48Super Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 I'm looking to replace the nearly 20 year old tires on my '65. Although they they look to be in great condition with no outward signs of deterioration it is probably a good idea to replace them for safety. What I'm looking for is a reasonably priced 225/75-15 radial with at least a 3/4" wide whitewall. I know the choices are limited outside of the pricey Coker and Diamond Back tires. My car is a nice survivor, not a perfectly restored show car so it is hard to spend over a $1000 for a set of tires. It seems like most other whitewall tire choices out there either are no-name brands or have some undesirable appearance characteristics. Cooper Trendsetters are a decent looking tire but do not come in the correct size. Hankook is also a good tire but the sidewall is ugly with the huge name and weird texture. I've also read about Suretrac and Vitour but is seems that they don't get such good reviews. I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has recently purchased tires for their Riviera and has been happy with them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KongaMan Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 Toyo also makes (made?) something that might work for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 I thought that I had read somewhere that the Cadillac guys were giving the Suretrac tires a good review. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1965rivgs Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 3 hours ago, 48Super said: I'm looking to replace the nearly 20 year old tires on my '65. Although they they look to be in great condition with no outward signs of deterioration it is probably a good idea to replace them for safety. What I'm looking for is a reasonably priced 225/75-15 radial with at least a 3/4" wide whitewall. I know the choices are limited outside of the pricey Coker and Diamond Back tires. My car is a nice survivor, not a perfectly restored show car so it is hard to spend over a $1000 for a set of tires. It seems like most other whitewall tire choices out there either are no-name brands or have some undesirable appearance characteristics. Cooper Trendsetters are a decent looking tire but do not come in the correct size. Hankook is also a good tire but the sidewall is ugly with the huge name and weird texture. I've also read about Suretrac and Vitour but is seems that they don't get such good reviews. I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has recently purchased tires for their Riviera and has been happy with them. Hi Mike, Your call but you detailed your butt off and your car is so nice why not a set of the repro triple whites? Tom Mooney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telriv Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 That would be the icing on the cake. IF the tires are actually 20+ years old they may just predate the time when tires started dry rotting on the self. The reason they have a "Usable" life span today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
first64riv Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 (edited) Try Cooper tires. I got my set from Pep Boys. Nevermind...you stated they don't come in your size. Move along, nothing to see here. Chris Edited June 30, 2020 by first64riv Poor reading skills (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 I pulled this from the internet but I recognize the garage floor. This is a DB that Gord Wolfgang had made for his 1965. True authenticity. Go for it, you're only young once. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48Super Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 Wow, you guys are tough! I have seen the DB version of the original Riviera tires and I've always thought they looked great but at $265, its not an easy decision to make. Truthfully, I'd love to get a set of these on my car. If I could only find a way too keep the wife from knowing how much I paid........ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KongaMan Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 IMHO, you've also got to consider how much you're going to drive it. If you spend $1000 on a set of tires that lasts 5 years, that's $200 per year. If you only drive 200 miles per year, that's $1 a mile. And remember, you can't see your tires when driving. If you're in the driver's seat, it doesn't matter what they look like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gungeey Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 (edited) Mastercraft 215 75R15 Made in USA...75 each mounted and balanced last year They don't come in 225s, though, which is the most popular choice for 1st gens on the World Wide Web (which repeats the same info over and over til forever). In real life these are about a half inch shorter or in other words the same height as a 225 with miles on them and 10 millimeters less wide. I think that's 1/3rd of an inch. Big whoop. Oh, and EDIT: No frame rub like on the 225's...