white stripe radial.
I do disagree with his recommendation of replacing your current F70x15 with a 225/70R15 though. The direct modern metric replacement tire size for an F70x15 is a 215/70R15. Both an F70 and a 215/70 are 26.90" diameter, the 225 is 27.60" diameter (225/70 is the metric replacement for a G70x15). The 225/70 will fit, and may even fill out your wheel opening a little better, but the larger diameter will also throw your speedometer off slightly. Also, if your concerned about keeping an original appearance, the 215/70 will have the same tire sidewall to wheel and tire to wheel opening fit and appearance as original. The 225/R70x15 will fit fine, as 73-77 Corvettes came with the larger GR70x15 radials, and 78-82's came with P225/70R15's (the tire manufacturers switched to the metric sizing in 1978).
Last edited by gbvette62; Nov 24, 2020 at 11:41 AM.
Reason: corrected 69-72 to 68-72
Redrdstr72 is correct about Corvettes coming with narrow stripe (3/8") white wall tires. 68-72's were available with a narrow stripe white wall bias ply, while 73-76's were available with a narrow white stripe radial.
I do disagree with his recommendation of replacing your current F70x15 with a 225/70R15 though. The direct modern metric replacement tire size for an F70x15 is a 215/70R15. Both an F70 and a 215/70 are 26.90" diameter, the 225 is 27.60" diameter (225/70 is the metric replacement for a G70x15). The 225/70 will fit, and may even fill out your wheel opening a little better, but the larger diameter will also throw your speedometer off slightly. Also, if your concerned about keeping an original appearance, the 215/70 will have the same tire sidewall to wheel and tire to wheel opening fit and appearance as original. The 225/R70x15 will fit fine, as 73-77 Corvettes came with the larger GR70x15 radials, and 78-82's came with P225/70R15's (the tire manufacturers switched to the metric sizing in 1978).
Thanks for the post, gb62. Please re-read my post. I don't believe I recommended a specific size tire. I CERTAINLY didn't intend to recommend the 225 size.
What I did was comment on the 225 tire that Coker is marketing/advertising. I don't know whether or not Coker offers the thin WSW tire in 215 width. I agree completely that the closest metric equivalent to the original "F" width is a 215. As a matter of fact, until I invested in a set of Coker WIDE OVAL radials, I had a set of BFGs in 215/70 15. I much prefer the 215 over the 225, however, the 215 seems to be getting harder and harder to find. Having had a set of 215 width radials, I will point out that a bit more of the rim's bead shows (behind the beauty ring) vs the "F" bias ply OR the 225 radial width.
Thanks for the post, gb62. Please re-read my post. I don't believe I recommended a specific size tire. I CERTAINLY didn't intend to recommend the 225 size.
What I did was comment on the 225 tire that Coker is marketing/advertising. I don't know whether or not Coker offers the thin WSW tire in 215 width.
Sorry, I guess I should have said "referenced", and not recommended.
Cooker does offer the 3/8" white wall BFG Silvertown radial in the 215/70R15 size, I have a couple customers who have used them on 68-72's. They also have an off brand tire in 215/70R15 with an 18mm stripe, which is close to 3/8", but the tire is a much larger diameter than the typical 215/70.
...I also love the "narrow white stripe" tires, especially with P01(P02 if not '68 P01) hubcaps. I have also had those Michelin X tires on my '68 forever, but rarely even drive it that much anymore. They also are P 215/70 R tire size. I think the 225's look just a touch too big, but that just my personal opinion.
White Line Radials
