The End of an Era ??

[Jimmy G.]

Went to buy a set of tires for my 67. Wanted 205 x 75 - 15 BW tires. Guess what?? No American brand is available except Firestone winter only tires. Hate to do it but it looks like my 67 will be sporting a set of Toyo tires. Toyo tires for the most part are made here in Cartersville, GA as they were a customer of mine during my working time. This really stinks !!!!! Anyone know any thing different let me know -- PLEASE.

[Mark D.]

Oh, the humanity! Sell the car:-))

[Mark E.]

If it's any consolation, C8 is factory equipped with tires from a French company.

[Michael J.]

Tire Rack shows Hankook tires in that size. Some are made in the US, in Tennessee, including passenger car radials, not sure about these: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes

[Duke W.]

The tire landscape is constantly changing, and like so much other American manufacturing, it's been moving offshore for decades, and Thailand has become a very popular country for tire manufacturing.

I prefer American "brand" tires on American cars, European "brands" on European cars, and Japanese "brands" on Japanese cars. I say "brands" because the brand name says nothing about where the tire is manufactured. It's a global industry, and the U. S. market is now flooded with previously unheard of "brands" all of which are made offshore.

I've been searching replacements for the 205/55ZR-15 Dunlop Sport 8000s (actually made in Japan back when Sumitomo owned the "Dunlop" brand, which is now owned by Goodyear) for my '88 MBZ 190E 2.6 special order five-speed. They're 25 years old, still have 4-5/32nds thread, but given the short sidewalls and age they are getting pretty hard and making the ride noticeably harsh. This time I want 205/60s to soften the ride. A few years ago I missed out on a set of Vredestrein Sportrac 5, summer high performance tires, H or V speed rated, UTQG rating 300 AA before they went out of production. The wear rating is relatively low, and that means a sticky compound. I don't need ever a 30K mile tire on a car I drive only a few hundred miles per year.

In my latest search I found a candidate tire - Otani KC 2000, 320 AA with large tread blocks, no sipping, so on paper it's definitely a summer high performance tire. Since I don't drive on freeways anymore I don't need a 150 MPH tire, but what I demand is the safety of a spiral wound nylon cap belt that will keep the tire intact in the event of an internal structural failure, and any tire rated H or above should have this feature. The typical S or T rated "all-season" tires don't. I call them "van tires", but I wouldn't mount such tires on a van even if I owned one.

Just for the heck of it I thought I'd check what is currently available in the 215/70R-15 size that will fit the OE wheels on all C2/3 models and is either the same revs per mile (775) as the OE 7.75-15, F70-15, and 255/70-15 or just slightly greater than the OE 6.70-15, GR70-15 and 225/70R-15 (760), and it turns out "Otani" has one. It's a different model, EK1000, V-rated, UTQG 500, so it's a bit harder compound, but it has a decent thread design with relatively large tread blocks and minimal siping; and price is 300 bucks delivered! Amazing!

If you can't stand the off-brand name and other "artwork" on the sidewall you should be able to find a tire shop that can buff it off leaving a plain black sidewall.

https://www.tires-easy.com/215-70-15...specifications

A few years ago I bought what might have been the last set of V-rated Firestone 225/70R-15 PV-41 "police pursut tires" from this outfit. IIRC they are an American subsidiary of a German company, located in Oregon, and shipping to my CA address was free.

Duke

[Harry S.]

Tire Rack shows Hankook tires in that size. Some are made in the US, in Tennessee, including passenger car radials, not sure about these: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes

The are the Hankook WW's ---> 205/75R15 Hankook Kinergy ST H735 97T SL White Wall Tire

[Michael J.]

The are the Hankook WW's ---> 205/75R15 Hankook Kinergy ST H735 97T SL White Wall Tire

I think Jimmy wanted black wall tires like the ones I linked to.

[Harry S.]

I think Jimmy wanted black wall tires like the ones I linked to.

Agree, I put that up so if others are looking for WW tires.

[John F.]

Have you checked Discount Tire?

[Patrick H.]

Apparently Goodyear makes some 217-70R15s for some tires stores that are available:

https://www.tires-easy.com/215-70-15/goodyear-tires/eagle-sport/tirecode/109148539

So, you can avoid an off-brand if you wish new tires for your C3.

[Kent S.]

Diamondback has a blackwall radial tire that looks like a bias ply with the piecrust - 670/15". Have had them on my '65 for 4 years - perfect look and high quality. Others might be interested in the fact that they can apply a vulcanized stripe to the sidewall (my '65 has goldlines).

[Patrick H.]

Diamondback has a blackwall radial tire that looks like a bias ply with the piecrust

Is there a manufacturer's name on the inner side of the tire?

[Kent S.]

Is there a manufacturer's name on the inner side of the tire?

It's their tire - believe it's called an Auburn

[Jimmy G.]

Toyo made in Cartersville, GA 205x75 - 15 $103 each Discount Tire Not happy, but it is what it is.

[Donald O.]

The are the Hankook WW's ---> 205/75R15 Hankook Kinergy ST H735 97T SL White Wall Tire

Do their WW stay white or turn brown like Coopers et al?