………………. Edited June 30, 2020 by gungeey added info (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbinator Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 I got four of the American Classic Auburn 710 R 15 for my 63. The tires are radial with a bias look. I have a one inch white wall. They ride real good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1965rivgs Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 2 hours ago, 48Super said: Wow, you guys are tough! I have seen the DB version of the original Riviera tires and I've always thought they looked great but at $265, its not an easy decision to make. Truthfully, I'd love to get a set of these on my car. If I could only find a way too keep the wife from knowing how much I paid........ 1 hour ago, Turbinator said: I got four of the American Classic Auburn 710 R 15 for my 63. The tires are radial with a bias look. I have a one inch white wall. They ride real good. Those really do look like a bias ply tire Bob, mission accomplished, Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC1968Riviera Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 (edited) My '68 with Diamond Back Triple Stipe Whitewalls. My tires are 235/70-15. Click on the image below to see a higher resolution version picture. Edited June 30, 2020 by NC1968Riviera (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 You'll not be going as fast as your speedometer says and you'll have more revolutions per mile - more wear per mile. What about the weight limit per tire? The "75" is an aspect ratio of tire width based on height. 225/75-15 v s 215/75R15 Diameter (Height) inches (mm)28.29 (718.5) 27.7 (703.5)-0.59 (-15) -2.1% Width inches (mm)8.86 (225) 8.46 (215)-0.39 (-10) -4.4% Circum. inches (mm)88.87 (2257.23) 87.01 (2210.11)-1.86 (-47.12) -2.1% Sidewall Height inches (mm)6.64 (168.75) 6.35 (161.25)-0.3 (-7.5) -4.4% Revolutions per mile (km)712.97 (443.02) 728.17 (452.47)15.2 (9.45) 2.1% Speedo Reading Actual Speed 20 mph (32.19 km/h) 19.58 mph (31.51 km/h) 25 mph (40.23 km/h) 24.48 mph (39.39 km/h) 30 mph (48.28 km/h) 29.37 mph (47.27 km/h) 35 mph (56.33 km/h) 34.27 mph (55.15 km/h) 40 mph (64.37 km/h) 39.16 mph (63.03 km/h) 45 mph (72.42 km/h) 44.06 mph (70.91 km/h) 50 mph (80.47 km/h) 48.96 mph (78.79 km/h) 55 mph (88.51 km/h) 53.85 mph (86.67 km/h) 60 mph (96.56 km/h) 58.75 mph (94.54 km/h) 65 mph (104.61 km/h) 63.64 mph (102.42 km/h) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 (edited) I went with the Venezia classic 787 whitewall p225-75-R15 two years ago. They are wonderful....ride smooth as glass at all speeds, the whitewall stays nice and white without yellowing, and they only cost about 77 dollars, lettering is small, unobtrusive not like the hankooks. Edited June 30, 2020 by Seafoam65 (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbinator Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 20 hours ago, 48Super said: Wow, you guys are tough! I have seen the DB version of the original Riviera tires and I've always thought they looked great but at $265, its not an easy decision to make. Truthfully, I'd love to get a set of these on my car. If I could only find a way too keep the wife from knowing how much I paid........ Depending on what you like or not like about bias versus radial tires maybe a consideration. If and only if you like the look of bias tires And the handling of bias tires you can get the simple bias white walls at an attractive price. This is just a thought that may be an option for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbinator Posted July 5, 2020 Share Posted July 5, 2020 On 6/30/2020 at 1:36 PM, RivNut said: You'll not be going as fast as your speedometer says and you'll have more revolutions per mile - more wear per mile. What about the weight limit per tire? The "75" is an aspect ratio of tire width based on height. 