TIRES

SNOWBIRD

Amphicar Expert
Dear Sir....Need some new tires for the Amphicar and my local shop cannot find white side wall tires.

Ours are: P175/80R13


Do you have any sources.... Mr Xxxxxxx

Giord Souters rely

Universal Tires sell a Radial WWW that looks like bia ply for $200.00 each
They look real good on a Amphicar. and may not need the spacer that other Radials need.
The tire listed below was just installed on my customer's car. see post down farther.


Universal Tires
650R13 American Classic 2 1/4" Whitewall Tire
american-classic-bias-look-radial-670r15-ww-10in_7.png

More Views
Description

650R13 American Classic 2 1/4" Whitewall Tire



In Stock Now!



Bias Look Radial Tire

Radial Replacement for Early 60's Corvair, Dart, Falcon, etc





Features:

"Fluted" Shoulder

Bias Looks with Radial Performance

Made in USA

Details/Options

SKU U700300
Construction Tubeless Poly/Steel
Load Capacity 1150 @ 35 psi
Overall Diameter 24.6"
Tread Width 5.20"
Suggested Rim Width 4.5-5"


Notes:

$200.00

-----
 
Last edited:

Jon March

Member
Need some new tires for the Amphicar and my local shop cannot find white side wall tires.

Ours are: P175/80R13


Do you have any sources.

Universal Tires sell a Radial WWW that looks like bia ply for $200.00 each
They look real good on a Amphicar. and may not need the spacer that other Radials need.


Universal Tires
650R13 American Classic 2 1/4" Whitewall Tire
american-classic-bias-look-radial-670r15-ww-10in_7.png

More Views
Description

650R13 American Classic 2 1/4" Whitewall Tire



In Stock Now!



Bias Look Radial Tire

Radial Replacement for Early 60's Corvair, Dart, Falcon, etc





Features:

"Fluted" Shoulder

Bias Looks with Radial Performance

Made in USA

Details/Options

SKU U700300
Construction Tubeless Poly/Steel
Load Capacity 1150 @ 35 psi
Overall Diameter 24.6"
Tread Width 5.20"
Suggested Rim Width 4.5-5"


Notes:

$200.00

-----
 

Jon March

Member
Gord - back in 2014 in the thread below, you were saying that altho some went with 175's, you thought they looked too small, and that with your spacers the 185's were perfect? I wonder if youve changed your thoughts - I see above that you are asking where to get 175's, and also recommending the Universal "bias-look" tires., What are the options you or others recommend nowadays?
 
Last edited:

SNOWBIRD

Amphicar Expert
No not me --------- that was a customer asking me.. and I forward him to Universal tire then put the post on here for benefit of all.

Old 50 year old tires are good for one thing...... NOTHING.... but I use mine for when I paint cars, I put them on to work on the car and paint then put new ones on.

Grey copnv, top 004.JPG
 

Jon March

Member
The other option, and best traction for climbing out of the water onto loose soil (because they "squash" flatter), are the BFGoodrich Silvertown (traditional p-metric) Radial
Comments seem to generally be that the 165s are too small, 175 80R 13 seems to have the most support...and some people have even selected the 185's (altho some say they need spacers Gord sells?) Im still confused on what needs and what doesnt need spacers.
Regarding spacers, I even think i recall someone saying that recent stock of the BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial 175 80R 13's that used to fit without needing spacers, might have been re-molded and might be wider now and require spacers?? A call to BF Goodrich might be in order to confirm if they changed the mold....

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cok-579834
 

Jon March

Member
And a past post from split personality Vic, re: Diamondbacks :

https://www.dbtires.com/store/shoptire.cfm?size=13.00

"Regarding tires, radials, wide whites, and especially those that last and
don't yellow: Though I don't personally know of any Amphicar owners who have
used them, I expect someone has. I and a number of Woodie owners as well as
owners of other classics and antiques have bought and use tires from Diamond
Back Classic Tire company located in Conway, S.C. ( up in the NE corner of
S.C.)

Toll Free: (888) 922-1642

Diamond Back Classics is a 4th generation family owned business whose owner
is Bill Chapman. Bill is in his 60's and is very personable and knowledgeable
and is glad to talk to you personally and make sound recommendations based
on his experience.

They are competitive with Coker, and a number of friends with other than
Woodies had recommended them to me. They vulcanize the Whitewalls on right there
in their factory.

Two good friends recommended them so highly that when I had to decide from
whom to buy, I went with them and have not been sorry.
They offer up to 3-1/2 inch whitewalls ( though the width may vary with the
wheel size being used ). A number of other friends and acquaintances told me
and I have now experienced that the white walls STAY WHITE and do not tend
to yellow as Cokers seem to have a tendency to do. Bill is very specific
about what not to use on them. for example, he does not recommend the use of
Bleche White ( which I had always used before ) or any other type of bleach.
Bill specifically recommended for my 48 Ford with 16 inch stock rims to use
Radials which I did, as have other friends. They look wonderful, don't yellow,
and as long as the wheels are not rusty or are in good condition, they just
plain do not leak.

Call them up and ask for Bill, though probably anybody there will give you
knowledgeable answers to any questions. They will send you a fact filled
brochure right away ( Coker told me up front that it would take 3 weeks or so to
send their brochure and it did.) I had periodically acquired Coker
brochures, but when I wasn't in the market for tires, I tossed the brochures. Bill
also told me that it would probably require 3 to 4 weeks before mine would
arrive, and mine arrived 16 days after I ordered them.

