Coker Tire Problems? [Archive]

Byron Crump

10-10-2003, 05:50 PM

James Crawford in Texas with the 100,000 mile merc can tell you some nasty tales about Coker.

Coker: My self, several tires so out of round they were useless and were sent back. Some I got credit for, some I did not. Treads blowing apart, and in fact the new set that was on my old 51 ford I sold I saw a year later and all four were spliting and blowing apart (and the guy that had the car did not notice it and was driving on them and the were BAD). They turned yellow fast, real fast.

Silvertowns: On the merc now, yellow but better than the Cokers so far. I have been told they are both made in the same factory in Mexico. I did have one on the 32 when it was under construction that would not hold air because it was out of round in the bead the goes on the rim...was replaced no problem. I have not had bad luck with these.

Diamondback. On my 32...mounted better and hold the white better and seem to be worth it...I like them better than the Silvertowns. Have had zero issues.

metalshapes

10-10-2003, 06:29 PM

The front tires on my Roadster are so out of round, that they beat the living shit out of the freshly rebuild F100 steering box, on the first longer trip I took with the car.(It is trashed now and needs to be rebuild again)
When I ordered the fronts for my truck, the salesperson screwed up, and they send me 14" tires instead of 15".
Things like that can happen, and it would not be a problem if they would be interested in correcting those situations.
They are not...
They gave me the runaround with the 16" Firestones, I would have to pay for all the shipping AND the new tires, and they were going to decide on a refund on the old ones once they got them back. I have no reason to believe that once they have my money and my tires, they would not rip me off.
With the Michelins ( the screwed up order ) They made me pay for all the shipping and both sets of tires, and when the refund finally came, it was about $110 short. And they gave me the runaround on that one too.
I will not deal with Coker directly again. If I really need their product, I will gladly pay a tire store to deal with that mess.
And if I have a choice I'd rather take my business elsewhere.

Gr8ballsofir

10-10-2003, 06:49 PM

Uh, are bias ply's speed rated?

DrJ

10-10-2003, 07:26 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Uh, are bias ply's speed rated?

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a damn good question.
Another one is, are they DOT approved for highway use?
Or are they "For display purposes only"?

(I don't mean do they just have the letters DOT on them like motorcycle brain buckets either)

Fifty5C-Gas

10-11-2003, 09:23 AM

my cokers are less then a year old, and the white walls have mystery "slashes" in them, and the black wall around the white wall is peeling.

286merc

10-11-2003, 12:18 PM

Ive read on one of the restorers forums that since Coker went to Mexico for their tires the quality went downhill about as fast as most other stuff from down there.

Roothawg

10-11-2003, 12:37 PM

Does that include the Firestones?

**DONOTDELETE**

10-11-2003, 12:47 PM

when I was running 15's on my hotrod, I knew I was going to replace them so I just bought the Coker Classic bigs and littles.... the fronts had the whitewall applied lobsided so when I drove down the freeway my front tire looked like shit. they also bounced around like crazy as if they were out of round. The weight it took to get them to roll even was a joke. Fucking junk. do not buy. repeat, do not buy.

that's all I have to say about that.

10-11-2003, 01:30 PM

I've had a couple of problems with Cokers,one set were out of round,and would not balance and I had a blowout on a Firestone 750.The small fronts they wouldn't replace,but the 750 they did because I had bought the insurance, I think they are like any other big tire company(GOOD LUCK),we expect them to be good old boys because they sell to hobby guys,but in reality they are a big business.Now the problem with their products is BS.They need to put out a good product,or we shouldn't buy from them period.Send them letters and tell Corky these things should not be happening,and we as a group can carry a lot of weight.IMHO--TV http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

visor

10-11-2003, 04:16 PM

This is not the first time I have seen a
Thread on this subject.
Man It really sounds like this Coker Tire Company
is just keepin on selling the same crap...and getting
away with it! I have a set of bias stones that I havn't
ran yet, and now really don't know if I want to, cause
they may be unsafe.
I think TV is right, its not going to do any good just
takin the punches and then bitchin about it.
I will call them on monday, and see if I can get them
to respond to this thread.
If anyone has a better way or idea about how to get
Coker to respond, please speak up. Lets get this done.
It sounds like there are way to many bad tires out there.
Remember Firestone?
--------------------------------------------------------
"OPOSSUM BENDERS"
Central Missouri Chapter

DrJ

10-11-2003, 04:26 PM

Again,,,are they DOT approved for highway use?
Or are they "For display purposes only"?
(I don't mean do they just have the letters DOT on them like motorcycle brain buckets either)

10-11-2003, 07:53 PM

I know the Stones I have that are not round do not say dot but they don't say for display only all they say is deluxeChampions gum wraped.So what are they selling tires to run or sit around to look at.--TV

Noname38

10-11-2003, 07:58 PM

[Coker: My self, several tires so out of round they were Diamondback. On my 32...mounted better and hold the white better and seem to be worth it...I like them better than the Silvertowns. Have had zero issues.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've had diamondbacks on my lil falcon/daily driver for over a yr now. No problems whats so ever clean up real good too. Even got some for the 38. Very pleased with the quality but their radials http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Sean

10-11-2003, 08:30 PM

I've had the same set of Diamond Back WW's on my '57 for over 3 years. I've got maybe 20k-25k on them. Not one problem! Still clean up nice too. No yellowing, splits, or peeling.

Judd

10-11-2003, 09:10 PM

I had three out of 4 Cokers split on me, their on my parts car now ( they still hold air ) but I wouldn't use them I use Diamond Back Classics, 2 years 20,000 miles no problems. My buddy lost a Coker at speed causing body dammage on his 56. This crap about low pressure causing these failures is B.S.Coker has a problem not the customers! I can't remember seeing a set of Coker radials with out hearing a story about tread seperation or bubbleing up at the rim.

plmczy

10-11-2003, 10:16 PM

Okay stupid question here, Who sell's Diamondback's? I'm just tryin to get some good solid info for future use http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.giflater plmczy

Paul

10-11-2003, 10:36 PM

great.

I wish I would have heard all this a month ago.

I just bought a pair of the Coker Classics for the coupe.

Now what?

http://photo.starblvd.net/~60s_style/5-5-5.jpg

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Paul

MIKE-3137

10-12-2003, 12:31 AM

Thats what i'm saying.. What other options are available for 16" 6.00 or 6.50 and 7.50 bias tires besides what coker sells? Do the diamondback 16" radials look okay or do they have the "bulge"?
I was just about to order from them too, had just not got around to calling.

Tman

10-12-2003, 02:43 AM

I didnt want to post this until it was resolved but I have a good experience so far with Ron at Hurst. My cheaters started checking after 3 months on the road. When I called him, he was very cool to talk to. None of this bullshit "We have never had that happen before?" He said I could send a tire in for inspection then I mentioned photos.....long story short, I am sending him detailed pics of the tires so he can figure out my problem.

deadelvis

10-12-2003, 07:21 AM

Man I wish I'd heard of this sooner. I just got my set of Coker Classics in and mounted. Picked 'em up and noticed I had two new beauty rings. Looked closer and found it two be the damn weights! I'd never seen shit like it! Guy who mounted 'em said it was kinda normal with "those tires" and to run the "beauty ringed ones"(my words not his) on the rear!?! I know my luck, next post from me on this topic will be a story about how my Cokers took a shit on me. I almost ordered the DB's but nooooo!

TagMan

10-12-2003, 09:25 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Okay stupid question here, Who sell's Diamondback's?

[/ QUOTE ]

Try here.....

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

Kustm52

10-12-2003, 09:35 PM

Cokers suck. The radials anyway. I HAD to have a set when they first came out...I made it around 4k miles on them...then the belts broke in one, and on close inspection the tread was seperating on two more. I was 200 or so miles from home at the time, and had to buy a set of cheap radials to get home. Took them back to Coker in person, they offered most of my money back, never offered to replace them or sell me another set. I heard they had around a 70% return rate...then bought a set of diamondbacks...bought the recaps they were selling, and they lasted about 500 miles and the belts in two of them broke. Mr Diamondback offered me a set of the new Daytons he sells at a discount, and I've got about 15k on them. I've got one that is out of round now, but I think that is due to a slighty warped rim I was running. I don't think any of the manufacturers of these expect them to actually be used...like driving all day in the middle of the summer at highway speeds...I think I'll just go back to running portawalls and replace them every few thousand miles ... becuase that's all they will last on radials!