225/75-15 v s 215/75R15 Diameter (Height) inches (mm)28.29 (718.5) 27.7 (703.5)-0.59 (-15) -2.1% Width inches (mm)8.86 (225) 8.46 (215)-0.39 (-10) -4.4% Circum. inches (mm)88.87 (2257.23) 87.01 (2210.11)-1.86 (-47.12) -2.1% Sidewall Height inches (mm)6.64 (168.75) 6.35 (161.25)-0.3 (-7.5) -4.4% Revolutions per mile (km)712.97 (443.02) 728.17 (452.47)15.2 (9.45) 2.1% Speedo Reading Actual Speed 20 mph (32.19 km/h) 19.58 mph (31.51 km/h) 25 mph (40.23 km/h) 24.48 mph (39.39 km/h) 30 mph (48.28 km/h) 29.37 mph (47.27 km/h) 35 mph (56.33 km/h) 34.27 mph (55.15 km/h) 40 mph (64.37 km/h) 39.16 mph (63.03 km/h) 45 mph (72.42 km/h) 44.06 mph (70.91 km/h) 50 mph (80.47 km/h) 48.96 mph (78.79 km/h) 55 mph (88.51 km/h) 53.85 mph (86.67 km/h) 60 mph (96.56 km/h) 58.75 mph (94.54 km/h) 65 mph (104.61 km/h) 63.64 mph (102.42 km/h) There is a company in Texas that makes an instrument that interfaces between the drive gear and the speedo cable. The company asks you drive one mile on a mile marked road and report what your odometer read after driving the state /federal highway one mile marker. Report your finding to the company and they make the widget for your car., I checked the accuracy of my speedo with speedo app I have on my smart phone. The speed on the speedometer was the same as the speed on my app. Turbinator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KongaMan Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 You'll get a more accurate reading on a 10-mile stretch. But really, this is what would in another context be described as a "first-world problem". Worrying about precise speedometer accuracy and tire wear in a car that's driven only occasionally and only for part of the year seems a bit silly. Just drive it. You can get a good idea of how fast you're going by the flow of traffic. Use that as a benchmark, then make a point of passing most of them. 72, 75, 78; what's the difference? Put your foot in it and let it run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 If I were to drive a 1st generation Riviera at the "flow of traffic speed" around here, I'd be stopping for fuel every 150 miles. The idiots who drive through here are constantly mistaking a 6 for an in the tens column. Most of the offenders work about 45 miles across two counties from where they live and they still want to get home in the same 15 minutes that the rest of us do who work 10 miles from home. Covid 19 is making a lot of people work from home. That just means that much less traffic for the Yay hoos to negotiate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gungeey Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 On 6/30/2020 at 1:36 PM, RivNut said: You'll not be going as fast as your speedometer says and you'll have more revolutions per mile - more wear per mile. What about the weight limit per tire? The "75" is an aspect ratio of tire width based on height. 225/75-15 v s 215/75R15 Diameter (Height) inches (mm)28.29 (718.5) 27.7 (703.5)-0.59 (-15) -2.1% Width inches (mm)8.86 (225) 8.46 (215)-0.39 (-10) -4.4% Circum. inches (mm)88.87 (2257.23) 87.01 (2210.11)-1.86 (-47.12) -2.1% Sidewall Height inches (mm)6.64 (168.75) 6.35 (161.25)-0.3 (-7.5) -4.4% Revolutions per mile (km)712.97 (443.02) 728.17 (452.47)15.2 (9.45) 2.1% Speedo Reading Actual Speed 20 mph (32.19 km/h) 19.58 mph (31.51 km/h) 25 mph (40.23 km/h) 24.48 mph (39.39 km/h) 30 mph (48.28 km/h) 29.37 mph (47.27 km/h) 35 mph (56.33 km/h) 34.27 mph (55.15 km/h) 40 mph (64.37 km/h) 39.16 mph (63.03 km/h) 45 mph (72.42 km/h) 44.06 mph (70.91 km/h) 50 mph (80.47 km/h) 48.96 mph (78.79 km/h) 55 mph (88.51 km/h) 53.85 mph (86.67 km/h) 60 mph (96.56 km/h) 58.75 mph (94.54 km/h) 65 mph (104.61 km/h) 63.64 mph (102.42 km/h) This might be relevant if 225 75R15 was the original size tire, as we know these cars were originally equipped with bias ply. Other factors come into play: Different manufacturers will have an ultimately slightly different finish size, some have a whisker bigger new tread depth. Basically a new 215 is the same height as a worn out 225. How worn are the tires? Does the speedometer make allowances as the tire wears? How much air does the owner put in the tires? A/C or Non A/C? How accurate is a 55 yr old speedometer? How accurate was the speedometer even when it was new? This is important if we are dissecting. Anyway, to each his own, I will take a 215 USA made over a Hankook Chinese 225 every time. I even believe I'm one of very few in the Northeast that actually wears out tires as opposed to watching them age gracefully as they sit in on the garage floor... Come to think of it, as I passed the highway speed reader that said I was going 72 today on the Pike I looked down and it was just a tad past 12 o'clock… I'de estimate right at 72.01642mph LOL Happy 4th Weekend !! Steve9209 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KongaMan Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 2 hours ago, RivNut said: If I were to drive a 1st generation Riviera at the "flow of traffic speed" around here, I'd be stopping for fuel every 150 miles. And if you didn't I'd be one of the guys flipping you off for driving so slow. If you can't do 75 comfortably in a first-gen Riv, you need to get your car sorted. If you're worried about pinching pennies, you're in the wrong hobby. 