Diamond Back Classics advertises in Hemmings and several publications, but
they don't seem to be so well known. I personally endorse them highly and
obviously will order from them again. When one friend with a 1947 Sportsman
said he put Diamond Back Classics on and hadn't added any air in a year, I was a
bit sceptical. However, other than common sense monitoring, it is indeed
true. They look great and they do stay WHITE."

Vic Nelson - 1967 "Split Personality" near Daytona
 
Last edited:

Kruser

New Member
sand.jpg I put the Silvertown Radial P175 80R 13 no spacers required. I got them a year and a half ago from Summit Racing(free shipping). They have been working for me fine, ride good, goes down the road nice at 70mph and seems to crawl across sand ok. I can't compare to anything else, because it is the only tire I have ever had on the Amphi.
sand1.jpg
 

Jon March

Member
Mike - Tell us more about your 185's. Maybe you could use a caliper or pics to show us - or at least the tire brand and model & date code that Diamond Back used for yours.
John F, Gordons, etc says that 185's (from Coker( have rubbed concerningly ... or been within 1/8" of rubbing .

On the other hand, Iand if i understand these comments, it seems that your Diamond back 185's do not rub, and dont even need spacers?
This is a great mystery
1) maybe the brand that DB used has a section width that is narrower? - are you sure they are 185 80R 13?
2) what are your inflation numbers front vs rear?
3) maybe your rear wheel well brakeline brackets have been rotated or coaxed/ bent well away from the widest/problematic part of the tire ?
4) Could your quarter panels be further away from the tires than other cars ( eliminating the outside-rubbing proximity that John F experienced)

Here are the specs of the wide whitewalls im able to find:


Coker Silvertown 175 80R13 -
fit fine no spacers
but look a bit small in some peoples opinion


Summit Racing Part Number: COK-579834

UPC: 00842199100235

Wheel Diameter: 13 in.

Tire Size: 175/80-13

Sidewall Style: Whitewall

Tire Construction: Radial

Tire Diameter Range: 24-24.99 in.

Tire Diameter: 24.02 in.

Section Width: 6.97 in.

Tread Width: 4.80 in.

Minimum Recommended Wheel Width: 4.50 in.

Maximum Recommended Wheel Width: 6.00 in.



Coker Silvertown 185 80R13
(reported problematic by GI & JF-
? but fine with spacers, according to Gord?)


Summit Racing Part Number: COK-579814

UPC: 00842199100259

Wheel Diameter: 13 in.

Tire Size: 185/80-13

Sidewall Style: Whitewall

Tire Construction: Radial

Tire Diameter Range: 24-24.99 in.

Tire Diameter: 24.70 in.

Section Width: 7.20 in.

Tread Width: 5.10 in.

Minimum Recommended Wheel Width: 5.00 in.

Maximum Recommended Wheel Width: 6.50 in.





Coker American Classic bias-look Radial - 650R13
Fit fine no spacers - nice and narrow - look great - nearly the original diameter
But tread & footprint very narrow and "summer"- could have trouble on slippery ramps or loose sand
Unbeatable on clean ramps, showing on land and Disney use!


SKU: 700300

GTIN UPC: 00842199100747

DOT Approved: Yes

Rim Diameter: 13

Tread Width: 5.20

Section Width (Actual): 6.60

Overall Diameter: 24.60

Load Index: 85

Speed Rating: S

Max Load Capacity: 1150@35PSI

Recommended Rim Width: 4.50 - 5.00




Diamond Back WWW 185/80R13
Brands used vary
Process "sands off" sidewall, and WWW is vulcanized on
Mike I reports his 185's from here dont rub and dont need spacers - but that may be a random stroke of luck based on the particular brand tire that was used by DiamondBack for the ones he purchased at the time?




Diam - 24.70

WWW-2 1/4"

Tread Width -4.50

Section Width - 7.20
 

Jon March

Member
OEM CEAT vs 2017 Diamondback WWW: MAXXIS "MA-1" P185 80R13
new tires are slightly wider and slightly less tall.

....no idea yet if they will rub (or leak/bead-breach without tubes)...

Screen shot 2017-10-28 at 1.03.31 PM.png
 

lelms

Gold Subscriber
Every car seems to be slightly different, based on the six Amphis we have in Minneapolis. I got spacers from Gord at least 10 years ago - no problems at all, using them. Also bent the brake line mounts a bit, but be careful doing this!
 

Jon March

Member
there were 1/4" spacers on it when i took the original tires off the car!
I did re-shape & tilt the brake line brackets for a little more room.... so it will be interesting to see how much spacing is needed when assembly time comes in spring!
 

jfriese

Active Member
Those Maxxis tires in the lower right photo are what I have on one of my cars. They needed 1/8" spacers on the front tires but that was it. Back when Firestone made that size tire, they ran without any spacers. I have a new set of 5 spares of these tires but without the wide white walls applied and about a 3/4" WW. They run fine and were about the only tires made of this size by anyone, at the time, that would fit the Amphicar. These spare, in the box, tires are available for sale but I'm in Santa Barbara, CA and shipping would be expensive.

John Friese
67 White
67 Red
 
Top