Brian

plmczy

10-12-2003, 10:50 PM

Thanks Tagman for the info. later plmczy

four-thirteen

10-12-2003, 11:16 PM

Okay. Is this only the radials from coker that suck? I need a good pair of skinny bias-ply whitewalls for my drag car. That means they have to be able to go 120mph and not come apart. If I can't get a decent tire, I'll have to go back to the cracked, hard and ugly 40 year old front runners that I have now, because I know they'll last. Dave

visor

10-13-2003, 02:29 PM

This is some info I received today from
a conversation with a coker sales rep.
Coker Classic radial wide whites are rated to 93 m.p.h.
B.F.G. Siverstone radial wide whites are rated to
112 m.p.h.
The Firestone bias plys are rated to 93 m.p.h.
They (Coker ) say the above tires are d.o.t. approved
and this info is available with purchase of tires.
Tires that are for display only will be noted.
Since Coker reps so many mfg'd tires, I only asked
about these, since they were the ones in question.
They also make speed rated and racing tires in radials
and bias. These babys can cost as much as $250 bucks
a pop. Most are Michelin brand.
As far as there warranty....well it pretty much sucks.
The refund price is based on tread wear. So if the white
wall starts to discolor, your refund will be based
on miles used. I think thats a rip. Tire wear has nothing
to do with a mfg. defect. The sales rep also told me
that shipping would be paid for in both directions on
returns. Sounds like b.s. if you read some of the complaints on here..
I'm still waiting for a call from the bigger cheese.
Will see........
---------------------------------------------------------
"OPOSSUM BENDERS"
Central Missouri Chapter

flt-blk

10-13-2003, 02:47 PM

I'm running Dayton radial WWW and have not had any problems.
15k so far, no yellowing, out of round or balance issues.
TZ

10-13-2003, 03:15 PM

I know the tire problens I mentioned were bias ply,the 475 Stones were so out of round it was a laugh and the two new replacements wern't much better.The rear that was a blow out was a 750 Stone,I was running about 60mph on the fryway and boom the tire was destroyed,not even repairable,the whole thing scares the crap out of me and I'm always edgy when I'm out on a longer trip-TV http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Detonator

10-13-2003, 03:36 PM

A year or so ago a buddy sent me a copy of an article about Coker. The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) was investigating Coker because of its aledged monopoly of the "collector" car tire business. I wonder what ever came of this?

hotrodladycrusr

10-13-2003, 03:42 PM

There should be a class action law suit against Coker to put them out of their misery. If a company can't produce a safe product, they have no business being in business. Any HAMB lawyer want to take this on before someone gets killed with Cokers on their ride? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

leadsled1953

10-13-2003, 04:53 PM

i was told years ago by the motorcycle shop that does my work do not use cokers if you plan on riding.several peple told me about wear problems on their bike stuff.i figured they have the problems with the car tires too.the tires seem to be made for the trailered cars and bikes

Jive-Bomber

10-13-2003, 05:40 PM

I have two guys in my club buy radial wide whites for their cars from Coker:
Rocket303 (Bill)
Primered54 (Todd)

They both experienced bubbling/ whitewall separation. Again, this was with radial wide whites from Coker.

I bought mine through White Walls Plus in Oregon- Nice guy, no tax, lower prices, no defects what so ever.

sodbuster

10-13-2003, 06:44 PM

Jay,
Is it this place?

http://www.whitewallsplus.com/index.htm

I know that everyone is talking about the white walls, but what about Cokers black wall 17's? I talked to one of the guys a Diamond Back and he said that coker tires are the same ones that are made for "Rickshaws", and are not meant to be driven. Just a little info.

Chris Nelson
Kansas

Rix2Six

10-13-2003, 07:29 PM

There also The White Wall Candy Store in So Cal.

http://www.whitewallcandystore.com/

Jess H

10-14-2003, 11:01 AM

Coker Tire Company would like to respond to some of the messages that have been posted recently on this bulletin board. There seems to be some confusion and varying degrees of misinformation circulating on the Internet and we would like to reassure our customers and potential customers of the type of tires we sell, their quality and the conditions of our warranty.

1. Coker Tire sells only top quality products. Every product we sell meets or exceeds every government regulation that is required for that specific product. Our Coker Classic and BFG radials are DOT approved and registered. They have also passed the very stringent ECE testing (European Community) which allows their sale in Europe. They are also U.T.Q.G. (Uniform Tire Quality Grade) tested which is established by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standards. The Coker Classic and BFG Silvertown radials are built by Denman Tire in a Michelin licensed plant in Mexico.
2. Our bias ply Firestone and B.F. Goodrich tires are all built in either the original molds or in new molds built from drawings of the original tire. These tires are built with modern materials and techniques. Which means that not only are they authentic, but they perform better than the “original” tires.
3. Our warranty is the best in the industry. We are the only tire company that has a “life of the tread warranty.” I challenge anyone to find a better warranty in the industry. Check the written warranty on the other tire company mentioned in this thread and you find they warrant their tire for only 3 years, and yes, it is a prorated warranty. We do prorate all warranty adjustments. Basically, you pay for the tread wear you used. For example, if you have a tire that cost $100.00 and you have used 25 % of the tread you will get a $75.00 credit. This is standard practice in the tire industry. But consider a related product, your car battery. If you purchase a battery with a 60 month warranty and it fails after 30 months you get a credit for the remaining life of the warranty. But don’t take my word for it, call any other national automotive center and ask them. Also ask them about their tire warranty while you have them on the phone. If a tire is less than a year old we reimburse our customer on all the freight charges. Over one year and we pay the replacement shipping (one way).
4. We are a family owned and operated business. We have been around since 1958. We have over 800 tires sizes for vehicles from the late 1800’s up to 1975. We are collectors and enthusiast ourselves. We are in the hobby just like you and we care about the people and the quality of the products that we sell.
5. Coker Tire is an industry leader. We are always developing new products for the market and constantly improving the ones we have. We developed the first wide white radial and have been selling them for eight years. We are also introducing our new B.F. Goodrich Silvertown radial in a 75 series in the spring on 2004.
6. Coker Tire has the absolute best customer service of any tire company around. We are always willing to go that extra mile to help a customer that has had a problem if given the opportunity. If you have a problem please call us.

The most important aspect of any sale is the service after the sale. Coker Tire Company is in it 45th year of business. It has been our goal to provide the best products, information and service to our customers. Given the opportunity, we always take care of our customers. We appreciate and welcome any questions. Please call us at 1-800-251-6336.

Jess Hoodenpyle
Coker Tire Company
www.Coker.com (http://www.Coker.com)

metalshapes

10-14-2003, 11:16 AM

That is great to hear Jess...
You will have no problem correcting the problems I was taking about then.You can respond to me here, or you can give me your phone ext. #.
At this point there is only so much time I am prepared to spend on this...

visor

10-14-2003, 11:28 AM

Thanks Jess
For your response.
Jess can be reached at ext 263

hotrodladycrusr

10-14-2003, 11:31 AM

Jess H, a very nice song and dance BUT you did NOT address the issue of why Coker has so many problems with their tires. Just because the "government" has rated them safe does not mean squat when word of mouth dictates otherwise. I have seen with my own eyes the condition of too many of your tires after virtually no wear. I personally have too many friends that have horror stories regarding seperating belts, thread spliting and the HASSLE of having to remove the tires, send them back, then wait. SO much cruzn time lost because of the consistant poor quality of Coker tires. WHY would I put myself thru that when I have other CHOICES in the industry. I'll be buying tires for my hot rods thru the coming years and you can bet that Cokers will never be one of them.

But thanks for your input here. We'll all be watching to see if you satisfy Metalshapes or any of the many others here that have had unresovled problems thru the years.

=mike=

10-14-2003, 11:46 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Does that include the Firestones?

[/ QUOTE ]

I've run Coker Firestones on my cars now for almost 10 years , and driven them all up and down the coast and never had any troubles with them discolouring , spliting or yellowing . Of course these are the Firestone bias-ply tires . I couldnt tell you anything about the radials , but the tires I have gotten from Coker have always ridden well , ballanced well ( static balanced on the inside only ) , and I have always had good customer service . I would buy from them again no problem .

modernbeat

10-14-2003, 11:56 AM

I agree with Denise.

Be a good ombudsman and we will sing of your merits.

Investigate the claims against Coker and report back here. If the fault of faulty tread seperations is NOT of the tires but poorly installed or aligned front suspension, let us know. If the problems of bubbling sidewalls, out of round and out of balance tires and faded whitewalls is because of something the user did, report back here. They aired it publicly first, let us know the whole story.

And if the tires were faulty, replace them, refund them, and admit that too. Let us know how Coker intends to prevent it from happening again.

Or, the customers will prevent it from happening again.

If you really want to be viewed as a standup company that genuinely wants to service their customers, I think public communication is the only way to gain trust.

My own Coker experiences?

I've owned 12 Firestone Bias-Ply tires. All furfilled a full life eventually being worn to beyond the tread bars. No quality problems, unusual whitewall bleeding, nothing that would make me alarmed about purchasing more.

I've seen the Coker Radial whitewall tires that an aquantience (James King of Houston) put on his custom '40 Ford. This happened around 1994 or 1995. The car had been painted when the tires were purchased, so the tires were not subjected to painting chemicals. The tires were installed and the assembly process started. The car was in an enclosed garage in Houston. The car sat on the inflated tires during the process and was occasionally rolled to make assembly easier. Assembly was completed within 6 months. At that time the tire sidewalls were severely checked. James showed the car for a few months on those tires before he persued a refund torwards a set of Silvertown radial whitewalls. The Silvertowns were not available from Coker at that time. I don't know what satisfaction James ever received, but I do know that those Coker tires cracked within 8 months of purchase and without use.

