Diamondback goldlines

[ThomC]

My new Diamondback Supreme goldlines just arrived and they look great. Thought I'd share a photo with the forum. Ron from Diamondback Classics was really helpful and the order only took a week to complete. They did a nice job removing the DOT and other misc markings from the face of the tires - the interior sidewall looks very "busy" by comparison. They are 215/70s, and I'll be getting them mounted/balanced this week. Can't wait for spring (though we just got another 3 inches of slushy snow dropped on us last night).

Thom

 

[Tom Bryant]

Great looking tires. Do you have a web address for Diamondback Classics?

Tom

 

[RugHead]

http://www.widewhitewalltires.com/diamondbacks.htm

 

[Tom Bryant]

Thanks Karl. There is a '60 in the latest issue of On Solid Ground, the magazine of the Solid Axle Corvette Club, that has the same brand and size of tire in a 2 1/'2" white mounted on 15x6", 3 1/2 backspace wheels custom made by Wheelsmith. They widen out the tread width just enough that the tires fill the wheel wells perfectly. With the increase from 4 1/2 " of tire tread (6.70/15) to 7" the look is fantastic. These wheels were also made with the wheelcover retaining nubs necessary for the original wheel covers. Looks like what I want to do but probable with a black wall.


Tom

 

[Diamondback Classics]

Thanks guys for the feedback. We worked for 3 years to develop the most correct and accurate color gold stripe for the C-2 vettes. As for the whitewalls, the easiest way to spot Diamondback Classic tires, is the lack of any cosmetic writing on the whitewall side of the tire; the writing only remains on the inside sidewall of the tire. We love corvettes, actually maybe this year we will trade our 67 VW transporter for a 67 BB vette. Do you think it will pull our tradeshow supplies? Ron

 

[JohnZ]

Thanks guys for the feedback. We worked for 3 years to develop the most correct and accurate color gold stripe for the C-2 vettes. As for the whitewalls, the easiest way to spot Diamondback Classic tires, is the lack of any cosmetic writing on the whitewall side of the tire; the writing only remains on the inside sidewall of the tire. We love corvettes, actually maybe this year we will trade our 67 VW transporter for a 67 BB vette. Do you think it will pull our tradeshow supplies? Ron

Ron, very timely post - I need a set (5) of your Supreme Redlines for my '67 to replace the Cokers I have now, finished exactly as in Thom's post and photo above, with "Firestone" and the size showing on the outside. I'm thinking 205/75-15, though, instead of 215/70; they'll go on stock 15x6 bolt-on aluminum rims, and I don't want to be concerned about fender rub. Any thoughts (from anyone) on whether the 215/70's could be a rub problem entering a driveway? I have 205/75's on it now, with good clearance and no rub problems.

 

[jerrybramlett]

You risk popping a front fender lip if you run a 215-70 AND turn the wheels hard while hitting a big bump. Unfortunately, I have known this for sure since one bad night in 1989. I would definitely stick with the 205-75 size on the street unless I was going to circle track race my midyear (with flares) or wanted to pose as a pimp. Somehow that doesn't sound like you. Okay, now all you guys with 22" rims and 50 series tires can chime in with your little hurt feelings...

I would ask Diamond Back to limit the redline width to 1/4". This looks more period correct than the "gangsta" 3/8" width of a Coker, or even the 5/16" width that is close to the U.S. Royal original. The reason the narrower width looks better is the raised red stripe on the modern tire. The original stripe was recessed and you seldom saw the full 5/16" stripe width.

I'd also ask them to place the stripe as far as possible from the wheel rim edge. This will be about 1.75" (I think). That too will make the stripe look more authentic than the close-in placement (1"?) of the Coker.

I believe Diamond Back will accommodate these requests without giving you any grief. They have certainly been nice to me in the past.

 

[Pillman7]

I have a set of the Diamondback goldlines waiting to go on the direct bolt on wheels due to be shipped the first of March. I agree they are a good looking tire.

 

[ctjackster]

Pillman, what tire is D-Back using for non-specific Goldline requests these days? Just curious - they put Goldlines on Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s for me last year

 

[Diamondback Classics]

More Goldlines

Whether it be a goldline, blueline (rare for 66 vettes), redline or whitestripe, we have the ability to choose ANY modern day radial tire. Our house/standard models are Daytons, Firestone Supreme Si (seen above) and Firestone Indy 500 Firehawks. Often times we use Goodyear Eagle's and BFG Radial T/A's per customers' special requests. More and more we are seeing the demand for 17's and 18's for restomods similar to the 17" redline tires we did for Leno's Olds Toronado. If you can dream it, we can make it happen. A personal friend of mine has put his 58 on tubular chassis with a LT-1, 6 spd, and you betcha its going to have 17 and 18" redlines.

