[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

When I need radial white walls or red lines or..... For a car I'm restoring here, I go to Diamondback.

I get a lot of feedback from customers years after the fact and Diamondback by far has been the best. Especially when it comes to white walls browning. Had issues with Coker years back with that, but not Diamondback.

When I pay $1100.00 for 10 ply truck tires I'm not paying $1300.00 for car tires.

[Formulajones]

You get what you pay for. There is a reason they come highly recommended by many.

You could try your luck with others, or maybe experiment with "tirestickers" using a do it yourself kit. I can't say you'll be happy with those results though.

Up to you.

[mgarblik]

Those tire stickers are interesting and not expensive to try. I can't imagine the one piece design being able to install without some type of issue. On a lift, with really clean tires and lots of patience, they might look decent if you can get them to seam up. I have purchased and installed 2 sets of Coker redlines over the years. Been generally disappointed in the quality of the tires and the look of the redlines after a couple years, even with lots of care. One set were radials and would not balance without a ton of weight and I have a Hunter road force balancer available. Tires always thumped on the road. If I do real redlines again, I will probably bite the bullet and try Diamondback. Coker gets absolute top $$ for marginal tires IMO. Glad they have a little competition.

[flat-bill]

At least some of the American Racing cast wheels are made in China.

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

I remember when the wheels would cost more than the tires.

I got 4 custom drilled 18" Torq Thrusts, Lug Nuts and Chrome Valve Stems to my door for $706.00. I can't justify nearly twice that for tires made by some overseas company I never heard of. I know everything I need to know about Michelins that didn't cost as much as a tire I never heard of.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by flat-bill

At least some of the American Racing cast wheels are made in China.

Not the Torq Thrusts and soon none of their wheels will be.

[Formulajones]

Here's a shot of a frame off restoration I did on a baby bird. Shows the Diamondback white walls.

Just to give you an idea, I've done literally dozens of these baby birds over the years and have had Coker tires as well. Every single one I did with Coker tires would eventually complain of browning white walls in a very short period of time. So for the last several years the switch was made to Diamondback and conversing among the T-bird community so far not a single complaint.

I know these aren't redlines but it gives you an idea of the quality differences. If they can do white walls and make picky T-bird owners happy, I'm sure they do just as well with redlines or any other tire you need. In fact I was thinking about sending them drag radials with matching MT front runners to do thin white walls on, as they offer that service as well.

[blue67gtoragtop]

I just put Diamondback redlines on my 67 GTO convertible. Very pleased.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

Not the Torq Thrusts and soon none of their wheels will be.

I bought a set of American Racing Torque Thrust Originals not that long ago. Don't know where they were cast but they are a very nicely done wheel.

I'm getting ready to buy a set of Rocket Racing Fuel Series wheels (they sort of look like cragars) They are cast aluminum. No idea where they are cast but I'm sure they'll be fine.

[flat-bill]

Are you saying that they are going more to or less to China. I would hope going away from China. The set of Americans I bought a good while back all had the little gold China sticker on the inside.

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

Not the Torq Thrusts and soon none of their wheels will be.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by flat-bill

Are you saying that they are going more to or less to China. I would hope going away from China. The set of Americans I bought a good while back all had the little gold China sticker on the inside.

They told me that very soon all their wheels will be made here in the US

[flat-bill]

Very glad to hear that. Billk

[Formulajones]

Which probably means they will no longer be cheaper than a set of tires

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

I remember when the wheels would cost more than the tires.

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

They told me that very soon all their wheels will be made here in the US

[flat-bill]

You get what you pay for ..........only if you're lucky.

[Formulajones]

Yep

When it comes to the cast aluminum wheels though, I've had absolutely zero issues with them to date, on daily drivers. Yeah they are probably cast in China, I don't know, but for $100 a piece you'd think they almost have to be. Because if they were American made they would be 3 times the price, and when it comes to cast aluminum wheels, I don't think they would be any better quality either.

[Steve C.]

https://www.vintagewheelworks.com/



.

[Chief of the 60's]

The 2 biggest issues I've seen with cheap wheels (usually sold at swap meets and Ebay) are premature corrosion and excessive amount of weight for balancing.

Other than that.... They're round.

[flat-bill]

I have had no problems with mine either. I just prefer to buy USA products. It was not made known that these were made in China when I bought them, new.

Originally Posted by Formulajones

Yep

When it comes to the cast aluminum wheels though, I've had absolutely zero issues with them to date, on daily drivers. Yeah they are probably cast in China, I don't know, but for $100 a piece you'd think they almost have to be. Because if they were American made they would be 3 times the price, and when it comes to cast aluminum wheels, I don't think they would be any better quality either.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by flat-bill

I have had no problems with mine either. I just prefer to buy USA products. It was not made known that these were made in China when I bought them, new.

Where did you find a computer or smart phone to type this that is made in the US?

People buy Chiwanese products all the time because its rare these days that we make anything.

As long as you are not paying top buck for an unknown Chiwanese piece like you would a product made here or a known quality brand name.

[1965gp]

These are Diamondback 17” redlines. They are Nitto 555’s I believe. I’ve had them for about 6 years and they still look brand new.