I intend to purchase more Firestone Bias-Ply tires in the future.

Ryan

10-14-2003, 12:21 PM

Took some balls to register and post... I'm impressed.

Steve

10-14-2003, 12:23 PM

That was my first thought to ryan, but like modernbeat said I wanna know how they are gonna address these issues that have come up?

Ryan

10-14-2003, 12:27 PM

Agreed. It will certainly be interesting to watch... I am giving Coker a chance and I think we all should. Hopefully, the guys with complaints will report back with how they were resolved.

For the record, I have a set of coker radials on the front of the '38. I've got about 10,000 miles on em with no problems at all... That said, I have seen problems with buddies tires...

CruZer

10-14-2003, 12:28 PM

A friend of mine from NYC had one blow out on his way to the Syracuse show in July.He said the tread just blew up.He was doing about 50.Fortunately it was a rear tire.He had to buy a black wall to get going again.

metalshapes

10-14-2003, 12:43 PM

I will try and find the bills that came with those tires.
And then I will give Jess a call.
I will report back here, no matter what the outcome. Good, bad or indifferent.

daign

10-14-2003, 01:02 PM

Could it be that because we perceive Coker as such a small company and mom and pop family operated business, we expect them to address our needs in a more personal manner? Don't you all think that these issues you are all describing happen with radials from every brand much more commonly?

Low profile tires? What about 24" tires at $350 a tire? I have a few friends running those low profile rubberbands and they too sit around at car meets and express their concerns about bubbled sidewalls, ripped treads, and tire warranties. As an owner of a brand new set of coker's I've been following this thread closely, but I almost feel like because this hobby is such a tightnit group these issues are seeming more common than is normal for any tire company. As long as Coker stands by their product and has a better warranty than everyone else, I'll stand by them. The fact that they posted here says a lot about how much they stand by their product.

Posts on forums about concerns with products are an interesting thing to follow. I have seen pretty serious witchhunts happen, from hundreds of users complaining about customer service, all the way to companies suing those users for slander/libel. I think coker has addressed concerns by providing a personal contact and name to tell your concerns to. Those of you still needing to vent or address concerns should call Jess.

-Dane

sammyvelvet

10-14-2003, 01:04 PM

I noticed something whit my tires .. the rear are goodyears .. the front are Corkers .. the front ones have this WW residue directly around the edge of the rim .. I keep them inflated to the proper preassure and the alignment is good .. why does this happen?... I clean it off and about a week later I notice it again... it kinda freaks me out if the tire is rubbing against the rim cuz I dont want to wear it out to the point its gonnna blow out. I just dont understand why the back ones that arent Corkers dont do the same thing?... anyone else seen this?

metalshapes

10-14-2003, 05:19 PM

I just got of the phone with Jess.
He took both problems serious, and they are being corrected right now.
He gave me his word that he is going to take a good honest look at my tires, when they come back. He even took the time to expain to me exactly how they will be tested.
I agree with Ryan, the way this guy reacted is impressive.
I had already walked away from the situation, and cut my losses, so I did not expect this kind of result.
Even though my front rims have already been checked by 2 different tire stores, if for some reason they turn out to be the problem afterall, I will post that here too, to keep this thing from being one sided.
Like I told Jess, I'm not trying to get something for nothing.

gasser

10-14-2003, 05:44 PM

I see a few people have noticed small slashes in the sidewalls of the Widewhites, Can anyone confirm if this problem has gone on to cause a failure? It's just that my wifes model A runs them and I have noticed some tiny "slashes" in the side wall and she drives this car with my daughter. I was going to get some firestone blackwalls today for my 38 but noticed on the chart that no speed rating was advertised so I am getting Avon Turbo speeds rated at 150. channeled413a you might want to look at these for your dragster, also Dunlop do one the RS5 which has a good rating 130. I do not know about availability in the U.S.A though.

http://www.vintagetyres.com/vintageindex.htm

hudson_hawk

10-14-2003, 06:10 PM

i had a fairly new tire seperate. they repsonded quickly and i sent it back. they sent me a new one no questions asked, which i think is great.

well couple of months later the other tire seperates. pull them both and notice the one they sent back is the wrong size and caused the other to wear out. after reading this post i decided that it was not worth the hassle to get another tire and had planned on going w/ someone else, BUT i am totally impressed that they responded to our little community and i am willing to try again.

hopefully i can get a replacement that is correct.

Byron Crump

10-14-2003, 06:28 PM

[ QUOTE ]

The most important aspect of any sale is the service after the sale. Coker Tire Company is in it 45th year of business. It has been our goal to provide the best products, information and service to our customers. Given the opportunity, we always take care of our customers. We appreciate and welcome any questions.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well that is fine and dandy, but Wallace Wade gave me the run around and blamed it all on your company and the time I contacted you I got nothing but static and your comments really don't fly with me. Why don't you look up in your records (I doubt you keep any on this) and find my name (Byron Crump, Texas) and explain to me why I was left holding the bag because you guys and Wallace Wade would not take back two brand new tires that sat for about nine months in the packing stuff they came in that were so out of round when I tried to mount them I threw them away about five or six years ago. Oh, and every set of Silvertowns and Cokers I have had have turned yellow, would you like to see the set on my 50 merc some time? They are pretty dang yellow and I have not "ruined them with cleaning products" or any other such nonsense I have gotten from you guys about them. I have taken care of them and they do not have that many miles on them. In fact, I never put tire shine or anything on them so that is not the cause. I can also name several people who have had bad luck with you tires (some of these being magazine cars) and switched to the Silvertowns because the Coker Classics split and turned yellow. The Wade people told them to get the Silvertowns. In fact, one somewhat infamous case in Dallas resulted in Wallace Wade giving someone a set of Silvertowns to replace some crud Cokers and inclueded a comment about how they could not handle the kind of miles the guy put on them and that they were "show" tires. Im sorry, but I have issues with you big time and I do not believe you take care of you customers. I have Slivertowns on my merc now, when they wear out I probably will put on Dimondbacks because I have yet to have these problems with them. The proof is on the wheels of my merc right now in fab yellow/brown and I really do not know how you can explain what the set on my old 51 Ford did to the new owner..the tread was comming off all four big time in less than a year. It is one thing to say what you are saying, I have seen little proof.

One of your customers, the one out some money on your tires.

Merc 50 or Byron Crump...take your pick.

visor

10-14-2003, 06:53 PM

Hey Jess.
When I contacted you by phone and informed you
about the Jalopy Journal and the H.A.M.B. and
the problems members were having with the Coker
tires, your comment was "Thanks so much for bringing
this to my attention."
As I said to you on the phone, please reply,
sign up and deal with us.
That You have done, but I hope you are still
reading this thread.
We need more answers to the issues on your
Companys tires.
Mike (visor)
------------------------------------------------------
"OPOSSUM BENDERS"
Central Missouri chapter

hudson_hawk

10-15-2003, 11:11 AM

only 1 response post? maybe moving this back up to the top will help

Byron Crump

10-15-2003, 08:11 PM

[ QUOTE ]

Posts on forums about concerns with products are an interesting thing to follow. I have seen pretty serious witchhunts happen, from hundreds of users complaining about customer service, all the way to companies suing those users for slander/libel. I think coker has addressed concerns by providing a personal contact and name to tell your concerns to. Those of you still needing to vent or address concerns should call Jess.

[/ QUOTE ]

They would have a hard time proving slander or libel when the tires in many cases can be produced. The problem in my case is it happend several years ago and as far as the money goes it is water under the bridge with me. The Silvertowns have not split, but they are yellow big time on my car. I guess I do have to give the guy credit for posting, but it is not like they could do much to satisfy me at this point. My wish, they would spend some more money or do something to increase the quality. They make some really nice looking stuff, but it wont hold up in my experience. IN FACT, I HOPE POSITIVE THINGS COME OF THIS and they take care of people. I have to be honest thinking back on what I wrote and say Im not so sure at this date who was the real force in the nonsense I delt with...the local Dallas guys selling their stuff or Coker. I do know they tried to tell me that cleaning products were the cause of my yellowing on the merc when I asked at shows several times and I know that is not the case. I have gotten mad at the guys, I am out some money...but as far as the fear of them going after me with a suit or them resorting to that I really can't see it...they do not strike me as the scum of the earth. I kinda hope he comes back on and posts here, but in a way I can understand why they would not...a flame war will do no good. I maybe would buy Silvertowns again, at this time I would not buy the Coker Classics. My opinion http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

metalshapes

10-15-2003, 09:44 PM

It has gotten pretty quiet on this thread.
Am I the only one that went back and talked to Coker?
Or am I the only one that reported back to the HAMB?
Or is everybody still taling to Coker, so there is nothing to report yet? You wont hear anything new from me for a week or so, untill UPS does its deliveries.
I have already thought of a better way to measure the rims than how the tire shops do it, and I also want to try and measure how much the Wheel/Tire combination is out of round before I change anything.
If for no other reason than my own curiosity.