😜 2 hours ago, RivNut said: Covid 19 is making a lot of people work from home. That just means that much less traffic for the Yay hoos to negotiate. When all this virus idiocy started I drove through the heart of Silicon Valley ay 8:30 AM. That's usually bumper to bumper, with dead stops common. There wasn't a person in my lane as far as I could see. I'll take it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 Doesn't need sorted out; not worried about pinch g pennies. It takes more time to stop every so often to fuel up at 75 mph than it does to drive 65 and fuel up that less often. Seems to take a bunch of extra effort at 75 to overcome the air drag. These are not shaped like a Bonneville lakester as we all know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbinator Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 9 hours ago, RivNut said: Doesn't need sorted out; not worried about pinch g pennies. It takes more time to stop every so often to fuel up at 75 mph than it does to drive 65 and fuel up that less often. Seems to take a bunch of extra effort at 75 to overcome the air drag. These are not shaped like a Bonneville lakester as we all know. Ed, no matter the higher speeds I feel much better with a restored suspension system comprised of new bushings, new shocks, rebuilt steering box, new axle and pinion gear seals, good tires, new lower ball joints, and newly installed front and rear sway bars. The Riviera has more of a Boulevard ride now. Before I did the suspension work the ride and steering made me feel Steppenwolf’s “ Magic Carpet Ride” was in play. Had I not known better I’d thought I was riding in Cheech and Chong’s 64 Lowrider. It was like driving an airplane. Turbinator 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1967 - 1997 Riviera Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 On 6/30/2020 at 9:34 AM, NC1968Riviera said: My '68 with Diamond Back Triple Stipe Whitewalls. My tires are 235/70-15. Click on the image below to see a higher resolution version picture. Wow...That is SHARP!...SHARP!!...SHARP!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC1968Riviera Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 On 6/30/2020 at 2:44 PM, Seafoam65 said: Venezia classic 787 whitewall p225-75-R15 The previous owner of the AZ had these tire on it. He put tire dressing on the white walls and they turned brown. Everytime the brown was scrubbed off, it would come right back a few days later. I tried everything, (Bleche Wyte, mineral spirits, wire brushes, scouring power) to get the tires white. Nothing worked until I bought the DB triple stripe whitewalls. These get a little dirty but they clean up nice and white every time and stay that way! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbinator Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 1 hour ago, NC1968Riviera said: The previous owner of the AZ had these tire on it. He put tire dressing on the white walls and they turned brown. Everytime the brown was scrubbed off, it would come right back a few days later. I tried everything, (Bleche Wyte, mineral spirits, wire brushes, scouring power) to get the tires white. Nothing worked until I bought the DB triple stripe whitewalls. These get a little dirty but they clean up nice and white every time and stay that way! The DB 3 ring white sidewalls lookS sharp on your car. Seems different cars look better and worse depending on the tire with or without a whitewall.i thought a black wall on a first gen Riv would not look good. Well, I’ve seen some mildly customized first gen Riv’s with black walls and they look great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XframeFX Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 (edited) Agree Edited July 10, 2020 by XframeFX mistake (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred C Post Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 Anyone think these tires are worth a gamble? Ebay item # 303505645134. Four new 225 - 75 R - 15 Nexen. N. PRIZ. AH5. 102S. White Wall Tires. $. 282.92. With free shipping. I'm seriously thinking about these . I just bought a new set of tires for the wife's Tiguan. Set me back over $ 600 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kegart Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 At that price, I would want to know the date codes on the tires. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 Nexen tires are available all over the place for about the same price. Why not buy locally so you can deal with warranty claims, road hazards, and balancing and rotating. You're going to be paying for all these out of pocket when you purchase online. May be cheap now but in the long run?