1955 Buick Special - TIRE SPECIFICATIONS / MANUFACTURER

[Skippy]

Dear Fellow Members,

When time comes to replace my tube tires with tubeless all-season radials, I was hoping to replace with original spec reproductions (e.g. COKER Tires). Can anyone help fill in the blanks;

GM TIRE MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER FOR THE 1955 PRODUCTION YEAR:

SIZE SPECIFICATIONS:

WHITE WALL SIZE: 1" / 2.5" / OTHER?

ANY OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:

- Other Reproduction Tire Suppliers

Thanks,

Skippy.

[Guest Randy Berger]

I strongly suggest you consider:

http://dbtires.com/index.htm

I bought BFG WWW radial tires from Coker and have had trouble with them. They finally replaced one tire and I had to buy a tube for it because it wouldn't seal against the rim. It lost about four pounds a week.

[Skippy]

Thanks for your comments.

[Ron Green]

If you decide to go with radials in lieu of the original bias I highly recommend Diamondback Classic's, hands down. Their whitewalls stay clean, are easy to clean and they don't yellow.

My 55 has Universal bias tires and I have no issues with them at all (no wondering, etc) except the whitewalls yellow and they are all but impossible to keep clean.

[Skippy]

A helpful hint for cleaning your whitewall tires:

Steps:

1. Purchase a bottle of AMMONIA

2. Transfer the AMMONIA into a spray bottle

3. Spray the white wall of the tire

4. Let sit for a few minutes

5. Wipe with a cloth

6. If yellow, does not completely disappear use a SOS/SCRUB pad, re-spray and scrub. You can

use a brush to scrub as well.

7. Rinse the tire with water

8. Your whitewalls will look like new

9. Repeat the process as required over the life of the tire

This does not harm the rubber and the results are absolutely amazing. Note: if you transfer the ammonia into a WINDEX or some other reusable spray bottle, REMEMBER TO CLEARLY LABEL IT. GOOD LUCK

Skippy

[Ron Green]

Thanks for the tips. I do something very similar only using a product from Korkay (#194) and the SOS pads. The SOS pads are only needed on the Universal or Coker whitewalls however within a couple of weeks the yellowing is already starting to come back. Korkay is used to clean up the interior of vehicles that nasty things have happen in.

The Diamondback whitewalls just don't hold the dirt and will not yellow. In fact I hit a curb with one and had a major scuff in the whitewall. I sanded it out with wet sandpaper and it completely disappeared. The only drawback with the Diamondbacks is they do not make a non radial tire for judging.

www.korkay.com