Byron Crump

10-15-2003, 10:36 PM

For me talking to them would do little good. I highly doubt they would replace my tires on the merc, and even if they did say they would I really do not care to bother with it...I would be out the shipping money (more $$$) and the trouble of taking them off the car and putting the new ones on. Yellow they can stay at this point until they wear out.

50Fraud

10-16-2003, 03:39 AM

I recounted my experience with Coker Classic WWW radials back in the beginning of this thread (9th from the top) and I'll say that until the last tire failed, their customer service was just poor. With the last one, I reached Jess with my complaint, and told him of an incomplete adjustment that had been made on the previous failure more than a year before. He replaced the current tire immediately without charge, and after researching the earlier claim made a full refund on it as well. I can't say that my old resentment has been erased completely, but my experience with Jess has been absolutely first-rate, and has gone a long way toward restoring my confidence in the company.

I hadn't mentioned this before, but I have Coker's WWW bias tires on my '36 too. They have been completely trouble-free.

♠Stovebolt♠

10-16-2003, 10:58 PM

I would just like to add my 2 bits worth to this thread. I am a customer of Coker for about 4 years now. I ahve NEVER had a problem with their tires. I buy the Coker Classic bias ply's and the have treated me very well. I have even brought them up for freinds of mine who needed them for their cars, and THEY have never had a problem with them. 1 of the sets was put on a 60 Cadi, and he drives the car, no shit, from up here in Canada, to L.A. and area, and back again, about 4 times a year. Now for those who don't know.....thats a 22 hour - 25 hour trip..... 1 WAY! IF you drive straight through...you may cut it down like 4 hours. None the less, that is at hi-way speeds and a bit more...I would figure.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif . Anyway, I think that this is one of those things were folks are remembering missfortunes of others and using them to cut down a company, that in my books, makes a shit kickin set of WW's. The reason I say this is because I myself have gone out and purchased 2 sets of the tires for my 59 Parkwoods...and I have driven them to Calgary and back, (8 hours), and to Seattle and back, (3 hours...depending on their crappy traffic), and oh yes, it's my daily driver...and I hit the freeway every day to go to work. No wobble...no shake....only cruizin luv! I'm sure that their are horror stories of Cokers "Whatever" tirees....but you know what? How about the Goodyear horror stories, or wait for it.....Firestones horror stories. And on a side note....I have another 2 freinds with the Firestone Bias WW...and they do the same show cuircit as I do, all over the Northwest, and they don't have any problems either. My point is if your gonna hang somebody, first sit back and think about HOW MANY OTHER SETS thay have sold...and how many SATISFIED customers they have. I find it amusing that some of the complaints about the tires come from people that have Coker tires on their OTHER vehicles....with no problems.......but they fail to mention that! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif And the white walls???? White as the day I got 'em. I know one of my pals went a shitty yellow....wanna know why? Cause he didn't take care of them. Thats not to say that you folks didn't take care of them. But what did you use to clean them? I use Castrol Super Clean...The Purple Stuff, and a steel brush.....a little one....not one of those massive metal working ones. You can pick 'em up at your local Schuck's or where-ever you folks go to buy your car detail needs. Remember those yellow white walls on my freinds 48 Cadillac? They are white now......2 hits...thats all it took. Anyway.....I just thought I would put my 2 bits in on this topic. A GOOD post from a satisfied customer, about a good company, that has me and my freinds rollin on some classy rubber...with little or no road noize.....and no wobble......and for "shits-and-giggles", 2 of my wheels on my daily...didn't need weights...go figure, huh? Class action law-suits?? Man...you Americans....I tell yah....If you wanna do something constructive, go after the manufacturers of SUV's that tip over MORE THAN ANY VEHICLE, and get them to make THEM safer.....so that one doesn't flip in front of you on the on ramp, and you plow your pride-n-joy into the roof, killin 2 outta 4. If you don't believe me.....ask you folks who do the stats....it was on the news here tonite! My biggest complaint about the tires...is gettin them accross the border...man....let's fix that, shall we?! Anyway....thank you for your time to read this, and the space to say it, Ryan, and I hope that those who have been wronged, will be righted, and you will be as confident about the product that my NON-SEATBELTED cars roll on, as I am. But you know what......? You gotta fone first! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Jess, You Rock!

59 Parkwood - E78-14 Coker Classics
59 Parkwood - E78-14 Coker Classics
and when the 59 Brookwood is finished...guess what? E78-14 Coker Classics!

The End

TBK

Byron Crump

10-17-2003, 01:28 AM

Lil Jimmy, I think one major thing you are missing (and might be a problem with this whole thread)is that few have trouble with the bias plys, it is the radials that get the universal scorn IMHO. In all the years I have been messing with the wide white radials I have not met ONE person myself that has not had trouble with them turning yellow and countless others have had the tread go south on the Classics. I think most of these posts are talking about the radials if I am reading it right. You can defend them all you want, but anytime you wanna see pics of my tires on my merc you can see them, and I challange anyone to go walk around and look at them on cars yourself. At the first Round Up I walked around and looked at all the cars with radial WW's (trying to see what Diamondbacks looked like in real life before I bought them)and I did not find any without the brown. All were Classics and Silvertowns (and I did not see the D backs in real life until a Goodguys show and then bought them). I have seen bias plys go brown, but in defense of Coker I will say that I have not myself seen any bad bias plys and I do not know anyone who has told me bad stories on those. In fairness to Coker, who is talking about problems with the bias and who is talking about the radials in all of this?

♠Stovebolt♠

10-17-2003, 04:53 AM

Merc50, yer right. I am talkin about the bias plys. I don't know anyone who has the radials. But I would have to say that the price of em up here after converting the money, you could make them and then bronze 'em. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Remember, Castrol Super Clean, tell 'em Jimmy sent yah! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

fuel pump

10-17-2003, 07:17 AM

I've got Diamondback WWW radials on my 37 and have not had a single problem with them. When I put WWW radials on my shoebox it will be Diamondbacks. I must say though that I had Commamder brand WWW bias plys (from Coker) on my 32 and put 20,000+ trouble free miles on them.

deuce

10-17-2003, 09:24 AM

i have had good experience with coker tires, both bias ply and bfg sivertown radials. all of the www's i've had required maintainence to keep white. i have used wesleys bleach white with good results. perhaps jess would like to address the maintenence issue about keeping white walls white.

DrJ

10-17-2003, 12:25 PM

I read an article about VW finally stopping production of the original bug in Mexico...In the article they showed one with "deluxe" options which included WWW tires?
If they are making them for VW's in Mexico, can we get them imported?
Any of you guys in or near Mexico know?

MIKE-3137

10-17-2003, 12:27 PM

To clarify for me please, Is the general concensus that the Firestone bias plys (16in)are okay? I am debating on ordering them or the 16" radials, I was also concered about the "wandering' that you can get with bias tires. I was thinking about going to the diamondbacks or similar, but do they look "right"?
I'm kinda waiting on the outcome of this thread befor I do anything.

modernbeat

10-17-2003, 01:06 PM

DrJ, Coker is the supplier to VW-Mexico for their "end of an era" version of the bug with WWW.

There were articles in Old Car Trader and in AutoWeek about it. Coker was very proud of this contract.

Model A Vette

10-17-2003, 01:07 PM

I started this post to get some feedback for the guy I met in Carlisle. I had been pestering a friend to get radials on his '34 Ford for a few years. He wanted WW so he was leaning toward the Coker's. After watching this thread I can't recommend the Cokers! I hope that Coker does research this and give a response afterward. From the thread I suspect the radials are the problem and Coker has kept their head in the sand and only addressed the problem thru their "standard" pro-rated policy. I hope they address the issue as it appears that they have not in the past. Thanks for all the input.