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbinator Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 On 6/29/2020 at 6:01 PM, 48Super said: I'm looking to replace the nearly 20 year old tires on my '65. Although they they look to be in great condition with no outward signs of deterioration it is probably a good idea to replace them for safety. What I'm looking for is a reasonably priced 225/75-15 radial with at least a 3/4" wide whitewall. I know the choices are limited outside of the pricey Coker and Diamond Back tires. My car is a nice survivor, not a perfectly restored show car so it is hard to spend over a $1000 for a set of tires. It seems like most other whitewall tire choices out there either are no-name brands or have some undesirable appearance characteristics. Cooper Trendsetters are a decent looking tire but do not come in the correct size. Hankook is also a good tire but the sidewall is ugly with the huge name and weird texture. I've also read about Suretrac and Vitour but is seems that they don't get such good reviews. I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has recently purchased tires for their Riviera and has been happy with them. Super, IF you keep your next set of tires for only 1/2 the time you’ve kept your current set of tires you could spend what you like. By example you spend $1000.00 set. Your cost would be $100. A year. Or $8.34 month. Money spent on a hobby is for what you like. Turbinator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbinator Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 On 6/29/2020 at 6:01 PM, 48Super said: I'm looking to replace the nearly 20 year old tires on my '65. Although they they look to be in great condition with no outward signs of deterioration it is probably a good idea to replace them for safety. What I'm looking for is a reasonably priced 225/75-15 radial with at least a 3/4" wide whitewall. I know the choices are limited outside of the pricey Coker and Diamond Back tires. My car is a nice survivor, not a perfectly restored show car so it is hard to spend over a $1000 for a set of tires. It seems like most other whitewall tire choices out there either are no-name brands or have some undesirable appearance characteristics. Cooper Trendsetters are a decent looking tire but do not come in the correct size. Hankook is also a good tire but the sidewall is ugly with the huge name and weird texture. I've also read about Suretrac and Vitour but is seems that they don't get such good reviews. I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has recently purchased tires for their Riviera and has been happy with them. Super, IF you keep your next set of tires for only 1/2 the time you’ve kept your current set of tires you could spend what you like. By example you spend $1000.00 set. Your cost would be $100. A year. Or $8.34 month. Money spent on a hobby is for what you like. Turbinator 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 Be sure to read the guides about the age of tires. Basically it says that tires 6 to 7 years old should be replaced. The rubber starts to deteriorate around that time. No matter how good the tires may loo, they're starting to decompose. When is the last time that you picked up a perfectly good looking pencil and went to erase something and the eraser crumbled the minute you touched it. Edmonds.com has an article about fatalities that have occurred because of tire age. Deterioration has nothing to do with how good they physically look or how many miles the tires have on them. One reason that a number of people do not buy Coker tires is because there is no way to tell how old they are. Sure, some guy is going to tell you "Hey my tires are XX years old and blah, blah, blah. But he's just be lucky. Do some research, be safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kegart Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 Bob brought up a good point about breaking down the cost over time. When I go to buy tires I usually spend more than planned but I end up with a better tire. Sometimes when you buy a cheap tire all you get is a cheap tire. Ride quality and peace of mind costs a little more. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 I agree that you should buy the best tire for your situation. What I wanted everyone to take from my post was that a 10 year amortization is unreal for the life of a tire being safe. Spread that$1,000 over 6 years or $166.67 per year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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