Ron,
e-mail info@dbtires.com

 

[Ol Blue]

Maybe Goodyear goldlines were different than the Firestones, but my original goldlines are 1.25" from the rim and the stripe is 5/16", or just slightly smaller, but larger than 1/4".
Ol Blue

 

[ctjackster]

Whether it be a goldline, blueline (rare for 66 vettes), redline or whitestripe, we have the ability to choose ANY modern day radial tire. Our house/standard models are Daytons, Firestone Supreme Si (seen above) and Firestone Indy 500 Firehawks. Often times we use Goodyear Eagle's and BFG Radial T/A's per customers' special requests. More and more we are seeing the demand for 17's and 18's for restomods similar to the 17" redline tires we did for Leno's Olds Toronado. If you can dream it, we can make it happen. A personal friend of mine has put his 58 on tubular chassis with a LT-1, 6 spd, and you betcha its going to have 17 and 18" redlines.

Ron,
e-mail info@dbtires.com

Hey Ron - been plugging your product and services for over a year now, you're right to mention how flexible you guys are and willing to do whatever the customer requests, the Firestone Firehawks were my idea actually, although I recalled you advising at the time that D-Back was seeing a surge in requests for that tire and it might become the "house" G-Line, R-line tire of choice.

 

[SebringBill]

The Dayton SR 215-65R15s redlines I bought in 1999(?) are still humming along after 15000+ miles...including trips from FL to CA and back and FL to MI and back!

 

[Tom Bryant]

Hey Bill,

How wide are your wheels and what is the offset? Have the fronts ever rubbed when turning?

Tom

 

[SebringBill]

Tom,


The wheels are stock 1954 (I checked the date when I had 'em rechromed in '93) Buick Skylark Kelsey-Hayes 6" wide. I've never checked the offset since they've been on the car for a while:

(Note the date: Dec 63)

When I bought the car in May of '91 the wheels were still on and original 185-15 Michelin X redwalls were still holding air (I have 3 left - some TR-6 nuts might like a spare...)

I've since put on the Diamondback Dayton Daytona SR 215-65R15 redwalls. I don't have any clearance problems in the front. I do however get a rub from the rear wheel well when executing hard (fast) turns with a loaded trunk.

BTW, it's tax time (I'm a CPA) so I might not be able to drop by very often for another 6 weeks...just mentioning it so ya don't think I'm ignoring ya!

Also - the preview shows my sig & pic but when I post it disappears. Can't figger that one out...

 

[Tom Bryant]

They're perfect for a C1. Darn wires are starting to grow on me.

 

[SebringBill]

Just remember...they rook mahvulus when they're clean...

but they're hell to floss:W

BTW - these wheels are Buick - a 5" bolt pattern, not Chevy 4.75"!
The hubs, drums and axles have been redrilled to match; in other words, there are 10 holes in my rear brake drums (I installed discs on the front in 98 - then had the rotors redrilled for the 5" pattern) 5 for each pattern. I also have 6 or 8 of the space-saver spares (you know, the skinny "when I grow up I wanna be a Goodyear") I got outta full size GM cars of the 80's and early 90's. The rims have 10 holes - 5 for each pattern! One was the spare when I bought the car in 1991. The rest I got at local junkyard trips - never paid more than $10 for each and half of them had never been mounted. I used 4 of the worst ones when I repainted the car and sent the wires out to be rechromed. Looked rather strange - like a lowrider on pie pans!

 

[Tom Bryant]

I was going to ask you about the bolt pattern. I was sure that Olds and Buicks were 5" bolt circle. I have had some thoughts about trying to adapt the late '50s/early '60s style big finned aluminum Buick drums on the Corvette. I've done a little measuring but I need to get one off a doner and in the garage to see if it's possible. Notice the high tech calipers I used. These parts were remarkably clean and rust free. This was at a yard out by Phoenix. (What do you do on your vacation? :L)

I tried to attach the full size pics but they were too big.

Tom

 

[SebringBill]

The 56 Sebring cars used Al-Fin drums - the cooling ribs came around the edge where the wheel mounted. That worked fine with the Halibrands but not with stock steel wheels. Try and find an old Girling disc brake setup.

I almost bought a McCulloch supercharger kit for a Chevy smallblock 2x4 a couple of years ago...just wasn't convinced it was all there. Had an "airbox" that bolted on the intake, then add the carbs and close it up. Seemed much easier than messing with each carb. Geez, what the NCRS guys woulda said if I opened the hood. Betcha it would've sounded real interesting.

 

[Tom Bryant]

I'd have been drooling all over that McCulloch. A pressure box for both carbs. I'll bet that looked cool. There's nothing like vintage speed equipment on vintage cars. It's been a while since I've seen any Girling brakes. It's a thought though.

Here's one I shot at the Detroit Autorama last Sunday. What do you think?

Sorry for the bad pictures. The place was crowded as it was a real nice day. Quick shots=blurry shots. I'm going to try to sharpen them and get them all in an alblum. Lots of cool cars there.