Jess H

10-17-2003, 01:21 PM

I'm registered on this board and I*will continue to monitor it*and reply as needed. I'm always interested to hear from other people in the hobby and I'm always concerned when I hear complaints about our products.*
*
I would also like to pass along information regarding tire care*and maintenance.*Remember that*tires are not something you install and forget about. Check out this link, it has some really good information.**
*
http://www.safetrip.org/elements/*
*
Air Pressure:
On our Coker and BFG radials we recommend*you run 35 PSI. This is the pressure used when the tire goes through all its testing. (DOT, ECE, UTQG) Low air pressure is the number 1 cause of tire failures.
*
Mounting and Balancing:
Use a good shop who knows what they are doing. Make sure they use plenty of*bead lubricate. This will help the tire seat properly and will reduce bead damage. We recommend you static balance*(weights on the inside of the*rim)*your white wall tires.*This will keep those*unsightly weight marks out of the white wall.*
*
Tire handling and storage:
Store tires in a clean,cool,dry, dark, and well-ventilated area (but with a minimum of circulating air) and*keep them away from direct sunlight. Store the tires whitewall to whitewall, to avoid staining. If the black part of another tire touches the white wall it will stain it. Store the vehicle on blocks to remove all weight from the tires. Try to move the vehicle at least every three months to prevent ozone cracking in the bulge area and also to prevent a "flat spot" from developing( due to strain from deflecting).
*
Cleaning:
My first thought about cleaning your white walls is to first don't ever let them get too dirty. Frequent cleanings are a must. Clean all dirt or stains as soon as possible, if they are left unattended they can be difficult to clean. Second use a good cleaner. Stay away from products with alcohol in them. Also, over use of*bleach could dry out the whitewall. Someone mentioned Castrol Super Clean, it works well. We also sell our own cleaner made with a citrus base that works well to remove road grime and dirt.
*
*
**
Jess Hoodenpyle
Customer*Service*Manager
Coker Tire Co.
1-800-251-6336

Jess H

10-17-2003, 01:26 PM

DrJ,

The tires used on the last production VW was our B.F. Goodrich 165R15 2 1/4" whitewall tire.

Jess

Digger_Dave

10-17-2003, 01:41 PM

Jess, as an owner of a set of your tires, this thread was making me a little nervous.

Thank you for "setting" some of the concerns straight.

All I would like to add is, the site address you provided wouldn't open for me. Could you repost it?

El Caballo

10-17-2003, 01:42 PM

Hey Jimmy, if you don't like Americans...

We don't care....

DrJ

10-17-2003, 02:05 PM

[ QUOTE ]
DrJ,

The tires used on the last production VW was our B.F. Goodrich 165R15 2 1/4" whitewall tire.

Jess

[/ QUOTE ]
Thankyou!

I've always been curious about these things...
(These are real questions, not accusations or attacks)

Do you have to get license from BFG and Firestone etc. to put their name on your tires?
When you make, say, a Firestone Champion Bias ply tire, do you make the carcass design and use the same rubber compounds that Firestone did or is it just a visual replica?

Do you copy the original rubber compounds on tyres or are all your tires made with a "Coker" rubber compound and are they all made with the same rubber or are different tires different compounds?

On that 35psi pressure recommendation...

I have 235-75R-15 tires (not Cokers) onthe back end of my 2980 lb. truck.
If I put more than about 22 psi pressure in the rear tires the truck bounces around like a freaked out basketball on the highway at 90 mph because the rear end is light.
Yes I know the rear suspension is "tuned" for 6.00-17.5" bias truck tires on split rims and was never intended to go faster than about 45mph in 1940 when it was built and to tune it to what a tire wants at 35psi ain't gonna happen.
Yes I know it doesn't "need" that big a tire under such a light truck, but that's the look and the type of application these tires get.

Are you saying "We don't really make a large rear tire that we recommend for your hotrod application"?

It would seem so if you say they don't "live" with less than 35psi of air in them.

I thought the 35psi was "Maximum recommended pressure" on most tires, not recommended running pressure.
Otherwise, why and how do car manufacturers continue to put recommended tire pressures on their cars that are different from this tire recommended pressure?
(eg, our Honda Civic calls for 29psi on one end and 30psi on the other, while the tires say 35psi maximum)

Ryan

10-17-2003, 02:07 PM

Now I am very impressed. Welcome Jess...

Jess H

10-17-2003, 03:16 PM

Sorry.

www.safetrip.org (http://www.safetrip.org)

Jess

Jess H

10-17-2003, 04:49 PM

We are licensed by Firestone and B.F. Goodrich to reproduce their vintage tires. The Firestone and B.F. Goodrich tires are all built in either the original molds or in new molds built from drawings of the original tire. These tires are built with modern materials and techniques. We want the tire to appear 100% correct (and they do) but perform better than the original. The rubber compound will vary depending on brand and type. The compound of a clincher tire for early era cars must be different than a 6.70-15 bias ply. Radial tires have different compounds as well. Radials also have a Uniform Tire Quality Grade. (U.T.Q.G). This rates the tire in three areas. Tread wear, temperature and traction. Tread wear is rated numerically, the higher the number the better. Temperature and traction are given ratings of either A, B, C, with "A" being the best. Our Coker Classic radial is rated 400, B, B. The BFG Silvertown is rated 300, A, C.

The number 1 cause of tire failures is heat build up. A under inflated tire will generate more heat than one properly inflated. On our Coker and BFG radials we recommend 35 PSI because it is proven to that you will get better performance, mileage and wear out of the tires. We list the recommended air pressure in our catalog for all of our tires (bias and radials are different). I can't say for sure why manufacturers recommend lower air pressure, but I would speculate it has something to do with ride quality. Just remember that the tire company is the one who designed the tire and knows how it will perform.

Jess

Digger_Dave

10-17-2003, 05:44 PM

Didn't Ford and Firestone (long time supplier of tires for Ford poducts) get into a BIG fight about tire failures back a while ago?

Something about; Firestone recommended certain pressures for the tires they provided; but Ford claimed the high pressure(s) recomended, caused the vehicles to ride "harsh" and listed lower pressures in the owners manuals. If I remember there was a inordinate number of tire failures

Has this "war" ever been settled?

Sorry if this is a little off topic, but with an expert present, I thought I'd ask.

BTW, Jess, thanks the new link works OK.

286merc

10-17-2003, 08:02 PM

One of Jess's earlies comments at least confirmed what I had hear about the Mexico connection. But he also mentioned something that has me worried now and I do not use Coker tires.

Michelin has licensed a Mexican plant to build tires, correct? Coker in turn use Denman who uses Michelin who uses Mr X; have I got this correct? What is the name of the Mexican company? I ask this because Ive had seperation failures with 3 out of 4 Michelins on my wifes Volvo all within the past 2 months. Mileage is in the 15-18K range. Ive pulled the remaining Michelin and went all Yokohama's as this car does weekly 4hr Interstate trips to Maine.
The original Volvo badged Michelins lasted over 60K.

Sorry to change the subject but you got my attention.The problem may not lie with Coker but with poor QC or plain old cheesy Mexican production. Seems like a long finger pointing line of companies to me.

♠Stovebolt♠

10-18-2003, 05:49 AM

Hey El Caballo....blow it out your ass........I never said nothin about not liking Americans you ingnorant fuck. Geeeee....that could be a reason though, you think? Fuckin attitude like that.......thats nice! I'll be sure to tell my 50 or so American friends about your swell attitude!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Rooster

10-18-2003, 07:26 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Man...you Americans....I tell yah....If you wanna do something constructive, go after the ...

[/ QUOTE ]
Jackasses who think we're fulla shit on something they think they know something about. Only to find out that they don't actually know Jack in the first place, Do They? Ah, I guess we can blame Canada! And Mexico. AND Clinton and NAFTA!!! But Mostly Canada! haha, leave your attitude at the border!

And I'd heard the same thing about recent Michelin horror stories just last week when going in for new tires.

Strange though that Jess would recommend Everyone to use a pressure that's only used to insure that tires don't fail in gov't testing and NOT a specific application. Obviously the mfg'r has to be able to adjust that pressure setting for variables related to a vehicle, with the tire, such as the weight exerted on it by that end of the vehicle. I'm no expert here, but Common sense says that if you have to run More psi than your vehicle was intended to have, you are running a "hard" tire which will wear a band across the middle out first. Right? Anybody? Bueler? If I've got to run "harsh" tires to acheive a "LOOK" then I have defeated my own purpose of using them in the first place! Wouldn't you say so? Would you walk around with a wedgie all day cuz it "LOOKED" Cool? I'm not hearing Anything here so far that would restore my faith in Coker after seeing friends tires going bad quickly. Sounds like a quick brush over job. GLAD to hear that they actually think we'll forget actual road tests of the product by an active propaganda/PR spiel though! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Short of an acknowledgement of the actuality of the problem experienced by a seemingly substantial percentage of their consumers and the information on how it's to be addressed en masse, that I don't see coming, this is fruitless banter from Coker. Of course it took Billions from the Ford coffers to get Anywhere with the liability issues of a substandard tire from their supplier, so it's not like WE'LL ever here more of the actual story than we have already. Or do you somehow have blind faith that we Will?

Funny, but I've still got a pair of the very first tread pattern, BFG Radial TA's that were made, in GR60-15's. There's Minor dryrot on them now, and I actually ran them for a few days this summer thinking I'd burn em off. I didn't. but I wouldn't hesitate to throw em back on again and put More miles on em just the same! Shame you can't get that from a year old repop under the BFG logo...

roadstar

10-18-2003, 09:24 AM

Well I just spent the last half hour reading this post for the first time. I have to admit I have seen and heard about all the problems discribed here. And It does appear to be the radials the have the actual failure problems compared to the bi-plys.

