America's Tire has been in the tire business for over half a century, so classic car tires are in our blood!
Classic cars are generally 20-40 years old and hold value due to their historical significance, design, or cultural relevance. Definitions will vary by car club and state department of motor vehicles.
TIRES FOR CLASSIC CARS
The difficulty with sourcing classic car tires is finding tires and/or wheels that fit older, unusual, or rarely found bolt patterns and sizes.
If we at America's Tire don’t stock the tire you require, we can special order it!
Types of Classic Car Tires
There are a number of classic car tire types. It’s important you know which one you need for the most authentic (and safe) finishing touch.
| Classic Tire Types | |
|---|---|
| Bias ply | Older construction using body ply cords that extend diagonally from bead to bead (criss-cross pattern). This yields a tire with:
|
| Radial ply | Modern tire construction with body ply cords that radiate from bead to bead. It allows for better:
|
| White letter | Distinctive look derived from early tire designs not common on modern tires. Typically found on classic muscle and off-road vehicles. See our white letter tire blog for more info. |
| White wall | Early tire design that became standard for luxury vehicles; it largely fell out of favor in the 1960s. Check out our blog on white wall tires here. |
BEST CLASSIC CAR TIRES
Some factors you need to keep in mind when shopping for classic car tires include:
Size and bolt pattern
Vehicle type (sports car, vintage, family, etc.)
Visuals
Type of driving (museum/garage display, weekend cruiser, etc.)
Also, be aware that modern tires (even classic styled ones), may interfere with suspension elements and damage your tire walls. Finding the suitable fit is important for safety and performance. Reach out to us if you need help selecting the right tire for your classic car.
Coker, one of the foremost classic car tire manufacturers, carries many vintage and classic tire options. However, many other manufacturers, including Goodyear, Cooper, Michelin, and BFGoodrich, offer excellent classic car tires as well.
Whitewall classic car tires
If you drive a classic cruiser or a low rider, a set of whitewall tires could make all the difference between a blue ribbon or poser status.
Putting the “class” in “classic,” Vogue has been offering authentic throwback designs with whitewall features for a century. When customers come to us asking for whitewall, we immediately point them to this tire manufacturer.
SHOP VOGUE TIRESThe Classic White tire offers a luxurious ride and style with grippy asymmetric tread pattern and all-season performance.
Want a little more color? Vogue offers red and blue striped options, too!
Bias or radial ply classic car tires
There are multitudes of options for bias or radial ply classic car or truck tires, but we’ll suggest you start with the American Classic and Coker Classic.
The American Classic offers:
Radial construction for a classic look paired with modern performance
Whitewall construction with “pie crust” shoulder and vintage style tread pattern
Tubeless function
The Coker Classic offers:
Wide ranging fitments for classic American cars, hot rods, and custom cars plus some classic Euro sports cars
14 and 15’’ rim diameters for popular models from 50s and 60s
Authentic modern reconstruction with vintage profile and raised curb guard
DOT and ECE (European Union) approved for street use
All-season tread design
White letter classic tires
A hallmark for classic muscle cars and off-roaders, white letter tires draw the eye and really show off the tire’s heritage. We carry many white letter options but we’ve selected some of our favorites below.
For your classic muscle car, we recommend:
Ready to roll?
Still not sure? Feel free to drop in, give us a ring, or make an appointment to speak with a tire expert at your local store. We’re ready to help! Buy and book online to wait less time in-store!
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