My experiance with the coker classics bi-plys have been the
whitewall yellowing on a pair of 5.60-15's while I was building the car( still had the stickers on them).
I had the tire shop I deal with return them without any problem other than I had to purchase a warrenty, so that worked out fine.

Now I just noticed the rear h-78-15 www are starting to develop very small cracking on the whitewall. The tire is about 3 or 4 years old now but I would like to know if this has happened to anyone else.

I also think it was really cool that Jess would come on here and defend himself and his company.
Lets just be thankfull we are not talking about horror stories like the recent Firestone tire failures and Ford.

Lastly I did purchase a set of Diamond back radial www's for my 40 coupe because they offered more sizes to choose from and I think they are a better looking tire on the car.

♠Stovebolt♠

10-18-2003, 02:17 PM

HAHAHAHA.. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif, You know Rooster, I was gonna leave a comment......but just.....not....worth...it........

KustomLincolnLady

10-18-2003, 07:20 PM

We have had 3 sets of Coker Radials on our Lincoln. We are currently running B.F. Goodrich WW radials on it now. (from Coker)
The first set of tires we purchased was a very bad experience. We had seperation on 2 rear tires within 2 hours of each other on a trip to the south. We had to stop both times and purchase new tires have them mounted and find someway to get the other two tires home!! So we had the cost of these two tires and mounting. Yes we did have a spare, but still needed it just in case!! An unexpected expense on a trip that no one needs especialy when you have new tires. But, since you cant readily buy cokers we had to bring our tires back then send them in for the warrenty. I can't remember now who we delt with at coker at the time, but it was a real nightmare. we sent all 4 tires back, they were only about 6mos old. had to pay to have them sent back and the remounting. Then was given hardly any credit towards the new set on the other two tires.
So the Third time around, when we had trouble with that replaced set we went to a tire store in town that sold Coker
and purchased a new set from them and they dealt with sending the old ones back and getting our credit taken care of. We then had trouble with that set, we had, (if memory serves me) a bad belt on one, out of round on another and trouble with the ww's on this set. (never ww trouble on the others)
We were at a point of total frustration in dealing with the business of having to get all 4 tires unmounted/remounted and back and so on.
While we were at the Hot Rod Performance Trade Show, we spoke to the owner of Diamond Back, and were ready to eat the expense of the Cokers and switch to diamond back. Coker tires was also at that show, so we went to talk to them to see what they had to say. It was Jess who was there, and he was so nice. He talked to us for over an hour about the problems we had and what he could do to make it right for us. We told him we did not want another set of Cokers, but wanted the B.F. Goodrich ww. He told me to call him when he got back to the office the middle of that week. He was so pleasant and willing to help, unlike the first person I had to deal with.
He called me and said they had a set of Goodrich in the size we needed and they paid for the shipping to and from for the old and new sets. I have to say if it wasn't for Jess we would not have stayed with Coker. He was wonderful to deal with and an asset to that company.
The following yr that we returned to the Hot Rod show, we walked by the coker booth, and Jess said hello and asked us how the tires were doing. It was pretty impressive to us that he remembered who we were.
We love our BF's and have never had a problem with them in any way. The ww's stay really clean and no cracking or yellowing at all.

Thank you again Jess
Rob and Debb Butler

KustomLincolnLady

and this isn't really my first post I had to rejoin!!!

Kustm52

10-18-2003, 09:03 PM

I agree it is admirable of Jess to join and defend his company. But up until now all we have heard is the same old song and dance about how much testing they have done, how great the tires are, blah, blah, blah. An honest admission that there were problems and they either have corrected them or are working on it would go a long way with me. I think if this was a few isolated cases maybe you could discount it somewhat, but of all the people I have talked to about tires, I've only met a few that are satisfied with their coker radials...and a very few. I'll say it again, these tires may have passed all the tests, but I don't think they ever expected that people would actually be using them...like most of US do. And for Coker to try to blame all the problems on improper mounting, improper pressure, etc. is just ridiculous. How can you mount a tire improperly? Sure, if you use 150 lbs pressure to seat the bead or something, but to say most of the failures are due to that just doesn't add up. So, Mr. Jess, I appreciate what you have done so far, but it seems like you are single-handedly trying to stop the flood here. Answer these two questions honestly:

1. What is the rate of return on the Coker radial?

2. Most of the problems have been due to belt seperation/tread loss. What is causing this, and what has Coker done to correct it?

I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but I have a lot of money and time invested in my car. I think too much of it and my family who often rides with me to risk their lives on unsafe tires......

If you look at the Denham corporation website (who Jess said is making these tires for Coker) 99% of their products are industrial and off road tires. Maybe they don't have the technology or quality control to produce a tire that will see regular highway use??? As Jess stated, most problems in the tires is caused by heat. I would think that the heat level in a tire on 130 degree asphalt at 80 mph would be significantly higher that tires on a forklift, or loader moving at 8 - 12 mph, offroad. Just a thought.....I'll shut up now.

Brian Logan
Former owner of Coker radials......

BUICKNAILHEAD

10-19-2003, 03:06 AM

HMMMMM all this talk about problems with em..... makes me want to sell mine. So if anyone wants to buy 5... that's FIVE Firestone fat white bias ply tires or trade for 5 let me know

mmmkay

Drugs er bad mmmkay http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

leadsled1953

10-19-2003, 01:02 PM

seems coker has a serious pr problem.i dont think i'd buy a tire that to be blunt may kill me. for years the old car crowd who only drive 20 miles an hour or trailered the cars to shows used cokers.now i think you have a crowd who[gasp]drive thier cars.i was told years ago not use cokers on my harley because i used it every day[my dealer told me].maybe coker may have to look into a recall if more of these stories start coming up

flt-blk

10-19-2003, 01:13 PM

tick tick tick tick.......This just in:

Corky Coker, president of Coker Tire Co. Inc., Chattanooga,
Tennessee, was installed as chairman of SEMA, the Specialty
Equipment Market Association, at the association’s annual
Installation Banquet.

Coker has served as chairman-elect of the 5,222
member/company trade association for the past two years. He
succeeds out-going chairman Nate Shelton, CEO of SS Sales
and Marketing.

Weather you like their products or not Coker is
representing our best interests.
TZ

metalshapes

10-19-2003, 02:49 PM

Friday the new 6x16 Blackwall biasply Firestones arrived to replace the ones on my roadster.
My plan was to do as many measurements as practical to try and find out exactly what was the cause of the massive vibration problem.
I was a little surprised to see that the worst one of the two was about 3/8" out of round, and the better one only about 1/4", but that one was not tru sideways.
I remember seeing a lot more than that, but that might have been before I had them turned and remounted,on one of the earlyer attempts to try and solve this.
I took the Wheels to a local tire shop to have the tires taken off, and I explained to the tech what was going on.
This is one of the two tire shops that took a look at my rims earlyer, knowing I was chasing a problem, both shops gave them a clean bill of health.
This time, to check all the components seperate, I asked them to balance my rims with no tire on it, after explaining again why I wanted that done, the tech was willing to give it a try, he spun the first wheel and told me " I cant balance that, your wheel is bent."
I always really like it when I find something that's really wrong if I'm chasing a problem, but when that possibility was eliminated earlyer it pisses me off. A lot of time was lost here, and vintage frontend parts have gotten a serous beating.
Of the two front rims on my car, the best one had a little ding on the inside, but the lower part looked like it was ok. The other one was both out of round and bent sideways, and had no business being on my car. Intestingly that is the one that checked the least out of round on the car, but the sideways wobble was in the rim, not the tire.
So it seems to me that at least part of the problem was with the wheels, altough the fact that the worst rim checked out best on the car confuses me, I guess we will know once Coker has done their measurements on the tires, after I send them back.
The rest of the friday and saterday was spent, searching for a perfect set of matching narrow 16" wheels, with limited succes.
But I'll start a different post on that...

DrJ

10-19-2003, 03:39 PM

I think this is typical of the kind of frustration people have and feel when one corporation/company has, or for all practical purposes, has a monopoly on a product, and if you want something like that product, they are the only game in town.
Must be how Russians used to feel about the GAZ.
(No, I don't have an answer to the dilemma, other than, one of you billionairs start a new tire company, or, don't play the "traditional looking tire" game.)

But remember, Coker is the head of SEMA and SEMA represents us hotrodder's best interests just like the NRA represents gun owners interests. (Is a guy named Colt the prez of the NRA?)
(See letters in current HOTROD Mag.)

metalshapes

10-19-2003, 06:28 PM

Actually DrJ, what frustrates me is that the first guy I talked to at Coker about this was succesfull in blowing me off, that tire stores hire people that are apearently not competent enough to be left alone with your stuff but have policies and insurance that does not alow you to stay close enough to catch them in a mistake, and most of all, that most of the things I found out in the last couple of days is information that was available to me all along, if I had gone about this in a different way.
I guess you can only be sure if you do the work yourself, and I really miss the days when I could walk into one of my racing buddy's shop, anytime of the working day, and start start swapping tires on his machine (whether it was for my Race Car or my Sreet Car )
Jess, do you have an old machine you want to sell?

=mike=

10-19-2003, 06:30 PM

[ QUOTE ]
HMMMMM all this talk about problems with em..... makes me want to sell mine. So if anyone wants to buy 5... that's FIVE Firestone fat white bias ply tires or trade for 5 let me know

mmmkay

Drugs er bad mmmkay http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

how much . .. ? what size . . . etc

av8

10-19-2003, 08:27 PM

Jess deserves full marks for stepping into this contentious arena. His company is involved in one of the riskiest businesses imaginable. If you doubt that, look at FOMOCO's finger-pointing at Firestone over the SUV crash debacle. Does FOMOCO (and GM and Daimler-Chrysler) fudge on sensible tire inflation rates to keep their non-truck customers happy in their not-truck trucks? That's a toughy . . .

Tires aren't manufactured in a single fits-all size. In fact, the range of sizes from any given manufacturer is intentionally extensive so that a wide range of vehicle weights and applications can be safely accommodated. Tire size, along with spring and shock rates are the correct recipe for ride comfort and safe performance, not alteration of tire pressure alone. If you have to drop your tire pressure substantially below that of the tire manufactuer's rating to achieve a comfortable ride, it's time to re-evaluate your suspension.

For years I've run passenger-car and light-truck radials at 35 psig and have never experienced uneven tread wear. Quite the contrary, it's been my experience that they wear uniformly at that pressure and yield high treat-milage rates and optimum fuel consumption. Just as important, I've experienced only one blowout in well over a half-million miles of driving on radials and that occurred when a 4-inch-long bolt was kicked up by a front tire and shot into the same-side rear tire like a bullet at 70 mph! (The tire looked like the inside of a baked spaghetti squash.)

For all the good experiences and service many of us have had with Coker bia-ply tires like the Firestone Deluxe Champions, there's a great deal of anecdotal evidence that Coker's radial-tire offerings have been sketchy, certainly in regard to cosmetic degradation of wide-whitewalls.

The incidents of blowouts, tread separation, and blistering are really troubling because they involve our safety. I don't know what if anything Coker has on its legal plate right now, but I would not expect Jess to comment on these issues at this time; if you think this board is not checked out by legal-beagles looking for a chink in a defendent's armor you are naiive beyond imagination.

I think Coker deserves a shot at proving -- and improving -- their wide-white radials. When I order new big-and-little WWR'a for my F-1 next week they'll come from Diamond Back, however. I feel that Diamond Back's approach of vulcanizing a cosmetic whitewall onto a cured, high-quality tire makes excellent good sense. That, combined with competitive prices, fair warrantee, and an overwhelming body of positive first-person anecdotal accounts of their quality has convinced me that these are the folk I want to do business with.

Finally, don't give up on Coker or write them off. They'll put all the bad stuff behind them if given a chance; don't forget that they were the first folks to get serious about WWradials. They deserve some patience and support for their efforts. I'd probably hang in there with them if I wasn't in my twilight years. I want to get on with my truck right now!

Hot Rod Ron

10-20-2003, 05:08 PM

FYI

So at work today we here at the shop get a post card from Coker tire saying that they will be present at the Goodguys meet in Scottsdale meet on Nov 15-16 to answer questions and deliever any orders to AZ. Just thought some of you might want to talk to them in person, I know Metalshapes and myself will be there to talk too them. I myself am running a set of coker tires on my coupe right now and have had no problems as of yet with about 2500 miles on them. Although the last couple of weeks I have been getting a bad shimmy in the frontend but have not inspected all components as of yet. hopefully it is not the tires but I as well, will report what I find good or bad.

lurch13

10-21-2003, 01:47 AM

i got denmen wide whites on my car for 3 years no problems pretty cheap tire also....

DrJ

10-23-2003, 12:45 PM

courtesy BTTT

OG lil E

10-23-2003, 09:14 PM

I've seen this post floating around for about a week or so and tonight I finally decided to read it. I'm working on a '79 Chevy pick-up and I'm in the market for WWWs. I've had bias on a few 50s cars and I hate the way they wander. The thing is, as stated here so many times, they have "The Look". My head tells me I'd better get radials on the '79 because of the year of manufacture, lots of miles travelling, speed, etc. But, my heart tells me how great '57 Caddy caps look on Bias ply wide whites. I almost ordered Cokers last week and I've been busy during the day and haven't made the call. But now I'm not sure. How would the bias plys do on my '79? Is the '79 considered a modern truck? The owners manual shows applications for bias and radial tires. For the last 5 years, I've had some Discount Tire 4 for $100 radials on my Buick that I had the local lowrider shop "buff out". I haven't had any problems with them at all in about 20K miles. People say running buffed out tires is crazy and not safe, but from what I've read here, running Coker WW Radials isn't safe either. Now what?

Last thing. I'm amazed that nobody here has mentioned how much these tires cost. I've priced them and you're lucky if you can get them to your front door for under $700.00! I don't know about some people, but to me that is a lot of money! Then to hear of the problems people are having with them falling apart, having to ship them back (more $$$), and pay to get the new ones shipped home (more $$$) it makes me think is it really worth it?

I may just buff out some more cheap radials or buy Port-A-Walls. Any thoughts? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

racer5c

10-24-2003, 02:16 AM

another option? Kelsey Tire http://www.kelseytire.com/

daddylama

10-25-2003, 02:17 AM

i had a set of coker classic radials on a previous car... one front had checking, slices in the white, and balanced poorly after about 200 miles...
i had bought them from a local tire shop, who warrantied the tire and just gave me a new one... never had another problem with them in about 8k miles.
Never dealt directly with Coker, as the tire shop ordered them for me, and they took care of everything. The prices were the same as directly from Coker, also...
America's Tire Company/Discout Tire, in Los Angeles... they carry or can order just about anything, and are cool to deal with...

MercMan1951

10-25-2003, 10:18 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I've had some Discount Tire 4 for $100 radials on my Buick that I had the local lowrider shop "buff out". I haven't had any problems with them at all in about 20K miles. People say running buffed out tires is crazy and not safe,

[/ QUOTE ]

Please explain for all us ignoranimuses http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif out here what it means to have a tire buffed out - what does this look like?

MercMan

modernbeat

10-25-2003, 11:15 AM

Buffing a tire means buying a raised white letter tire, or a narrow white wall tire and having someone with a special grinder grind away the black rubber to reveal more of the white rubber. Instant wide white. It's also called cutting the tire.

Good side: Cheap, Cheap, and more cheap. You can get tires anywhere, you can get a variety of sizes or use any quality tire you want from no-name may-pops, to BFG radials.

Bad side. Grinding can be dangerous depending on the quality of the tire you are starting with and the ability of the guy running the grinder. If you go too far out, you might hit the edge of the white rubber in which case your white wall will look feathered, or it will wobble when rolling. Get it too thin and the black rubber will bleed into it too quickly. Some guys won't take the grind all the way to the wheel which is OK if you want that early '60s look, but not if you want that late '40s to mid '50s look. The buffed part isn't as smooth as a factory whitewall. You can sand it out but that takes a LOT of time.

Like everything else in life, it's OK in moderation.

If you want to find someone to cut tires, ask the lowrider guys who to use. Most also do fake Vogues, redlines, double white lines, etc...

cool57

10-25-2003, 03:26 PM

I think GOODYEAR is making WWW radials now, don't know if GOODYEAR dealer sells them or if you have to get them from a "specialty" place.

modernbeat

01-30-2004, 07:15 PM

BTTT

Anyone every resolve anything with Coker?

metalshapes

01-30-2004, 07:55 PM

Yes, and I posted that on Pg 7 of this thread.
Jess send me 2 new tires, and I send my old ones back.
The vibration is about 2/3 less than it was, and at a different speed.
Turns out one of my rims was bent as well.
I have not gotten around to rebuilding my steering box yet...
As far as I'm concerned, Jess took care of the problem. And as it tuned out, his tires were only part of the problem.
I will not hesitate to buy from them again.

50Fraud

02-12-2004, 03:16 PM

I've posted several times my problems with Coker Classic WWW radials on my shoebox. In the most recent round, Jess Hoodenpyle at Coker replaced a tire that had started to separate, and the adjustment to the cost was very fair. In my experience, Jess' presence at Coker has changed the quality of their customer relations from poor to excellent.

Old Farts and Old Fords

11-29-2006, 08:23 PM

I had a problem with a Coker bias WWW seperating at the tread and was treated fairly on the exchange. I then went with a set of big and little Diamond Back radial tires on my '47 Ford Sedan. The handeling and wear have been teriffic but I am having trouble with cracks in the whitewalls. According to DB the cracks are not affecting the safety of the tire but are the ends of the whitewall application that is vucanized on their blackwall tires. I was told that the straight "crack" was due to their old process of applying the white part and that they have a new process that uses a zig-zag in the mating ends of the white wall application. They also mentioned a minimum of 35 psi of pressure.
They were not interested in resolving my problem with the "cracks" caused by their earlier process.

Petejoe

11-29-2006, 08:55 PM

Rio Grande Valley Deuce

11-29-2006, 09:13 PM

Very interesting comments. Thanks for posting - it seems to help with the tire homework (research) now.:D

Automotive Stud

11-29-2006, 09:15 PM

Some updated info on this thread would be great. This is part of the reason I bought diamondbacks in '04 (which have been great! I'd definatly buy those again, cheaper than coker too) Around that time there were lots of posts about quality issues at coker. now it seems the attitude on here has changed, everyone loves coker again but I don't know why. Does everyone want to blow him cause he's an alliance vendor or has quality and service really improved??

Tetanus Shot

11-29-2006, 09:17 PM

I believe Corky has straighten out all the manufacturing problems.

i have a set of WWW bias plys that i bought about 8 months ago on my Hudson and the sidewalls are cracking! i havent done anything about it yet but all four tires have the same problem, splitting on the little bumps leftover from the injection molding process. i am confident that coker will address the problem but it was alittle scary when i noticed it.

Old Farts and Old Fords

11-29-2006, 11:36 PM

And what does this have to do with Coker tires today??
I believe Corky has straighten out all the manufacturing problems.
He's a great Hamber and Alliance vendor. Should of bought Cokers and Corky would have made it right.

Sorry if I lit your fizzle-stick with my comments. I just wanted folks to know that Coker tires aren't the only ones that have had problems. Do you feel better now?

teddyp

11-29-2006, 11:46 PM

Back Around Sept. I Posted A Thead About Coker Tires I Got A Blow Out On My 58 Ford On 78 Come Home From W.o.t.s.r.o. Show In Pa. The Same Week A Belt Broke On One On My 50 Chevy Needless To Say I Was Prissd Corkie Coker Posted A Reply And Grave Me A # To Call They Had Both Tires Pick Up At My Home And The Replacements Where Here In 3 Days All I Can Say Is They Gave Me Good Service But I Think I Also Have To Thank The Hamb

Bishop Welding

11-30-2006, 12:36 AM

I have a set of www Silvertowns on a 39 pickup (brand new). No problems, nice tires. The truck isn't completed yet / zero miles. I'll keep my fingers crossed because I'm handing the truck over to my dad when it's finished.

I have a set of Firestone 7.50-16's and 500-16's, bias plys, on a model A coupe, that are 6 or 8 months old. The fronts are out of round (treads wiggle left-right, etc...), and they all required what seems like excessive weights to balance, but I'm running them. So far, other than the above listed problems, they've been okay, and it's my daily driver. The out of round part bugs the heck out of me because I can see them when I drive (so can everybody else) and my rims (steelies) are good.

There's a set of 7.50-16's and 6.00-16's, firestone www's on a car I'm working on for a friend (unfinished car / zero miles) in my garage. The ww's are already checking, I believe the tires are 6 or 8 months old and still have the factory blue gluey stuff on them too.

With my personal experiences (I've also had another set of WWW's check in the past) and with what I'm seeing here, I will consider looking at some other options in the future, but I'm not ready to give up on them yet.

The Firestones are easily some of the coolest looking tires made and I really hope Coker Tire is able to iron out any problems they appear to be having with the quality of their products.

I would hope any company's customer service is as good as recent reports by HAMBers are posting, but I'd prefer not to have to need to use customer service at all.

Sloppyseconds

11-30-2006, 12:58 AM

I had my Coker WW check all around the lip...took it back to the tire place I gotit from and let them deal with the pr people at coker...Went through this quite a few times in a year...Finally got a good set...So far ok...I do notice a little cracking arround the lip again...theyre blaming it on the car being too heavy (55 buick)...yeah its heavy but come on...

55kustomline

11-30-2006, 01:54 AM

...theyre blaming it on the car being too heavy (55 buick)...yeah its heavy but come on...

haha, what do they think these tires are used on? ford escorts or something!?

LUCIFR

11-30-2006, 04:56 PM

It sort of makes you wonder whats going on with firestone these days.. if you remember a few years back when all the ford explorers were having problems staying afloat!! could this be a simalar situation?? I just picked up a set from coker and I have yet to mount them now I am having second thoughts.. hopefully they will be decent??Because their are not a whole lot of other options out there for period correct wwws it will be intresting to see what comes out of this thread please keep us informed..Thanks

mitch 36

11-30-2006, 09:14 PM

i bought a set of brg silvertown radials from coker that were so out of round it wasnt funny. i tried to balance them four times , unmounted them and turned them on the rim , even balanced them the way coker said with no luck. they gave me ALL my money back even after a year.i appreciate them standing behind their product but i doubt if i would buy from them again.

Ryan

11-30-2006, 09:18 PM

Sam F.

11-30-2006, 09:55 PM

I've never had a single issue with any set of tires I have ever bought from Coker... And I'm willing to bet that I have had more sets of tires from Coker than anyone on this thread.... Tires are an addiction with me.

Further, Corky is a good buddy of mine and I stand behind him 100% just as he does the HAMB... Not because we are good for each other's businesses, but because we believe in what each other are doing.

ive never had a single problem from Coker,,if anything,,those dudes bend over backwards to help a guy out,,,,

,,maybe the guys with issues of "out of round tires" are used to "STREET RODS" with radials and have no clue of a bias ply sitting over night(or in their case WEEKEND to WEEKEND) and have no clue how bias plys will get a flat spot form sitting???????

i met Corky about a year and a half ago....we were both drooling over a 32 RPU,,i recognized him,but he didnt know me from Adam,,,we started a conversation and talked for like 30 minutes just like any hot rod guys would,,,that dude is for real,,,,

Royalshifter

11-30-2006, 09:57 PM

I am now up to 40 tires from Coker and the only problem I have had is Yellowing. I can live with that. My son had a Goodyear wide white radial explode while the car was sitting lucky for him.

Crease

11-30-2006, 11:03 PM

had three sets with bad balance problems. going with diamond back next time!

I have the same issue. My car has always shaken like crazy at 65. I figured it was a drive line issue. I put on a pair of slicks before the trip to Temple Academy this year and she was smooth as can be up to 80. Good to find out, sucks to find out 4 years later.

usmc50lx

12-01-2006, 12:27 AM

I actually worked at firestone when the ford shit hit the fan and the wilderness tires were designed to run at 40 psi ford was stating to run them at 30 -35 psi. Increasing the contact patch but also friction, on a 5,000 pound suv so tires would overheat. Ford and firestone had settled out of court last I had heard. JUst thought I would let y'all know and looks like I will buy diamondbacks for my next car.

movingviolation

01-09-2007, 08:42 PM

Anyone have any news on the 560 15's and the 700 15's?

The look smok'n hot, but would like them to ride as good as they look!

thanks in advance
Leon

J. Cougar

01-09-2007, 10:25 PM

I have had three sets of bias ply whites, the white walls have cracked all the way around the outer edge on all of them. On the plus side I drive about 100 miles an hour on the freeway all the time no problems.

ARCHANGEL

01-10-2007, 12:06 AM

FIRESTONES 640-15 HAVE HAD THEM FOR 13 MONTHS HAVE PUT OVER 5.000 MILES ON THEM NO PROBLEM. I LIVE IN ANTIOCH CA, DROVE THE BUICK FOUR TIMES TO PASO, AND BACK .500 MI ROUND TRIP NO PROBLEM EVER.. OH AT 65-85 MPH

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m278/fylo45/MY%20CARS/IMG_1812.jpg (%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m278/fylo45/MY%20CARS/IMG_1812.jpg%5B/IMG%5D)

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m278/fylo45/MY%20CARS/100_3843.jpg (%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m278/fylo45/MY%20CARS/100_3843.jpg%5B/IMG%5D)

fleetside66

01-10-2007, 10:41 AM

Last summer I bought a set of wide whites from Diamond Back Classics, because I heard some bad stuff about Coker. The tires I got were from their new Alpha line. They are made in the U.S. The whole purchase & delivery was hassle free and the tires look & ride real good. The only complaint I had was the fact that the tires had some "dimpling." You all have probably seen this before in tires with large sidewalls, where there are slight dips in the sidewall running from the tread to the wheel. It's almost imperceptible, but you can see it under certain light conditions. Ordinarily I wouldn't give a crap, but these tires were $164.00 each. I complained. The reps were very professional & (seemingly) forthright. At no time did it get ugly. I didn't want to go through the hassle & expense of removing the tires & sending them back, so they agree to refund me $25.00 per tire. They claim that I got the tires for their cost, as result of that refund. They claim that my complaint of dimples was the first & only one for the new Alpha line. The rep let it slip that they had to discontinue one of their lines because of dimple problems. Other than that, I would do business with them again. Be aware of the dimpling problem, especially if you have a high point car. My truck is a daily driver, so I'm not concerned with perfection.